The Fashion of Wimbledon
One of the four Grand Slam tournaments has been happening in London for the last two weeks. And we love a good tennis match no less than we love a Gucci catwalk. So let’s discuss players, guests and rules.
In the world of sport’s uniforms, team colours and strict rules, tennis gives us a breath of expression and freedom. But even a sport so fashion-liberal sometimes sets ground rules. Wimbledon is the first most important white-wearing event in every player’s life. Additionally to the strict colour code, there are specific rules and regalements around everything players wear. But more on that later.
If poor players are constantly terrorised by the dress code, Wimbledon fans are dressing up even more to support them and eat strawberries in the meantime. The range of outfits goes from ultra casual to an almost black tie commitment level. It fairly depends on the access level, court seats, and the round of the tournament.
Luckily for me, I had the privilege to observe the main grounds, centre court and players lounge. I even got the chance to take a peep at warm ups and cool downs. So technically there are 3 main groups of people: players, their guests, and visitors. But in reality, everything is much more nuanced.
I’ll take you through a bit of Wimbledon history, icons and Wimbledon 2026 of course. For context’s sake we’ll start off with a brief history and ground rules. And just maybe I’ll be able to convert you to tennis.
The W Word
Wimbledon is the oldest tennis competition to date. The first ever tournament took place in 1877, which makes it almost 150 years! And even then, on the old dusty photos, we can see players in their shining tennis whites. So what is this tradition then, and why is it still enforced?
Initially, the dress code was enforced, so that people couldn’t see the sweat stains on the players' clothing. It was considered improper. And even though now it’s more than proper to sweat during the July heatwave, the tradition stayed. Some speculate that it helps to separate Wimbledon from other Grand Slam tournaments and keeps it pretty for the Royals.
The Royal box has 2 rules: men wear suits and ties, while women aren’t allowed to wear hats (to not obscure the view). Other than that, the world is your playground. Of course, nothing too overly casual like jeans. Smart casual is heavily encouraged. During my dig on Wimbledon history, I noticed the pattern, florals and midi length dresses. And white. Obviously.
The dress code for players is strict, strict, strict. They are only allowed to wear white, and that is from the point they enter the court. Which includes tracksuits, all pairs of shoes, undergarments, and head attire. The tournament’s official reglament says: “no off white or cream”. There can only be a single trim of colour around the neckline or cuffs, no wider than 10mm. The only exception is made for women during their period: they can wear dark-coloured undershorts. Thanks, I guess?
Wimbledon 2026
We’ve had some good fashion moments this year, on and off the court. A strong favourite is Naomi Osaka’s kimono-inspired kit by Japanese designer Hana Yagi. She successfully turned the tracksuit into a piece of her ethnicity, and made it look gorgeous. The long ruffled train dragged gracefully on the grass, while she went head on through the sets like a warrior.
Marta Kostyuk is a brilliant player, and turns out a wonderful designer as well. Along with the Wilson team, she created her Wimbledon kit to support her during matches. It features a double-layered white dress, made from technical lace. The dress fits her perfectly, and the ornament of flowers reminds me of the one on Ukrainian national costumes. Whether that was intended or accidental, she looks as powerful as ever on the court.
Coco Gauff wore an incredible kit from New Balance’s and Miu Miu’s collaboration. A fashion choice indeed. It featured a tightly fitted top, a pleated skirt, a headband and a pair of high socks. It reminds me of the 90s preppy chic. The trims around her collar are no wider than 10mm, which makes it more than appropriate for the event. She looked absolutely magical moving up the tournament bracket.
It can’t be a proper tennis article without the world’s number 1, can it? My fellow Belarusian, Aryna Sabalenka chose a Nike kit that consists of a high-collared dress, white shorts and sneakers. But the real show is her accessories. Diamond and Emerald incrusted heart-shaped earrings and necklace. When asked about the comfort of wearing it, Aryna said that it looks much heavier than it actually is. If she feels comfortable while looking that glamorous, who could judge? She became quite consistent with her jewellery sets in the last year. Can’t wait to see her US Open jewellery kit.
A moment of appreciation for men’s fashion during Wimbledon. Taylor Fritz had his fashion pre-match moment. Dressed in bespoke Hugo Boss head to toe, he went ahead and won 3 matches. He noted that the outfit helped him move up the tournament ladder as well. He would’ve felt really stupid if he dressed up and didn’t win, said Taylor. However, I think you can’t look too stupid in a bespoke Boss kit.
Guests
The guests of Wimbledon include many celebrities and other exceptionally well-dressed fans of tennis. This year, I got to enjoy a little people-watching and outfit-watching. So let me share my notes, if you’re considering visiting the tournament next year.
Ladies wear a lot of florals, as noted before, but in a very 2026 fashion, they come in all shapes and forms. Obviously, the majority of people are trying to support the players’ dress code and wear white. So combine the two Wimbledon trends and you get the perfect outfit formula for next season. You also might want to consider all the possible weather situations, and opt for a heavy sunscreen coverage or a jacket.
With the London heatwave this year, the crowd mostly chose to wear linen for temperature control. Linen shirts dominated menswear for a good reason: they allow you to feel cooler while looking undeniably fancy. They came in two colours - white and navy. A bolder choice would be considered a light blue shirt or a butter yellow one. And of course there were those who wore full on suits. A risky choice if you’re not absolutely sure that AC is present wherever you choose to go.
The match and court play a big part in choosing your outfit. The closer we get to the finals - the more formal you’ll see people dress. If you’re going to anything before semi-finals, a more casual outfit would be fully appropriate. However, if you get the chance to attend the centre court during a semi-finals or a final match, you can choose to play out your formal dressing fantasy. Suits, hats, high heels and everything that is waiting in your closet for a fancy day out can be shown off.
Wimbledon is a truly impressive event with a long history and an immaculate fashion show in the background. You can take inspirations from players’ kits, or invent your own styling traditions for the occasions. And even if you’re not into tennis or sports as a whole, you should definitely visit for the strawberries and cream.