Wimbledon has made its triumphant return this week. And while we’re bereft at the early exits of Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray, and dying to know whether Matteo Berrettini or Rafael Nadal could steal the Grand Slam from three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic, the real excitement for those lucky enough to have bagged a ticket (or patient enough to queue) is the excuse to dress up in our summery best for the quintessentially British event.
There’s no dress code as such for Wimbledon unless you’re in the Royal Box, where hats are banned (no one wants a Fedora obscuring Federer) and men must wear a shirt and tie — a rule Lewis Hamilton discovered the hard way when he was refused entry for being dressed too casually back in 2015.
Those not hobnobbing with royalty and heads of state are simply asked to dress smart and avoid oversized hats, clothing bearing a political statement and “wheeled footwear” — leave those Heelys at home. The celebrity archives are a great source of inspiration when it comes to finding a winning wardrobe, with regulars Sienna Miller, the Duchess of Cambridge, Rosamund Pike and Victoria Beckham regularly serving sartorial aces court-side. Their one-shot rule for outfit advantage? Stick to shades of Wimbledon white.
In terms of the smart-to-casual ratio, it’s best to play it like you would a summer wedding: linen suits, shirts and formal shoes for men; dresses (avoid micro minis), jumpsuits and summery tailoring for women. Modestly brimmed hats are allowed (and a good idea if you’ll be sat in the baking heat all day), and flats and comfortable block heels are preferable to stilettos as you’ll spend a fair amount of time on your feet. Unlike a summer wedding though, women can rock their best white dress without fear of upstaging anyone they shouldn’t.
Whether a guy or a girl, the vibiest way to rock up to the All England Lawn Tennis Club is undoubtedly in soft summery tailoring in pale colours. Gant, Charles Tyrwhitt and 120% Lino all have great linen suits for men, and London label Percival does a very cool cream linen safari shirt (£159, shop here) with matching trousers (£119, shop here) for a more relaxed look.
Reformation, Anine Bing and Joseph are all fail-safe bets for elegant, tailored trousers for women; while Reiss and Massimo Dutti do beautiful white linen three-piece suits that echo the one Emma Watson rocked with a white boater hat in 2018.
For something more feminine, white florals feel fresh and easy. London label Yolke has an ankle-skimming blossom printed skirt (£175, shop here) with matching shirt (£165, shop here) that has the bonus of functioning as separates should you return for another taste of the sartorial tournament.
Fancy something that’ll work for the afterparty? Miller looked effortlessly cool in a white Galvan jumpsuit in 2015, which you can still buy on Net-a-Porter (£1,085, shop here) — pair with a red lip for match point.
