Here's how to ace the Wimbledon dress code (without looking like a competitor)
As tennis fever grips the nation, our thoughts are turning to the sartorial side of the tournament (well, it is our job…) and finding ourselves Googling the Wimbledon dress code. For competitors it's undoubtedly the strictest in the business, but when it comes to guest attire, the ‘what to wear to Wimbledon’ rules are a little less black and white.
There is actually no official spectator policy, although there are a small number of forbidden items including ripped jeans, running vests, heavily branded items that could be used as sneaky court-side advertising and dirty trainers (as if you'd dare).
Just because there's a lack of strict regulations, however, doesn't mean you should wear the first thing to fall out of your wardrobe. Tennis-core has been trending for several seasons, so you could totally tap into that and lean into the style for the occasion – so long as it's not too sporty, unless you don't mind looking like you got lost on your way to the changing rooms…
That's not to say you have to avoid those cute, sporty pleated tennis skirts or polo shirts at all costs. It just means try to dress them up with formal shoes or a blazer.
Of course, you should wear what you feel most comfortable in, but we recommend choosing something a little more polished. If you've got tickets to one of the finals (nope, not jealous, not one teensy bit) or it's a significant match, it makes sense to level up your fashion to match the excitement of the occasion. After all, you'll likely be rubbing shoulders with celebrity fans like Margot Robbie or Nicola Coughlan.
Speaking of celebs, you can look to some of the chicest ladies like Zendaya and the Princess of Wales for inspiration for your own Wimbledon outfit ideas. They all look immaculate in bright pops of colour, clean whites and loose tailoring.
Ultimately, you can't go wrong with a shirt dress from Ralph Lauren (if you have a designer sized budget when it comes to the Wimbledon dress code), as well as the perfect tote bag courtesy of Manu Atelier. This butter yellow waistcoat from & Other Stories is the epitome of chic and its matching trousers will also be a winning look courtside. If you do feel the need to dress a little more sportily, all the beautifully-crafted pieces from the Wimbledon Collection will score highly.
Before you finalise your *lewk*, you will also need to remember the practicalities of sitting down for potentially hours at a time (loo breaks are only allowed at certain points in the proceedings) and the weather. Sorry to be all British about it, but do check the forecast to see if you need to pack a rain poncho or a gallon of factor 50 SPF. Or, probably both…
