In the years leading up to actually securing tickets to Wimbledon fortnight, I’d spent several queued up with wet thumbs waiting for ballot tickets that would actually give me a shot at seeing matches live. Those were never proper tickets, you know the kind where you pay over a hundred pounds each? That’d be when I learned how to dress for Wimbledon.
Tickets. It was the summer of 2018. Britain was heaving with rain, and did not disappoint that day.
I proudly rocked up to Centre Court for the women’s semi-finals wearing my carefully curated Wimbledon ensemble. Complete with white linen dress, nude espadrilles (those gave me blisters), and the big straw hat to top it all off.
After twenty minutes outside, I looked like a drowned rat my hat was sagging, and I thought maybe this whole thing was a mistake.
Luckily, my seat neighbour seemed to have it all figured out.
She was wearing a pair of crisp white jeans; yes, WHITE JEANS, a cute navy blazer, and clinging onto an adorable clear plastic rain jacket. She also very kindly lent me a towel to dry myself off with from her Mary Poppins-esque bag.
She then asked me if it was my first time at Wimbledon to which I replied yes. Was it that obvious? That day was eye-opening; from then on out I knew exactly how to dress for British sporting occasions.
Unless you want to get soaked to the bone be prepared for the worst. Wimbledon style has been consumed in my brain ever since that soggy day; there’s definitely some sort of unofficial dress code for the All England Lawn Tennis Club and I set out to crack it. Disclaimer: unlike your good ole’ Ascot dress code there isn’t any official rule book you can look at to figure out how to dress for Wimbledon.
But there are hundreds of years of British tradition to go off of when it comes to dressing like a regular at SW19. Don’t worry I’ll break it down for you. The general aesthetic when attending Wimbledon is comparable to your everyday country club day.
Lots of Ralph Lauren vibes mixed with some British sporty elements. Actual Matches: If you’re planning on attending Wimbledon this year then congratulations! London is going to look fabulous this summer.
If you’ve decided to brave the crowds down at the All England Lawn Tennis Club then you definitely want to keep comfort in mind. You’ll be sitting in those hard-ass plastic chairs for hours at a time and you want to be able to roam around the grounds comfortably. But you also don’t want to look like you’re regular weekend outfit leans more music festival than garden party.
My formula for the ideal Wimbledon look is to start with good-quality basics. White, cream, or navy are your go-to’s when it comes to bottoms and tops. I love these wide leg white trouser from COS that are dreamy and not transparent for when you sit down.
Pair that with a classic navy silk t-shirt from Equipment or this cashmere knit from Cos that I live in all summer for cooler days. This combination is versatile enough to dress up or down with different shoes. Throw on some wedge espadrilles from Penelope Chilvers for dry days, or opt for some leather loafers when rain is in the forecast.
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I also learned the hard way that tennis shoes are a big no unless you’re actually playing tennis. And if you go full-on tennis costume people are going to look at you wonky. I always layer with a blazer or cardigan when I attend Wimbledon it’s unpredictable British weather yo.
A classic blazer is never a bad idea, this linen-blend number from Jigsaw was a bit of an investment but I live in it for summers. It looks sharp enough to not scare the other Wimbledon-ites but won’t completely ruin your day if it gets slightly damp. I sometimes will opt for a cotton cardigan from Boden instead to mix up the look a little and add some colour.
Speaking of colours; stick to the colour palette. Pastels are big at Wimbledon; stick to whites, creams, light blues, and if you’re feeling fancy some tennis court green. As far as accessories go, I think a good crossbody bag is a must.
You’ll definitely want your hands free for cheering and drinking throughout the day. And trust me when there’s a break from the clouds you’ll want to cover your eyes. I never wear hats daily but for some reason, when Wimbledon rolls around I crave wearing cute straw ones.
This Panama style hat is my go-to and is subtle enough that you don’t feel like you’re dressing for Royal Ascot. My number one piece of learn-how-to-dress advice is to always have a rain jacket or oversized tote that you can hide under should God’s rivers break loose. I now own these packaway macs from Rains and never step foot on SW19’s grounds without one.
They look WAY better than they did a few years ago and roll up small enough to fit in any moderately-sized bag. Watching From Home: This was actually where I got to have the most fun with Wimbledon style. There’s something about watching from home that makes you want to lean into the whole theme.
I like to think of these outfits as elevated-causal; they’re not too over-the-top that you can’t live in them but enough to pay homage to the occasion. These could all be worn for actual attendance at Wimbledon if you’d like; you just want to make sure that you’re prepared to move around comfortably. I wore the outfit above home a few years back and rocked it.
White jeans and a striped Breton top are a classic; throw on some ballet flats and you’re good to go. I also own this Tennis-inspired dress from ME+EM that I’ll wear with my favourite trainers instead of heels for a nice laid-back look.
Or you could add some pops of Wimbledon white to your everyday weekend outfit.
My number one tip for dressing like a modern-day Wimbledon attendee is to not go full-on costumed.
Those sweet old ladies that give you judgmental looks when you walk by? That’s literally their casual wardrobe, don’t worry they’ve been doing it for years.
The contemporary adaptation of a Wimbledon outfit should be an extension of your every day, just with some subtle references to the week-long tennis tournament. Don’t wear a dress if you hate dresses. If you’re more of a Scandi minimalist than an Englishwoman living it up in her country gardens, then embrace that.
Sprinkle in some Wimbledon influences with a white blouse, white trousers, and a striped shirt. Some of my favourite fabricated Wimbledon outfits, some I’ve worn myself and others I’ve pilfered from stylish attendees: Cream wide-leg trousers, navy silk cami, gold hoops, nude leather sandals, cream cotton cardigan, and small straw handbag. Green midi shirt dress (Equipment makes a dreamy one), white minimal trainers, and straw market tote.
White jeans, striped t-shirt, and bless your feet with sandals. or bare feet. Ok, just me. White jeans, striped tee, bare feet.
