The Wimbledon Championships are the oldest of the four Grand Slam tournaments. They have been around since the late 1800s, and if you know anything about events that old, they are steeped in customs and traditions. While I am a huge fan of customs and traditions, I have always thought it odd when players of high-octane sports wear white. It feels like keeping sweat stains would be an utter nightmare. Having said that, Wimbledon requires all participants to wear white. It is what has come to be called the Wimbledon Whites. Now, I am also a huge fan of dressing the part, so I will confess to being guilty of planning an all-white ensemble just in case I ever land an invite to the most prestigious tennis match in the world. Now, if you are cooler than I and have already landed an invite to the tournament, then I have put together the elements of the perfect Wimbledon look.
Understanding the Wimbledon Whites
My first question still stands: Why make athletes wear white? Well, the simple answer is, because it is the dress code. But that became the dress code for a reason. Back in the 1880s, the dress code was decided due to the feeling that sweat was so unsightly that players should wear white to hide the wetness as best as possible. Forget the yellowing that eventually happens; in the moment, white hides the sweat. So it became so. And it is so strict that players such as Andre Agassi (who refused to play there for two years based on the dress code being the antithesis of his personal brand of 90s neon) and Roger Federer (who was fined for wearing shoes with an orange sole) came into conflict with it.
However you feel about the dress code, it is what it is, so here is how to stay up to code.
The shirt: Lacoste Tennis Polo
You’re not going to argue with me on this one, right? This is kind of a slam dunk. As a matter of fact, it may be the only true slam dunk on this list. Rene Lacoste was a French Tennis star who got fed up with playing a sport in a restrictive button-down, which makes sense; we can’t even go to work in a restrictive button-down anymore. So, Lacoste invented the polo we know today in 1926. It would feel criminal to have a collection of white clothes for the tennis events and NOT put his creation on the list. And, the man literally changed our lives and menswear as we know it, so it’s time to give him his flowers.
The shorts: Bugatchi French Terry Short
Ever since I discovered Bugatchi’s OOOHCOTTON dress shirts, I have been addicted to everything they drop. The pillar of comfort mixed with the pinnacle of luxury is a combination rarely achieved in fashion these days, yet these guys seem to do it in their sleep. While these are the perfect choice for casual resort wear, when you pair them with the elevated choices on this list, they meet the challenge of versatility and will have you looking and feeling your best.
The hat: Lock & Co 350
Ok, I am going to toss in a caveat here: If you are on the court, you definitely shouldn’t be wearing a Panama hat. However, if you are sitting in the stands watching your favorite tennis player serve up excellence (see what I did there?), then you should be protecting your face and eyes from the harmful rays of the sun with a great brimmed hat. Why would you go anywhere else in the world than the oldest hatmaker in the world? Around since the late 1600s, Lock & Co has made hats for some of the world’s most influential people. You should be next.
The shoes: Sabah Mykonos
This is the summer you should be ditching your sneakers. Again, not if you are on the court. Then, by all means, wear your literal tennis shoes. But for the rest of us, we are not leaning heavily on our sneakers this year, correct? Good. Now that we have that understood, let’s talk about picking up a pair of white leather sabahs. White leather is hard to nail down without looking kitchy. But these are the best-looking white leather slips I have seen. Luxurious and elevated, they will make you look like you belong courtside at Wimbledon.
The third layer: J. McLauhlin Kent Sweater
If there is one thing I believe will elevate every single man’s look out there, it is this: Go for that additional piece. Once you put together your top and your bottom, go for that additional piece. A hat and a shoe aren’t what I am talking about. I mean a third layer, or an accessory such as a summer scarf or a neckerchief. For this event, I think a classic white v-neck sweater (worn if needed or tied around your shoulder if too hot) is the best way to make you look like you fit in to the event. J. McLaughlin fits in at every event, and while I would normally go for a red and blue stripe on the v-neck for the perfect Americana feel, this option works much better with the black band on the hat above.
There you have it, you are set up for the perfect Wimbledon White look.
