The dress code is “smart casual attire” but in the Royal Box, a reserved suite of 74 seats inside Centre Court, it switches to “smart, suits/jacket and tie. Ladies are asked not to wear hats, as they tend to obscure the vision of those seated behind them,” as Wimbledon states. Those lucky enough to land in the royal box are careful not to show too much gratuitous flesh, and to keep skirt lengths below the knee. Wimbledon is similar to Ascot, which also has firm fashion rules.
Jemima Khan, 50, despite her impressive birthright and resume – the filmmaker is the ex-wife of former Pakistani president Imran Khan, friend of the late Princess Diana, a former girlfriend of Hugh Grant, and is the daughter of Lady Annabel of the nightclub name fame and Sir James Goldsmith – admitted on Instagram that she was intimidated by what to wear. She prevailed with a trim black suit-dress with short sleeves and white piping from collar to cuff, along with a Saint Laurent raffia bag and Richard E. Grant (himself in a white linen suit with tan vest) as accessories. This look shows the power of a simple, neutral palette to keep a look smart and pulled together, an easy template to emulate. It is well-fitted and appropriate for almost any summer day occasion.
The players at Wimbledon all must wear white, of course. Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk went a step beyond when she wore a replica of her wedding dress for match play. Serena Williams, the tennis and fashion legend who long pushed boundaries on the court, always felt constrained by the rules. She and her sponsor, Nike, often toyed with cutouts, sheer panels and other devices to register her commitment to individuality. The lesson here is that there is always room to bend the rules with the clever use of fabric and cut.
But white can be a real winner in the stands as well. Look no further than Queen Camilla and her sister Annabelle who both wore white this week to the tournament. Camilla chose one of her favourite designers, Anna Valentine. It was a re-wear from the Kenya tour she took with King Charles last year, and features subtle giraffe illustrations on the skirt. The dress, cut with three-quarter sleeves (flattering, a cooler choice in the heat) and a belt, is more cream than white, which flatters the Queen’s blonde-grey hair.
Also working a light-toned look, Sienna Miller – a perennial Wimbledon fashion star – went for a creamy Prada ensemble with delicate polka dots. Miller, 42, chose a barely cropped style, with the tiniest bit of skin showing. That look isn’t for everyone at any age, but the idea of what she is wearing – the formula – certainly is. The skirt is long and full, flattering for all. The top is a blouse style, with collar and cuffs to add a sense of finishing and formality. And she has paired the dress with Prada sandals and a small shoulder bag, both in white. I especially loved her loose bun, with long bangs, a flattering look for its face-framing softness.
Keira Knightly showed tremendous flair with a white linen Chanel drop-waist dress worn off one-shoulder, with a big black bowed strap. Again, off-the-shoulder isn’t for everyone, but her addition of a bowler hat – which must only ever be worn with a dress, never trousers, according to one of my secret style gurus (just trust me!) – pops the whole outfit. A bowler makes a simple style statement, far removed from the whimsical hats of Ascot, and, critically, it doesn’t block the view of the people in the stands behind you! Emma Watson chose a fedora to top her tan safari-style linen outfit, another cool and appropriate choice.
There was a lot of suiting at Wimbledon this year, as tailoring for women continues to pick up across the pond. Canadian Kim Cattrall showed up in a blush pink linen suit with a floral blouse peeping through. Always a great choice, suits are like armour, even in pink. They are timeless and check every dress-code box: they are borrowed from the boys, thus borrowing from the traditional halls of power and they feel impregnable – a buffer against style criticism.
Meanwhile, there is always floral, a look at which the Brits excel. Take Carole Middleton, 69, Kate’s mom, who has been at Centre Court this week. She chose a floral dress by Cefinn, a white cropped blazer by Me + Em (emerging as a favourite brand across a slate of royals and royal-adjacents) with a fun circle-shaped straw bag. This is an eternally solid choice for women of any age for a summer event. Florals are fresh and cheerful.
Princess Beatrice went that route as well, choosing a bolder and bigger floral lace print by Monique L’Huillier in a wrap style. Cousin Zara Tindall also wore a subtle botanical print linen maxi dress by Me + Em, with a white blazer with gold buttons (a fun ’80s/’90s throwback). She notably wore wedge heels, a Wimbledon staple, and the press was quick to zoom in on her sassy blue pedicure. This would not be the done thing for more senior royals (the Queen notoriously hated wedges), but perhaps this is a small sign of footwear modernization in Charles’s reign. Zara also pulled off a nifty trick we observed at Ascot: she had little clear heel guards to keep her lovely pumps from getting stuck in the grass.
The British really enjoy getting dressed up, and we could all learn from the way they tap the fun in fashion. But you don’t have to go all in for tailcoats or fascinators to adopt Wimbledon style. Follow these simple fashion formulas – monochrome neutrals or fresh florals, decorous lengths and tailoring touches topped by a boater or fedora – and off you go to any event this summer.
Always asking questions,
—Leanne Delap
