by It is no coincidence that all players who participate in the championships wear all white tennis kits for each of their games. The color white, which players worn by players at the annual Grand Slam tennis tournament, is a tradition that will come from the late days of sport from the late Victorian period in the 1870s to the present day.
Before 2025 Wimbledon from June 30th, the WWD will open all the details about Wimbledons purely white clothing order.
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What is the purely white dress code?
According to the official Wimbledon website, the dress code states that all players have to carry “suitable tennis clothing that is almost exclusively white”, which uses the moment in which the players go on the pitch. It is strictly white without “cream -colored or cream”. The only acceptable color of the color is a single trim that is not wider than one centimeter for every piece of clothing. Small sponsor logos on clothing can contain color.
The purely white rule applies to underwear, hats, headbands, bracelets, socks and shoes, the latter must specialize in the grass dishes. Equipment and medical support should also be white, but can have color “when absolutely necessary”.
Why was the dress code implemented?
The dress code comes from the Victorian era when it was important to be “incredibly correct”, said Meredith Richards, the librarian in the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The first Wimbledon tennis tournament in 1877 took place as a reference. Women were allowed to compete from 1884.
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The color white also served to reduce the visibility of sweat, which is considered more breathing and less hotter than other colors – at that time it was “unreasonable” by Richards. Several tennis clubs, including the all England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, in which Wimbledon takes place every year, expose the purely white dress code for the sake of tradition.
How strict is the dress code?
The purely white dress code in Wimbledon is very strict.
If an official sees a player who has more color than is allowed, he calls for an outfit change.
If a colored cladding is in question, the civil servant will bring out a tape measure to ensure that it corresponds to the official regulations.
Were there players who broke the dress code?
Over the years there have been a number of players who have tested the limits of the dress code, which inevitably led to a stricter enforcement.
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Andre Agassi boycotted Wimbledon from 1988 to 1990, especially because of the purely white dress code, since he preferred to wear tennis with living colors. (He inevitably wore everything in white when he decided in 1991 and took home the Grand Slam title the following year.)
In 2013, Roger Federer, an eight-time Wimbledon champion, was wearing white shoes with orange soles, which caused a frenzy at all England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. The following year Wimbledon strapped and clarified the rule of shoe sole colors.
The Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, have also exceeded the limits of the dress code. In 2010 and 2012, Serena Williams wore colorful signatures during the tournaments, which she did for good luck. (In 2010 and 2012 Williams won the women -Singles championship.)
In 2017, Venus Williams wore a pink bra for her match against Elise Mertens, which prompted the officials to ask her to change her kit.
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In the 2022 edition of the tournament, Nick Kyrgios broke the strict dress code and wore red and white Jordan gymnastics shoes and a full hat while walking on and off.
Has the dress code changed?
From the 2023 championships, women can now wear dark colored signatures, an update for the strict purely white clothing. The dark -colored shorts are also seen as a way to give players more confidence and lightness, especially if they are menstruation during the tournament. However, the signatures can still be no longer than their skirts or tennis shorts.
“I think it will certainly alleviate a lot of stress for me and other girls in the changing room,” 2025 French Open Champion and 2023 US Open Champion Coco Gauff in 2023 to Sky News.
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Other players applauded the change in the dress code and quoted the length that women competitors would not manage during the tournament.
“Last year I went to the pill to bleed because I knew we had to wear white signatures and I didn’t want to be embarrassed,” said Heather Watson, British tennis player Heather Wats, Sky News.
Over the centuries, the all-White tennis kit rule has found different changes. In 2022, an exception was granted by the dress code for players who wanted to show support for Ukraine in the middle of the current Russia/ Ukraine war. Players are allowed to wear blue and yellow.
How do players feel about the dress code?
While some players think that the purely white dress code is out of date, some include the tradition.
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After Kyrgios had broken the dress code with his Jordan gates and red baseball caps in 2022, he was later interviewed at a press conference. “Because I do what I want. I’m not about the rules,” he replied. “I just like wearing my Jordan.”
In 2015, Federer also criticized the extent that the purely white rule won strictly. “I love Wimbledon, but they went too far now,” he said in a press conference. “The rules have become ridiculously strict. I would be in favor of loosening it a little. But it is what it is.”
However, some competitors such as Alison Riske-Amritraj, Mihaela Buzarnescu and Tommy Paul have nothing to do. “It is very elegant. I really hope that you will keep this tradition forever because it is something else. You don’t always have to see colors for people’s clothing,” said Buzarnescu in a press conference on the 2022 tournament.
Wimbledon tennis outfits over the years [PHOTOS]
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Start gallery: Wimbledon -Tennis -outfits over the years [PHOTOS]
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