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One of the main reasons Wimbledon is viewed as such a traditional Grand Slam is because the competitors must wear all-white clothing. I’m sure you have picked up on this if you have watched any of the matches from the Wimbledon draw this year. However, while many of us just accept this as part of the tournament, the unique dress code actually has an interesting history.
This history and the emergence of players wearing white at Wimbledon is what I shall be focusing on and discussing today. So, if you’d like to know where this famous tradition comes from, make sure you read through the sections below.
The origins of Wimbledon’s unique dress code
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Like any traditions associated with tennis or other sports, the all-white dress code at Wimbledon didn’t come from nowhere. In fact, this particular rule actually dates back to the Victorian era, which indicates just how old the All England Club actually is. There is a strong connection between this era and the class of people who typically played tennis back then as well.
Essentially, tennis was very much a sport played by the upper classes in those early days, and it was these upper-class Victorians who sowed the seeds for the dress code we see at Wimbledon today. As for their reasoning behind selecting white, here are a few of the key beliefs of the time:
- Hiding sweat marks
Not only was coloured clothing seen as ‘improper’ in the late 1800s, but white clothing was desired to hide sweat marks on the player’s garments.
- Keeping cool
Although not always the case, if people played at Wimbledon in the summer months, one of the main reasons for white clothing was to reflect the heat and stay cool.
- Status symbol
While coloured clothing was frowned upon and viewed as inferior back then, white clothing was widely considered a symbol of wealth and elitism.
The finer details of Wimbledon’s dress code in the modern era
Now that you know where the all-white rule at Wimbledon stems from, let’s bring the focus back to modern-day times. Of course, players are still required to wear all-white clothing when competing at Wimbledon. But there are a few specifics of the rule that most tennis fans probably wouldn’t be aware of.
For example, cream-coloured clothing does not constitute ‘white’ in the eyes of the All England Club. Additionally, the white clothes worn when competing must also be considered ‘suitable tennis attire’ as per the official rules. Lastly, when it comes to any colour being shown, this is only allowed around the sleeve cuffs and neckline, and it is not allowed to exceed 1 cm in width.
See – those rules are stricter than many of us think!
Why has the all-white rule been kept to this very day?
It goes without saying that the initial reasons for the dress code at Wimbledon would be frowned upon if they were created today. Then again, that’s just the way of the world, and rules and traditions evolve along with society. However, given that the All England Club is still a regular members club, it is the choice of those connected with the club to keep this rule in place.
As a result, Wimbledon is still hailed as the most traditional of all tournaments on the professional tour.
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