A ‘Non-White’ Album: These Fashionistas Defied Wimbledon and How

Even in a strict all-white club, some tennis stars stood out in their decision to rope in colour.

This year’s royal box at the Wimbledon has been as awash with colour as can be. The Duchess of Cambridge chose a bright tomato red, while Prince William donned an indigo blue; Billie Jean King flaunted a pearls-and-jade-jacket combo with panache, while the rest of the colour crew had been brought up by a smiling Beckham and partners of the players.

Yes, this is merely a potpourri of off-court fashion, and yes, it’s kinda hard to be creative or fashionable when you take to the court — and the VERY strict all-white dress code at Wimbledon. But that doesn’t mean no one’s trying. Roger Federer was pretty vociferous about his feelings when he called the all-white dress code ‘extreme’ and as if from the 1950s.

Gone are the days when players would saunter off court in meek polos and pleated skirts (all white, of course). The White Club at Wimbledon is constantly adding colour to itself — as the fashionistas on court stoutly prove.

Here’s taking a look at the men and women who dared!

Serena Williams

Serena Williams stuck to the dress code — albeit in style. The defending champion wore a dress with see-through mesh detailing made by Nike, on the first day of the Grand Slam.

Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova, for her opening match, chose a low-cut V-neck dress with graphic print overlay — also by Nike.

Caroline Wozniacki

Caroline Wozniacki worked with Adidas and acclaimed designer Stella McCartney to come up with this unique tennis outfit! The midriff cut-out dress adds edge to the Danish star’s personality — while the gold trimmed shorts add a shocking bit of colour.

Camila Giorgi

Unfortunately, Italy’s Camila Giorgi, while standing out from the crop in a VERY different version of white, showed how quickly lace can go wrong. Too much lace isn’t a good thing — and Giorgi needs a quick pair of scissors.

Eugenie Bouchard

The rise of the risque has been anything but gradual in the case of Eugenie Bouchard, however. This up-and-comer from Canada was reportedly handed a dress code violation during her first-round defeat to Ying-Ying Duan. the reason? She was wearing a black bra — which broke the all-mighty pillars of ‘whitehood’ at the Wimbledon. Horror of horrors!

The 21-year-old was wearing a white sports bra underneath her vest – but a black one underneath that. To show up in something like that in a tournament that monitors even underwear, Bouchard’s sartorial choice — if anything — was viewed as a transgression.

The tournament ultimately decided against taking any action in the case.

We, for one, are with Federer on this one. “I love Wimbledon but they’ve gone too far now. The rules have become ridiculously strict,” declared the Swiss legend. We can’t help but agree.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands

“I didn’t even get married in white.”

This hearty proclamation by flamboyant American player Bethanie Mattek-Sands probably sums it up for all eternity.

Mattek-Sands is hands-down the most controversially dressed player on the circuit, this year choosing to flaunt knee-high socks! She has also been known to frequently dye her hair a variety of colours — all as pop as can be — and also sports a prominent coloured tattoo on one arm.

One of the most significant things Mattek-Sands said, however, was a throwback to the Wimbledon of yore — when colour wasn’t the enemy. And when players weren’t constantly conscious of trims on underwear showing while they played their best game.

I was actually Googling some players like when John McEnroe played, Arthur Ashe — they had colour everywhere. They had colour on their sleeves, big stripes, they were coming out in colour jackets. So I feel it’s actually gotten stricter.
— Bethanie Mattek-Sands

A Heartwarming Look at Wimbledon Through the Years...

Mattek-Sands and Federer aren’t too far off the mark in their protestations.

Just take a look at the broad black strips on the outfits worn by John McEnroe and Steffi Graf in this old file photo!

Here’s Stefan Edberg playing his last Wimbledon — and proudly flashing green.

And could there BE (in the words of Chandler) a more striking photograph than the one below. Boris Becker’s white is anything but all-white — spangled generously with splashes of blue.

Yes, times have changed. Years have rolled by and the ‘higher clergy’ (read: white police) at Wimbledon has gotten progressively stricter. But perhaps the challenge for today’s crop is to keep pulling a rabbit out of the hat every time — trying to infuse a bit of creativity.

Caroline Wozniacki seems to have the last word on this one — at least to put this year’s debate to rest:

I think every tennis player enjoys to play with a tiny little bit of colour. In the end of the day, we do that every other week of the year. It’s fun to try to be creative even though you have to wear white.
— Caroline Wozniacki

We’re sure we haven’t heard the end of this.