Wimbledon fashion through the years: Naomi Osaka, Rafael Nadal and the most iconic all-white looks
While Wimbledon continues to enforce its famous clothing rules, fashion remains an enduring part of the tournament’s identity.
Naomi Osaka. (Photo: AP)
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Naomi Osaka knows how to create a buzz with her walk-on outfits at Grand Slam tennis tournaments.
Wimbledon throws up some challenges, however, with its all-white regulations.
Osaka, who likened one of her French Open ensembles to the Eiffel Tower, had a message for fans this week after Nike released her 2026 Wimbledon playing dress to the public.
“You guys selling out my Wimby dress before I even had the opportunity to wear it on court is really gagging me. Okay fashionistas, I see you! (I got you for the walk on though),” she wrote on social media.
Will it be iconic? We’ll see.
Here are some memorable fashion moments in Wimbledon history:
ANNE WHITE’S BODYSUIT IN 1985
Yes, a bodysuit. Neck to ankles. All white, mind you, but apparently not appropriate.
White wore the outfit for her first-round match against Pam Shriver. They split the first two sets before play was suspended because of darkness. White came out the next day in more traditional wear – and lost the match.
White said in a Sky Sports documentary – Fit for Purpose – that the tournament referee told her “that I can’t wear that suit again, it was not deemed suitable attire in the eyes of the All England Club.”
“I wanted to prove a point that – it was fashion and function – and I think I was just a little ahead of my time.”
The bodysuit was created by tennis clothing designer Ted Tinling – a name associated with several Wimbledon fashion moments over the years.
GOING VINTAGE IN CRICKET PANTS
Trey Waltke sported an all-white vintage look for his 1983 first-round match against former champion Stan Smith – he of the iconic Adidas shoe.
Giving 1920s vibes in cricket pants that he bought locally plus a button-up shirt, he advanced and then wore it again in the second round against Ivan Lendl – this time on Centre Court.
“I just did it because I thought it would be fun and different. I didn’t think I was going to be in Time magazine, which I was,” Waltke told The Associated Press in a phone interview from California.
Waltke hadn’t informed anyone – including Wimbledon – of his plans. He said he bought cricket pants at sports retailer Lillywhites.
“They weren’t terrible. They weren’t the most flexible once I put a ball or two in the pocket, but they were fine.”
After the first match, the designer Tinling tracked down the American and said “Young man, you don’t have the proper attire until you have your club tie as your belt,” Waltke recalled. “So, he asked if he could take my pants and actually sew some belt loops on it and put a Wimbledon tie in there. I said, ‘Sure, go ahead.’”
Waltke then lost in straight sets to Lendl.
BRAZIL STAR MARIA BUENO PUSHES BOUNDARIES
Bueno, a three-time Wimbledon singles champion, in 1962 wore a Tinling outfit that was “bursting with coloured petals,” the Lawn Tennis Association wrote.
For the following year’s tournament, the All England Club specified that players must be dressed “predominantly in white.” Years later, that was upgraded to “almost entirely white.”
Tinling was also behind Gertrude “Gussie” Moran’s outfit at Wimbledon in 1949. It was deemed inappropriate because the undergarment had lace trimming.
VAMOS: NADAL’S PIRATE PANTS
Call them what you like – pirate pants, ‘piratas,’ pantaloons – Rafael Nadal’s capri-style, three-quarter shorts in 2005 were of great interest to the staid spectators of Wimbledon.
The charismatic teenager had just won the French Open – his first Grand Slam title – at age 19 in the talked-about long shorts and a sleeveless shirt. He brought the same look to London – this time in all white. Nadal lost in the second round but reached the final against Roger Federer in each of the next three editions, winning in 2008.
SINNER MAKES QUITE AN ENTRANCE
Two years before winning the 2025 singles title, the Italian star created a buzz by walking onto court carrying a Gucci duffel bag, which displayed Gucci’s GG monogram. It was a departure from Wimbledon tradition. On his other shoulder he carried his white Head bag containing his tennis rackets.
The All England Club clearly didn’t mind. In a TikTok post, Wimbledon said it was one of Sinner’s “iconic” moments: “Walking on to Centre Court with a custom-made Gucci bag.”
Wimbledon’s white-clothing rules note that, “Medical supports and equipment should be white if possible but may be coloured if absolutely necessary.”
Regarding logos, the clothing rules say “logos formed by variations of material or patterns are not acceptable.” A paragraph on shoes adds: “Large manufacturers’ logos are not encouraged.”
WHAT ELSE DO THE RULES SAY?
Players “must be dressed in suitable tennis attire that is almost entirely white – there should be no solid mass or panel of colouring other than females’ dark undershorts should they choose to wear them.”
White “does not include off-white or cream.” Even the underbills of caps and soles of sneakers must be white.
The clothing rules have several references to colour, such as a single trim of colour around the neckline or down the outside seam of shorts and skirts being not wider than one centimeter (less than half an inch).
“The (All England Club) currently works collaboratively with around 25-30 different manufacturers to ensure clothing worn on court meets the rules,” the club said in its 2026 clothing rule guidelines.
Source: AP/yy
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