As we all know, the annual Wimbledon Championship, the infamous tennis tournament, has just recently ended after its three-week run. It is time we break down what exactly Wimbledon is, and why it has become the high-press event that it is.
There’s no denying that tennis has been in the mainstream for the last several years, perpetuated by the premiere of the movie, Challengers, starring Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor. But why do we see so many celebrities flocking to London to watch this three-week saga? Well, let’s go back to the beginning.
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Wimbledon began on July 9th,1877 on the lawns of the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London. The event was created initially to compensate for the waning interest in the club’s original sport, croquet. An announcement was put in the papers by the club saying that they were hosting a tournament and that any amateur tennis players were welcome. 22 men showed up and soon the numbers dwindled as the competition got fiercer. The popularity of the event grew and grew and by 1884, the first women’s tournament was being held. But how does that bring us to today? The popularity of the event grew as the years passed, only being put on pause from 1915-1918 and 1940-1945 due to the First and Second World Wars. The prize evolved from the original trophies being given to the winners to keep, then replicas of the trophies, to money in 1968. This was also the first year that professionals were allowed to play in the tournament, thus increasing its influence on current-day culture.
As more high-profile players joined the competition, so did their high-profile friends. The event has progressed into what we know today: the watering hole for high society.
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All of our favorite celebrities come dressed to the nines as if this were a daytime red carpet. The dress code for the event is simple: Classy, pastel colors, and chic. A few people to look towards for inspiration would be Julia Roberts, Her Royal Highness, Princess Kate Middleton, and actress Kaya Scodelario.
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All three women wore beautifully tailored looks that radiated elegance and class. They portrayed an essence of timelessness while still keeping a certain level of modernity in their styling. Roberts’ use of stacked jewelry brought her look from tennis court chic to red carpet glam and Scodelario elevated her textbook suit by having it made out of linen and pairing it with a darling little black purse and ascot. It’s simple, if you want to appear in Wimbledon’s best-dressed look, dress as if you come from old money.
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A massive no-no in the Wimbledon dress code is anything too flashy or brightly colored. A sheer fire way to become public enemy #1 in the eyes of the fashion community is to not honor the aesthetic of the event. A few of the worst dressed this year were Golda Rosheuvel, Hannah Waddingham, and Rebel Wilson. These three women all wore highly patterned garments that did not follow the color palette of the event, and, frankly, were just overwhelming to the senses. It is a delicate balance one must keep when dressing for an occasion such as this. Oftentimes many celebrities assume that the opulence of their other high press events will carry to one such as this. But that is not the case. While Wimbledon is a moment for fashion, we also have to remember its roots and recognize that, ultimately, the primary focus of the event is the skill and athleticism being performed.
When attending a high-class event like Wimbledon, it is important to remember the company that you are keeping and the precedent that has been set. Not only are you surrounded by literal royalty, but you also have a responsibility to uphold by being there. The Championships are an almost 150-year-old tradition, and it is important to recognize the prestige and privilege that it carries.
By Abigail Moynihan