Wimbledon held one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in London, England from June 29 to July 12. Starting in the late 1870s, the Wimbledon tournament has come a long way, now bringing in large crowds both in-person and online.
Beyond the games, fashion has become a central element of the tournament for both the celebrities who attend and the tennis players who decide to make a fashion statement with their uniforms.
Starting in Victorian Britain, a more conservative dress code began for viewers of the tennis games. The games soon became themed around garden parties, where women wore long dresses and corsets. Today, the expectations for outfits have evolved greatly, especially for women. While the garden theme is still considered appropriate for the event, many people have shown creativity through their outfits and have challenged the status quo for acceptable looks.
Vogue recommends some fashionable items to try this year at Wimbledon, such as a Dôen Benoit maxi dress, a Ralph Lauren cable-knit vest, Alex Mill loafers and, of course, all different kinds of classy jewelry to accessorize. The price tag on these pieces are sure to catch attention with some pieces priced around $300 and others priced in the thousands. Many of the looks described by Vogue have been created and cultivated by celebrities who have attended the tennis tournament in the past, such as Princess Diana, Lily Collins and Serena Williams.
With so many different looks this year from so many stars, there are a few looks from Wimbledon that stand out. Here are some of the highlights of fashion this 2026 season.
Alix Earle sported a princess-like white outfit, with lacy flowers from head to toe. During the July 7 match, she wore a two-piece set with a short skirt and corset top under a buttoned blazer. She went viral on social media for her look as people deemed her outfit inappropriate for the tennis tournament. Several comments made fun of her look saying her outfit seemed themed for Bridgerton or a tea event rather than Wimbledon. She took the criticism well, joking in an Instagram post of her at the event, “Off to Bridgerton… I mean Wimbleton.” Regardless of whether the outfit is appropriate or fitting of the theme, it is a gorgeous look on Earle as the white lace makes her look chic. Despite its beauty, Earle’s outfit might have been more palpable to social media viewers if her skirt had been longer and the outfit had a bit more structure in the design.
Jameela Jamil showed up at the event with two iconic looks both sharing the same theme: polka dots. Her first day look featured an off-the-shoulder black dress with white polka dots, matching her shoes and sunglasses. Her second day look featured a light brown dress with black polka dots. This look was paired with nude heels, a brown crossbody purse and large circular sunglasses. Her love of prints is shown throughout these looks and appears stylishly well suited.
Ralph Lauren could be seen frequently on many guests at Wimbledon, but two looks stood out among them.
The first was Michaela Coel’s outfit. Her intricate and well-tailored black blazer with white pinstripes was paired with white pants, black heels and a black handbag. The tailoring of this look really makes it one of the most enchanting outfits this year, as her gorgeous blazer sets the look over the edge, tying the outfit together with an elegant and smart look.
The second look was from none other than Anna Wintour. In a rare moment, Wintour does not don her usual florals and instead wears a colored and striped jumper. The look is matched with light sandals and, of course, sunglasses. The outfit is fashionable and posh on Wintour, proving she can look good in more than her usual apparel. The Ralph Lauren look fits the classy tennis aesthetic that Wintour aimed to portray.
Kate Middleton is someone that everyone looks out for at Wimbledon as she has fashioned several classy outfits in the past. This year, Middleton shocked guests of the event by getting behind the counter and helping hand out tickets. She could be seen wearing a wool-silk-linen blended blue suit with a white shirt. She paired this look with white and blue dangling earrings and a ponytail.
On day eight of the tournament, Middleton did not return to the event, instead choosing to visit Evelina London Children’s Hospital. However, her mother and sister, Carole and Pippa Middleton, did make an appearance at Wimbledon, both wearing white dresses. Pippa wore a rose printed white maxi dress with white heels and a white sunhat designed with a red band. Carole was seen wearing a simple white dress accessorized with a blue blazer, similar to the one Kate wore prior. She also wore white heels to the event.
With an all white dress code and the need for athleticism, tennis players have much less leeway when innovating looks. Despite this, one of the best looks came from one of the tennis stars.
Naomi Osaka is one of the professional tennis players who played at the Wimbledon Championships. She was born in Japan and moved to Florida where she honed in on her tennis skills. She has won consecutive titles for Grand Slam in 2019 and won a WTA title in 2018. Osaka is known for making statements through what she wears, such as arriving at the U.S. Open wearing a face mask with the names of Black individuals who had been murdered by police.
For this year’s Wimbledon, Osaka was dressed in a gorgeous full kimono-style outfit during the quarterfinals. The look, designed by Hana Yagi, was inspired by Japanese ceremonial traditional dress. The outfit features embroidered cranes and cherry blossoms layered over an athletic Nike tennis kit. The look is finished with Mikimoto jewelry and a traditional hair piece.
Her creative director, Marty Harper, talks with Vogue about his vision and inspiration for Osaka saying, “It’s about carrying history forward rather than preserving it unchanged.”
While not all looks fit in the list, there were certainly a large number of beautiful fashion statements made this year. It is always inspiring to see how people will take on the challenge of fashion, especially during an event that is so traditional and prestigious. The inspiration behind Wimbledon fashion always makes the art behind them so much more meaningful, and future outfits are sure to only continue their evolution and spark conversation.
Kelly Saenz is an Arts & Entertainment Intern for the summer 2026 quarter. She can be reached at saenzkm@uci.edu.
Edited by Corinna Chin and Tracy Sandoval.
Interested in becoming an intern or a contributing writer for the Entertainment section?
Contact us at entertainment@newuniversity.org!