Nike recalls women's dresses from Wimbledon: The All England club and its all white dress code

Euginie Bouchard
Eugenie Bouchard in action at Wimbledon 

Nike has recalled dresses that were supposed to be worn by 20 of its sponsored women players at Wimbledon after raging complaints against them being too skimpy. Alhough the dresses did pass the thorough Wimbledon rules, the players complained of them jumping over the waistline and thus revealing too much.

This is one of the few occasions where the players have asked for a change rather than the All England Club.

Wimbledon is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious sports events in the world, one that has reached an iconic status and is a favourite among fans who come in hordes every year to watch the oldest of the four Grand Slams which takes places at the All England Club in London during the English Summer.

There are certain things which have become an indispensable part of Wimbledon, like strawberries and cream and the all-white dress code. Yes, the all-white dress code is one of the strictest dress codes anywhere, and can be considered stricter than the dress code rules that were followed in our schools.

The rules state that players must be entirely dressed in almost all whites, and can face dire consequences like disqualification from the referee if they don’t comply by the rule. Many of tennis’ greats have had to face problems and were at the receiving end due to this rule, but how did this rule come about?

How did the all-white rule become a part of Wimbledon?

The history of wearing whites at Wimbledon can be traced back to the 1800s, when tennis was a sport played primarily by women in social gatherings. To avoid the embarrassment of the sight of sweaty patches on coloured clothing, which was considered inappropriate, the dress code was changed to white. The All England Club introduced Lawn Tennis in 1875, and this practice was still common during those days.

What exactly do the rules say?

The official website of the Wimbledon specify the exact rules that are to be followed by the players on the court when it comes to their clothing and equipment. Competitors must be dressed in suitable tennis attire that is almost entirely white and this applies from the point at which the player enters the court surround. White does not include off white or cream.

There should be no solid mass or panel of colouring. A single trim of colour around the neckline and around the cuff of the sleeve is acceptable but must be no wider than one centimetre (10mm). Colour contained within patterns will be measured as if it is a solid mass of colour and should be within the one centimetre (10mm) guide. Logos formed by variations of material or patterns are not acceptable.

The back of a shirt, dress, tracksuit top or sweater must be totally white. Shorts, skirts and tracksuit bottoms must be totally white except for a single trim of colour down the outside seam no wider than one centimetre (10mm). Caps, headbands, bandanas, wristbands and socks must be totally white except for a single trim of colour no wider than one centimetre (10mm).

Shoes must be almost entirely white, including the soles. Large manufacturers’ logos are not encouraged. The grass court shoes must adhere to the Grand Slam rules. In particular shoes with pimples around the outside of the toes shall not be permitted. The foxing around the toes must be smooth.

Any undergarments that either are or can be visible during play (including due to perspiration) must also be completely white except for a single trim of colour no wider than one centimetre (10mm). In addition, common standards of decency are required at all times. Medical supports and equipment should be white if possible but may be coloured if absolutely necessary.

Roger Federer Wimbledon
Roger Federer was warned in Wimbledon in 2013 for having worn shoes with Orange soles

What happens when a player breaks the rules?

When players violate the strict dress code that has to be followed at the All England Club during the Wimbledon, they receive a complaint outfit. Players are asked to change their clothes and come back in clothing that abides by the rules of the games and is appropriate to wear on the court. Being white in colour, replacement clothing is always available for the players who make a quick change if they aren’t wearing white, much to their dismay.

Are there rules for accessories and tattoos too?

Quite surprisingly, the rules are quite lenient when it comes to accessories worn by players, so it the players have tattoos on their bodies. Visible tattoos are allowed on the court, as we have seen many tattooed players playing at Wimbledon over the years. The rules may apply to the clothing, but they do not apply to accessories like hair extension. During the late 1990s a young Venus Williams was seen playing with green and purple hair beads, which attracted quite a bit of attraction, but did not have any disapproval from the Wimbledon officials.

Have players ever broken the dress code rules?

There have been several instances when players were asked to have a change in their clothing, because of not following the dress code and meeting with the standards of Wimbledon. In 2013, Roger Federer was given a warning and was told to change his shoes for the next match, after he was seen playing in white shoes with orange soles. Federer later said in an interview that the rules of the tournament are too strict. In 2002, Anna Kournikova was forced to replace her black shorts with a pair of white ones borrowed from her coach.

Andre Agassi refused to play at Wimbledon in the earlier years of his career, as he was not permitted to play in his signature garnish tops and denim shorts. In 2014, Martina Navratilova, a nine-time Wimbledon champion was asked to change her skirt as it had blue stripes on it. Maria Sharapova, who had defeated Serena Williams at the age of 17 in 2004 was warned by officials as she was wearing bright orange hot pants.

Will there be a change in the dress code?

The other three Grand Slams do not have such strict dress codes, and players find it quite difficult to adapt to the rules of Wimbledon and wear all whites for their matches. There have been certain changes in the other rules of Wimbledon though, like in 2003 a long-standing tradition of players requiring to bow to the Royal Box on the Centre Court was discontinued by the Duke of Kent. In 2006, the prize money of the winners for both the men’s and women’s categories was doubled. If changes will be brought to the dress code as well only time can tell.

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