Are Wimbledon’s spectators turning their back on stylish attire?

It was once the destination to spot celebrities dressed in their Sunday best while watching world class tennis.

But the standards have since slipped, with A-Listers filling the VIP seats at the All England Lawn, Tennis and Croquet Club in garments better suited to Saturday night. 

While competitors at Wimbledon must be dressed in white, there are few guidelines for attendees to abide by, rather it is an unspoken rule that guests arrive in smart attire.

In 2023, celebrities filled the stands dressed in dapper suits, including Daniel Craig, Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Jackman.

This year tells a different story, with Romeo Beckham arriving in white t-shirt and suede jacket and singer Grace Jones sporting a navy boiler suit, while the focal point of snooker player Ronnie O’Sullivan’s outfit was a rumpled, loose-fitting shirt.

Attendees are not obliged to wear suits when they arrive at SW19, but it has become a common choice for many attending the event.

Last year, the stars packed out the VIP seats at the All England Lawn, Tennis and Croquet Club to watch Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz triumph over Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the Men’s Final.

Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz were spotted taking their seats as the rain began to fall on Centre Court, while fellow action man Brad Pitt arrived with director, Guy Ritchie.

Brad, who was in the UK for his film Apex, shooting scenes at Silverstone the weekend prior, beamed as he sat alongside Guy, who he worked with on the hit 2000 film, Snatch. Both dressed shirts, with the film producer opting to add a tie.

Daniel and Rachel meanwhile made a rare outing together to enjoy the final, with the actress looking chic in a cream blazer while her Bond star husband was dapper in a suit and tie.

Meanwhile, Tom Hiddleston looked smart in a light blue and white striped shirt which he paired with a navy blazer and a pair of matching tailored trousers.  He was joined by his partner Zawe Ashton, who looked the epitome of chic in a blue floral midi dress that featured a sweetheart neckline.

Fast forward to 2024 and celebrities have channelled a different aesthetic when it comes to their attire.

Romeo Beckham looked the spitting image of his famous father, David, as he watched Emma Raducanu and Elise Mertens take on a gruelling match on the third day of Wimbledon.

The football player, 21, beamed from ear to ear while watching the game as he made the most out of the sport event at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in south-west London.

He’s known for his love of casual attire and streetwear, but when Romeo sat in the stands next to his friends dressed in blue shirts, he stuck out in his lowkey white t-shirt.

The 21-year-old wasn’t the only one, and Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios made an even more casual mark than the second son of Victoria and David Beckham. 

Nick, 29, from Canberra, who has competed at Wimbledon win, donned a ’90s style Chicago Bulls jersey and baseball cap. 

Meanwhile, Grace Jones, 76, was photographed in the stands looking typically stylish, but a far cry from smart casual.

The Jamaican American singer-songwriter and model took to the stands in a navy boiler suit and sported two pairs of sunglasses – aviators over her eyes and sporty shades sat on top of her Biggles hat.

Snooker player Ronnie O’Sullivan followed suit and opted for a casual look, wearing a navy oversized shirt.

Ronnie and his lookalike daughter Lilly were spotted in the Royal Box at Wimbledon last Tuesday, avidly watching the action-packed second day of the tennis tournament.

The snooker player, 48, looked transfixed as he watched the first-round match between Novak Djokovic and Vit Kopriva at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in south west London.

The seven-time world champion brought along his daughter Lilly, 18, who he shares with ex Jo Langley.

It appears the general public is as confused about the Wimbledon dress code as celebrities. 

Acknowledging that last year, Wimbledon released its first range of ‘smart casual’ clothing for spectators as the championship said many visitors are unsure of what to wear to the event. 

Now The All England Lawn Tennis Club has released a new ‘semi-formal’ range which will allow all guests to wear something ‘from Wimbledon to Wimbledon’ and ‘stylish options to wear, to watch, as well as play, tennis’.

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The range, which was designed on site in SW19, includes cotton chino trousers and striped dresses, with prices starting from £40 and rising to £250.

David Hewitt, head of retail and merchandise at Wimbledon, said: ‘We are continually looking to push the boundaries of this Collection, and moving beyond sportswear with the release of our semi-formal capsule is exciting new territory for us. 

‘The team has designed some really attractive pieces, inviting our guests to wear something from Wimbledon to Wimbledon for the first time – for me, that’s something really special.’ 

Designed just steps away from Centre Court, the club claimed the collection ‘continues to grow in confidence and size’, showcasing Wimbledon’s ‘relevance both on and off the court’.

The organisers claimed they hoped the pieces would ‘provide stylish options to wear, to watch, as well as play, tennis’.

According to the club, in the three weeks leading up to the tournament, there is a 404 per cent spike in online searches for ‘What to wear to Wimbledon’ and ‘Wimbledon dress code’.

The club is hoping to capitalise on the ‘Tenniscore’ trend which continues to dominate both on and off-court.