What men wear to Wimbledon

Men's clothes for Wimbledon: five complete outfits, from a shirt and chinos to summer tailoring, plus two separate looks for women planning the same day.

There is a particular pleasure in giving familiar clothes a more interesting appointment. The blue shirt usually worn to work, the loafers kept by the door, a jacket that has spent too long waiting for a reason: Wimbledon can be that reason without requiring an entirely new wardrobe.

Begin with the shirt and trousers, because they may be visible for much longer than the jacket. Choose their colours together, check their fit and put on the intended shoes. A jacket can then add shape or warmth; it need not conceal all the decisions you have postponed underneath it.

What men need to know about the dress code

Ordinary spectators do not have to wear a suit, jacket, tie or white clothing. Keith Prowse's current hospitality guidance also makes jackets and ties optional, accepts tailored shorts and smart, clean trainers, and excludes jeans and sports trainers. Private invitations and restricted areas require their own check.

Our Wimbledon dress-code guide separates those arrangements. Once the access is settled, choose the degree of dress you enjoy. A suit can be a fine way to mark a long-awaited visit; it is not the price of admission to an ordinary seat.

For him: five Wimbledon outfit ideas

The open-collar shirt and chinos

A blue Oxford-style shirt, stone chinos and brown loafers offer a useful starting point. Examine the weight of the cotton: some Oxford cloth is quite substantial, despite the shirt's relaxed associations. If the day is hot, a lighter version may be preferable. The collar should remain comfortable and reasonably settled with the top button open.

Add a navy jacket if you want one, and a brown belt whose scale suits the waistband. Keep the trousers clear of the ankle rather than allowing several folds to collect over the loafer. There should be sufficient room through the thigh and seat; a narrow cut that opens the pockets sideways looks less tidy than one with some ease.

For ordinary admission, familiar clean trainers and an overshirt make a more relaxed version. Hospitality footwear guidance should be checked against the particular pair, not the general cleanliness of your intentions.

The green polo and pale trousers

Forest green gives pale grey trousers a deeper colour beside the face, with dark brown shoes continuing that depth below. A fine-gauge knit produces a softer surface; cotton piqué makes a more sporting impression. Choose the fabric for how it feels on the body as well as for the outline it gives.

Check the shoulder seam and sleeve opening. A polo should not make a tight ring around the upper arm or draw across the stomach when you reach. A lightweight navy jacket can be useful later, provided its sleeves allow room for the polo rather than pushing the cuffs upwards.

The summer suit

Tobacco with an ivory shirt and brown loafers has warmth without brightness. Pale grey with a blue shirt and black shoes gives a cooler alternative. Compare actual garments: open-weave wool, cotton and linen blends can all work, depending on the weight, lining and cut. Light colour alone does not make a suit suitable for a warm day.

Sit down and reach forward in the jacket. It should permit both movements without pulling heavily across the back, while the trouser waistband should remain comfortable. Linen will develop creases; examine whether you like that softer appearance before choosing it. A suit need not remain as it looked under the shop's steamer to remain attractive.

A small silk-patterned tie can add a good piece of colour if you enjoy wearing one. Give a pocket square a related but different role, rather than buying a matching set by default. An open collar is equally available where the invitation permits it.

The striped shirt and darker trouser

A fine green stripe on white cotton brings a modest amount of drawing to navy trousers. Dark loafers keep the lower half composed; familiar clean trainers make an alternative for ordinary admission. A plain overshirt allows the stripe to remain the main pattern if another layer is needed.

Choose a shirt cut for being untucked if that is how you intend to wear it. A long formal tail can disturb the proportion of a fairly short jacket or overshirt. If you tuck it in, leave enough ease to reach without pulling it tight across the back or drawing it out of the waistband at once.

Tailored shorts for a warm day

Navy or stone tailored shorts work with a pale linen shirt and shoes chosen for the route. They are an option for ordinary spectators and are expressly permitted by Keith Prowse's current policy. Do not assume the same permission accompanies a different private invitation.

Choose a length and width that feel comfortable at a table and in a court seat. The waistband should sit easily, with pockets that do not gape or swing with everything you have put in them. Include a light overshirt or rain layer if the forecast requires it; shorts can suit the afternoon without solving the journey home.

For her: accompanying looks with their own character

A dress alongside tailoring

A clear blue shirt dress, tan flats and red bag can share a day with a summer suit while keeping a character of its own. The red supplies a small interruption to the blue; a cream cardigan softens the contrast when added. A silk square is another optional detail if you enjoy its drawing, though the dress does not depend on one.

Check the front buttons and belt while seated. Secure sandals can replace the flats in warmth, or a familiar low block heel may suit your preference and route. No general spectator rule requires a heel, and somebody else's decision to wear a suit does not create one.

Trousers alongside a polo

Ivory trousers, a rust sleeveless knit and brown loafers offer a warmer palette than the green polo. A blue cotton shirt can replace the knit, with a navy cardigan for later. Check the ivory cloth in daylight and set its hem for the intended shoes; wide trousers need not sweep the ground to fall well.

For hospitality, each person's clothes and shoes need to meet the provider's guidance independently. There is no requirement to make the two outfits equally formal in appearance. Companions can agree on a meeting time without agreeing on a colour scheme.

The details that make the clothes work

Wear familiar socks or liners with loafers and lace-ups. Use a suitable soft bag within the entry limit for heavier objects, leaving pockets to hold only what they can accommodate comfortably. Bring glasses and sun protection; a hat must be manageable when removed and must not obstruct another spectator. A small silk scarf is a personal option, not a replacement for a tie required by an invitation.

Before leaving, take off the jacket and look at the remaining colours. That small exercise often reveals whether the shirt needs a different trouser or simply a better tuck. You should be able to put the jacket over your arm without feeling that half your outfit has departed with it.