Half the crowd at Wimbledon just turn up to dress up. Most of the media broadcasts are more about what people are wearing or what facial expressions they’re pulling than the actual match.
To prove our point, in the past 30 days alone, searches for ‘Tennis outfits’ have increased by 104% on Pinterest.
With the impact the tennis-inspired aesthetic has had on the world of fashion, Nick Drewe, Trend Expert and Founder of online discount platform Wethrift, got together with Vintage Dealer and Fashion Communication Lecturer Louisa Rodgers, to give us some insight into why the trend is set to dominate this Summer.
Nick says: “There is no doubt the renewed interest in the tennis-focused aesthetic was given a significant boost during the global press tour of the Tennis-themed Challengers movie earlier this year.
“Not only do traditional tennis garments, through the use of jersey polo shirts, v-neck cream jumpers, and crisp linens, offer timeless classic looks, but they are also functional and easy to replicate for several different occasions.
“During Wimbledon 2024, we are expecting to see plenty of these looks, which complement the popular ‘quiet luxury’ trend, and can be dressed up or down depending on the social occasion.
“Athleisure has exploded since the pandemic and made low-key dressing a high priority for those working from home and spending more time indoors.
“While interest in the Tennis-core trend may have been accelerated by the success of the Challengers movie, its resurgence arguably began with the ‘old money aesthetic’ going viral on TikTok.
“These looks speak to a different kind of luxury; one that looks at home at the Country Club. In that sense, Tennis-core suggests that you are leading a lifestyle that allows you access to these sports and spaces, a life where you have plenty of leisure time and money to spend.
“The key to this effortless look without sacrificing style, is to focus on high-quality materials in simple, staple pieces.
“For example, brands like Gildan and Fruit of the Loom are a go-to for seeking out cotton oversized sweatshirts with a variety of logos and designs on them. Similarly, Ralph Lauren is an obvious choice for rugby shirts in interesting colourways.
“Gen Z has already popularised the high sports sock and chunky dad trainer combo, but you can keep it feeling elegant by pairing it with cable knit cotton sweaters and bright white polo shirts.”
