THE JOURNAL
For a few short weeks of summer, London’s leafy suburb of SW19 becomes the most glamorous corner of the planet. As host to the Wimbledon tournament, the neighbourhood’s All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club famously attracts A-list celebrities and royals to its stands, all dressed in their chicest garb. On court, the stars of the sport are undeniably at their smartest, clad in crisp, clean tennis whites in accordance with the unyielding dress code.
For the past 20 years, Polo Ralph Lauren has had a hand in elevating the Wimbledon tournament to the most stylish of the Grand Slam championships, playing official sponsor as well as outfitter of the ball persons and court officials. And this season, to honour the milestone, the label has gifted us a brand-new capsule collection that channels traditional tennis core with a relaxed, modern ease.
It makes sense, really, that Polo Ralph Lauren and Wimbledon have had such an enduring love-in for all these years. Though the brand is proudly all-American, and Wimbledon is as English as trifle, you could say both occupy the same universe. Heritage, elegance and sporting traditions are integral to Polo Ralph Lauren’s rarefied world, which in turn looks a lot like the manicured grass courts and ivy-strewn clubhouses of Wimbledon. It’s this shared shorthand that informs the collaboration, an undeniably cool reimagining of preppy summertime pieces. Think polished and collegiate – but not too genteel.
No surprises that this capsule comes packed full of thirst-quenchingly cool whites, the go-to hue of the tournament. A breezy, white linen shirt is one of the foundational elements of the collection, embroidered with a varsity-style crest for added cachet, while a classic cricket-style sweater vest in cable knit is made all the more luxurious via a blend of linen, cotton and cashmere.
On balmier days, pair them with the brand’s aptly named Prepster shorts: a straight-leg drawstring style in linen that sits at just the right height (not quite short-shorts, but certainly not dad-on-vacation territory). Otherwise, team with the cotton-twill trousers in a slim-fit – they’re crafted with just a little stretch for comfort and sure to become your fallbacks this season.
The brand’s latest riff on the rugby is cast in white-and-green stripes that nod to the clean lines of the court and emblazoned with graphic lettering. (Take cues from our stylist on cooler days and layer both for extra dimension.) Team this with the capsule’s cap, in a matching Vintage Pine green. Also shown, the official duffle bag is trimmed with sporty webbing and the tournament’s logo, with plenty of room for a change of clothes, shoes and a water bottle.
And above, the brand has thrown in a satin bomber jacket – the undeniable star of the show – that lends it all an athletic, downtown edge and knocks things back a touch. Taken all together, it’s a foolproof edit of summer outfits that’ll win you the best-dressed trophy in straight sets.