Anyone for tennis (whites)?

Even if you haven’t been following the news, you can tell we’re in the middle of Wimbledon fortnight as the weather has been as variable as usual for this time of year! In Cornwall this week we have had scorching sunshine followed by mist and rain. On centre court however, it seems that the results haven’t been quite as predictable as the weather with our very own Great British Andy Murray still in the running at semi-final stage!

Wimbledon seems to epitomise the Great British traditions of cheering on the underdog while eating strawberries and cream and drinking Pimms while sitting outside in the pouring rain!

While I’m on the subject of traditions, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club where the Wimbledon championships are held still impose a strict dress code for competitors of “all white or at least nearly all white” clothing…

Images (left to right) courtesy of EPA and Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Luckily this summer white is very much in abundance on the high street as well as in our spring/summer collection!So if you would like to get into the spirit of Wimbledon and embrace the “white or at least nearly all white” instruction (well if it’s good enough for the Duchess of Cambridge, it’s good enough for us!), here are a few ways you could go about it…
Pure white cheesecloth; you can’t get much whiter! This is one of our best sellers from this season so far so I would suggest being quick off the mark if you want to make sure you can still buy one. The Smocked Cheesecloth Top looks brilliant with a belt to add a touch of colour. We styled it with another of our very popular pieces, the Lariat Suede Belt. This top is a brilliant cover-up for a day on the beach or can be worn as an original take on the sheer trend which is gracing the fashion pages this summer.
OK so the colour of this Sheer Knit Cowl jumper dress is “stone” but I think it passes very well as an alternative to white. I love the large cowl neck and the flattering shape of this dress. If it’s a chilly day, you can comfortably wear it over a long-sleeved summer tee and you can also dress it up by night with the addition of a pair of your favourite killer heels. Ace (gratuitous tennis pun intended…)!
Veering very much towards the “nearly all white” part of the dress code, the Trapeze Hem Top comes in a very attractive “chalk” shade. I love the pretty lace detailing around the neckline which adds a touch of intricate glamour and the top looks great with a pair of jeans for an elegant daytime look. Perfect for supping Pimms!