The Wimbledon Effect: Why wellness has always been chic

When healthy habits are woven into culture (whether through fashion, design or tradition) they become easier to embrace and, ultimately, easier to sustain. Point in case: Wimbledon. 

For two weeks of the summer, our social feeds become a sea of crisp white tailoring, pleated mini skirts, and linen suits. We can’t escape the style roundups of those sat courtside, and the players' outfits are now sparking just as much conversation as their match points.  

I mean, have you seen some of the outfits on court? Naomi Osaka donned an intricate white lace Nike dress and quickly became the standout look of the entire tournament, whilst Coco Gauff’s custom New Balance kit and Emma Raducanu’s all-white ensemble proved performancewear is putting personal expression and functionality at the forefront of design.  

It’s easy to roll your eyes and ask what sports has become. Is Wimbledon just another fashion show? Is wellness an excuse to sell this aesthetic? Between perfectly curated gym routines, colour-coordinated bottles and trainers, and ‘clean girl’ morning rituals, looking healthy can feel more important than actually being healthy.  

But Wimbledon doesn’t fall under this new umbrella. In fact, the tennis tournament is the forefather of blending style, performance, and wellbeing – for nearly 150 years. The famous all-white dress code dates back to the Victorian era. This is because visible sweat marks were considered improper, so white clothing helped disguise perspiration whilst also helping you stand out elegantly against the lush green tennis court. 

Previously being a pastime of the upper classes in Britain, the lines of practicality and presentation were always blurred. Wimbledon remains one of the few sports events where spectators and athletes dress as carefully as each other.  

With the officials clad in Ralph Lauren and the Royal Box in pristine tailoring, we are seeing a shift in some of Wimbledon's traditions, too. The players are putting their own spin on the intersection where style and performance can coexist. Osaka’s delicate lace floor-length piece by Tokyo-based designer Yaga Hani was inspired by Japanese ceremonial dresses, adorned with cranes and cherry blossom, to symbolise good fortune, renewal, and longevity. It was a considered nod to culture, contemporary fashion, and how style can exist in performance wear without compromising her play. And it also - importantly - adhered to Wimbledon’s dress code. The message is clear… elite sport doesn’t have to sacrifice individuality and style.  

The same can be said for the wellness habits on and off the court. Hydration, recovery, and nutrition have all been reinvented in recent years. Once confined to elite athletes and sports scientists, electrolytes now appear on office desks, in gym bags, and before the morning coffee. Reusable bottles are accessories in their own right, and wellness has learnt that people are more likely to engage with healthy habits when they feel accessible, enjoyable, and above all, aesthetically pleasing.  

It's become fashionable to mock this shift. Of course, the internet loves to joke about influencers carrying electrolyte sachets or documenting every wellness ritual. Sometimes the criticism is fair – no expensive water bottle or carefully curated supplement can replace consistent sleep, balanced nutrition, or regular movement. 

But beneath the aesthetics lies something genuinely positive. Wimbledon is proof that hydration isn't a trend, but a necessity built into the culture of performance. During long, high-temperature matches, players are encouraged to rehydrate regularly, and when the heat stress index exceeds 30.1°C, a 10-minute break between sets (15 minutes for wheelchair matches) is introduced to allow competitors to cool down and replenish fluids. 

The same thinking extends beyond Centre Court to the spectators and those who aren’t competing. Across the grounds, there are more than 100 free water refill stations, whilst visitors can buy a reusable Evian refill bottle to top up throughout the day. Spectators are even encouraged to bring their own bottles and refill them regularly, particularly between matches and changeovers. 

It's a reminder that hydration isn't reserved for elite athletes. Whether you're spending eight hours queueing on Henman Hill, walking the grounds or simply navigating a busy summer day, replacing fluids is one of the simplest ways to support energy, concentration and overall wellbeing. And perhaps that's the real lesson from Wimbledon: wellness and style have never been mutually exclusive. Looking after yourself doesn't have to be stripped back or utilitarian. When healthy habits are woven into culture (whether through fashion, design or tradition) they become easier to embrace and, ultimately, easier to sustain. 

Perhaps that's why wellness has become so visible. We often assume that if something looks polished, it must be superficial, yet history suggests otherwise. Running shoes became everyday fashion because running became aspirational. Yoga entered the mainstream once it moved beyond specialist studios. Tennis skirts now fill high streets not because everyone plays tennis, but because they represent movement, confidence and an active lifestyle. 

Wimbledon understood this long before social media did. For generations, it has shown that performance and presentation complement each other. If beautiful design encourages someone to drink more water, move their body or take recovery seriously, perhaps aesthetics aren’t distracting healthy habits, but instead beginning to encourage them.  

Photo credit: @athletevanity