American tennis player Karol Fageros was banned from competing at Wimbledon in 1958 after officials deemed her gold lamé underwear a violation of the tournament's dress code. The 24-year-old had worn shimmering gold lamé pants beneath her skirt at the 1958 French Open, drawing widespread attention whenever her skirt flew up during serves.
Officials Feared Distraction
Wimbledon secretary Duncan MacAuley banned Fageros from that year's Championships, fearing the glittering undergarments “might put her opponents off,” according to a 1959 New York Times article. British journalists became “terribly flustered” in her presence, and the publicity earned her a Hollywood screen test. However, Fageros admitted the extra attention hurt her performance: “I’d serve, my skirt would fly up, and I’d hear someone in the stands snigger. After that, I could hardly hit the ball back anymore.”
Reinstatement and Legacy
Wimbledon officials eventually relented and allowed Fageros to compete after she agreed to cover the gold lamé with white lace. She reached the third round of the women's singles that year. The incident remains an early example of the All England Club's all-white dress code, which dates back to the Victorian era to disguise sweat stains. Since 1963, players have been required to wear “predominantly white” clothing, with rules tightened in 2014 to “almost entirely white.”
Modern Reforms
The 2014 rule sparked controversy when several female players were told to remove their bras. British player Naomi Broady, then world number 76, played braless during her second-round loss to Caroline Wozniacki. Campaigners from Address The Dress Code pushed for changes, citing concerns for menstruating players. In 2022, Wimbledon relaxed its rules, allowing women to wear dark-colored undershorts beneath skirts or shorts.
