The all-white dress code at Wimbledon dates back to the 1800s, when it was considered improper and unsightly for players' sweat stains to be visible on their clothing. White was chosen as the ideal color because it best conceals sweat marks. This tradition has been maintained by Wimbledon organizers ever since, despite some criticism from players over the years.

In 2022, Wimbledon did make a small concession to the dress code by allowing female players to wear dark-coloured undershorts beneath their white skirts or shorts, in response to concerns about menstruation and player comfort. However, the core requirement for players to wear predominantly white attire remains in place.