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Brits Miffed by Roger Federer’s Gold-Lamé–Accented Tennis Outfit

The Telegraph was so stunned by Roger Federer’s Wimbledon outfit yesterday that it devoted two articles to the subject. Well, the first was supposed to be chiefly about his tennis (you know, that sport he plays). Oh, if only the words “unique elegance” and “sublime” were in reference to his ensemble. But alas, no. The paper was rather horrified by it. Federer wore a military-style jacket over a gold-lamé-accented waistcoat, which in turn hid a white T-shirt emblazoned with his initials in gold, and he wore white sneakers with a glittery gold Nike swoosh.

He sauntered on to Centre Court, resembling a cross between a Sergeant Pepper figure and something out of An Officer and a Gentleman …



Good grief, you have to be a bit special or have a hell of a sense of humour to get away with this; think Usain Bolt in golden spikes or Ronaldo in primrose yellow boots. Naturally, though, Roger Federer departed his second home two hours later, having proved conclusively that he has the game to carry off such preposterously dandy apparel, as well as a sixth Wimbledon title.


In a second piece devoted exclusively to Federer’s outfit, the Telegraph notes his matching giant white-and-gold man bag, and asserts that the whole uniform proved “his fashion sense often lands wide of the mark.” But we disagree. Yes, the outfit was strange, but Federer had merely figured out what many a diva before him has known for years: Nothing says “Look at me!” quite like an all-white suit with shiny gold accents. Just ask Mary J Blige. And Nike very well could have concocted this before Rafael Nadal — Federer’s main competition for attention — dropped out of the match. What Federer’s outfit may lack in game, it makes up for in soul.

Wimbledon 2009: dandy start for Roger Federer’s campaign [Telegraph UK]
Roger Federer’s Wimbledon fashion sense dazzles Centre Court [Telegraph UK]

Brits Miffed by Roger Federer’s Gold-Lamé–Accented Tennis Outfit