Wimbledon’s “The Champions’ Dinner” is always a night of celebration and style, but this year, women’s champion Iga Swiatek dazzled in a stunning gown, while men’s champion Jannik Sinner surprised everyone with an impromptu dance, thanks to some friendly persuasion and crowd pressure.
Behind the Glamour: Who Dresses Wimbledon’s Female Champions?
When Iga Swiatek stepped out in a beautiful lilac Stella McCartney gown, reportedly valued at over $2000, many wondered who was behind such an elegant choice. It turns out, Wimbledon provides a unique, full-service styling experience specifically for its female winners.
The magic is orchestrated by Elisabeth Piner, a stylist and owner of ‘Having a Ball Dress Hire’. Piner transforms an empty space near the ladies’ locker room at Centre Court into a glamorous pop-up salon, ensuring champions are red-carpet ready for the prestigious dinner.
Piner and her team arrive early on the day of the ball, bringing a car packed with hundreds of dresses in various sizes. They also provide 50 to 60 pairs of shoes, a wide selection of jewelry including diamonds and colored stones, and an assortment of handbags. “We’ve got everything, we kit them out from top to toe,” Piner revealed to Town & Country magazine.
The Art of Styling a Champion
Styling for the Champions’ Dinner comes with a unique challenge: the winner isn’t known until the final match concludes. To address this, Piner selects flexible styles, such as dresses with lace-up backs or designs that suit an average size.
Jewelry is easier to manage, being one-size-fits-all, and is chosen to complement the dresses beautifully. Comfort and reliability are key for footwear and accessories, ensuring the champions feel at ease while celebrating their monumental wins.
Piner also tries to anticipate potential finalists, gathering looks that might suit their individual styles. The goal is to transform a “tennis locker room” into a “glamorous, lovely boutique with all these wonderful dresses,” ready for the champions.
Men’s Fashion at the Ball
Unlike the women, Wimbledon does not offer a styling service for its male champions. They are typically dressed by their personal sponsors. Jannik Sinner, for example, wore a custom dark Gucci suit paired with signature loafers, reflecting his personal brand.
The Unexpected Dance-Off
One of the most talked-about moments from the dinner was the champions’ dance between Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner. Surprisingly, this wasn’t initially part of the plan for the night.
Sinner later shared with BBC Sport that they were told they wouldn’t have to dance because of the late hour. However, it was Iga who stepped in and encouraged him, saying, “No, no, let’s do it!” Sinner agreed, acknowledging it as a tradition and a “beautiful moment” to share with Iga.
An Inside Look: Sam Querrey’s Revelations
American tennis player Sam Querrey, a guest at the dinner, offered more candid details on the ‘Nothing Major’ podcast. He described the lavish setting at Raffles London and the flow of the evening, hosted by Laura Robson.
Querrey noted that Iga Swiatek arrived around 10:30 PM, making a grand entrance. Jannik Sinner arrived even later, closer to 12:05 AM, having “hammered drinks with his team” before stepping out with his trophy.
Despite earlier rumors they might skip the dance, Querrey confirmed that the enthusiastic crowd “peer-pressured them into dancing.” Jannik, feeling good, made the dance “really fun,” even twirling Iga. The spontaneous moment lasted about 45 seconds before they returned to their tables, leaving guests to enjoy “unbelievable food, wine.”
- Wimbledon’s female champions receive a dedicated, full-service styling experience by Elisabeth Piner for the Champions’ Dinner.
- Piner sets up a pop-up salon with hundreds of dresses, shoes, and jewelry, carefully selected for comfort and elegance.
- Male champions, like Jannik Sinner, are dressed by their own sponsors.
- The iconic champions’ dance was not initially planned but happened due to Iga Swiatek’s encouragement and crowd persuasion.
The Champions’ Dinner truly offers a blend of tradition, spontaneous fun, and behind-the-scenes glamour, making it a highlight of the Wimbledon experience.
