Summer style serves: what to wear to the Australian Open

From AO-themed collections to essential tennis-core pieces, there’s plenty to get excited about when curating your wardrobe for Melbourne Park

By Tyler Dane Wingco

Published: Jan 14, 2026

IN THE DRESS-CODE totem pole of the four grand slams, you’ll find the best-dressed men attending Wimbledon in double-breasted linen suits; Roland-Garros in European minimalism; the US Open in smart athleisure. And for the Australian Open? Well, the stands at Melbourne Park could be a mixed bag, style-wise, from lace-up Derbies to Billabong thongs. Yes, we may pride ourselves on our malleable ideas of “resortwear”, but an extra effort is advisable come January when the tennis world descends upon Melbourne.

There’s a lot to be excited about, dressing up for this AO. American label Ralph Lauren, for instance, has returned as the official outfitter, releasing a special collection featuring its beloved Polo Bear. Tennis-core hasn’t died down at some of the biggest international brands: Louis Vuitton with red clay-themed accessories; New Balance’s iconic T500 tennis lifestyle sneaker; and tennis charms from Gucci.

Also consider the trends some of the world’s top players have been loving this year, like when Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz stepped up to the podium at Roland-Garros in rugby shirts. Meanwhile, a fan favourite in the A-list boxes this year has been the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, with that minty teal dial, as seen on the likes of Russell Crowe and Tom Holland. The dress code is still lenient, but why not pick up a few pieces to mark the occasion? So come as you are – just with a collar.