Dispatches from the French Open
Style reports from Roland Garros
Last Sunday, all eyes turned to Roland Garros for the French Open finals between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev. We're big tennis fans here at Thoughts and Considerations HQ, so when I learned my dear friend, Austin Smith, was attending the final with his wife, I got excited.
Naturally, I was curious about everything—from what watching a major tennis final in person was like, to the clothes, to the overall experience. I had been to the US Open a few times, but I had never known anyone who had ever been to the French Open.
Considering Austin and I share similar sartorial proclivities, minutes after he said he was going, my mind automatically turned to clothes—"Well, what are you wearing?" I asked. We had fun discussing this question in the weeks leading up to it. Then, I had the idea—given my devoted readership might also be into learning more about the French Open, what it's like attending, and the style around the grounds— to ask him a few questions and share a bit about the experience.
Thankfully, Austin obliged and was kind enough to answer a few of my questions about the big day below. I hope you enjoy it!
Tim Jeffreys: Let's start with the foundation—what did you wear?
Austin Smith: I wore a silk and linen Sid Mashburn blazer, a J.Press Oxford with a flap pocket, lightweight canvas 5 pocket pants from a Belks store brand called Biltmore, Sunspel x Sperry dark brown suede boat shoes, and a white Roland Garros hat.
TJ: Did you feel the need to dress up?
AS: The iconic Roland Garros hat, which I didn’t wear, gives a panache to much of the crowd who chooses to wear it. That said, Paris is increasingly casual so I didn’t feel the need to dress up a bit, more wanted to. Would have felt comfortable in most anything, except shorts or sandals which adult men shouldn’t wear in public.
TJ: Did you feel a sense of occasion around the event?
AS: There was a real buzz outside the stadium. People were very excited. The grounds are much cozier and less corporate than the U.S. Open. One of the smaller courts is actually situated within a l’orangerie - and the whole place has a garden vibe.
TJ: How would you describe the style of the other patrons in attendance?
AS: Huge variety. Mens fashion for those in the good seats was definitely dressier - think pinpoint white shirt and slacks, with coats or suits mixed in for some (see below). The iconic white hat is everywhere - a fun and practical choice for a sunny day! Don’t see a lot of street wear or high fashion. Many of the patrons were just dressed like they were headed to the park for an afternoon with kids.
TJ: What was the best outfit you saw someone wearing?
AS: A guy wearing soft casual white pants with New Balance sneakers, a taupe knit polo and a cream sweater over the shoulder really nailed the effortless, comfortable vibe for a nice day outside (seen below). Worked well for the occasion because it looked nice but not overdone.
TJ: Were you in the sun? If so, how did you manage the heat in the suit?
AS: The linen coat was pretty breathable but I didn’t take it off at the hottest moment during the women’s doubles championship. Coco’s dominance turned up the heat - but otherwise the temperature was relatively mild and a coat was comfortable.
TJ: Let's talk accessories—did you wear a hat and/or sunglasses?
AS: I went hatless in the hope of buying a hat, and in buying, I stuck to a classic white baseball hat with the Roland Garros logo. I also impulse bought Lacoste Roland Garros sunglasses because I really liked a small vertical white and orange stripe that embellished the arms right at the hinges with a small gold Lacoste logo behind it. I generally eschew logos that are ultra recognizable but I make an exception for Lacoste as it was my favorite piece of clothing as a kid.
TJ: We've been to a US Open match together, so this is the second major you've attended. What would you say the biggest difference between the US Open and the French Open is? From a fashion perspective or otherwise.
AS: US Open is much more corporate campus while the French Open is more garden tennis (albeit it an impressive stadium for the main court) but you can’t drink inside the French Open, which is kind of nuts. Notwithstanding the somewhat less corporate grounds, the main merch shop was better than the U.S. Open. It was well laid out and relatively efficient to navigate. We had a great time with the tennis and loads of Perrier. The crowd seems much more international at French Open. We were surrounded by Spaniards and Frenchmen.
TJ: Did you stay hydrated by drinking champagne?
AS: We had a garden spritz which is the equivalent of a Honey Deuce. The one negative is that they really didn’t have enough places to buy alcohol even outside the stadium.
TJ: The match was over four hours, an epic duel. Did it feel that long in the stadium?
AS: The tennis was phenomenal, so the time flew by. By the time it ended, we felt the fatigue of being out so long because the day started at 11:30 am for the women’s doubles.
TJ: What's something that you picked up on attending in person versus watching it on TV?
AS: The upper level is really everyday tennis fans. Not nearly as posh as what you might think peering into the president’s box.
TJ: This was your first French Open final, but I certainly hope not your last. What would you do differently fashion-wise next time?
AS: We went for a very nice walk after the match down to the Seine and over to the Eiffel Tower. Accordingly, I’d probably opt for more comfortable shoes for walking. Otherwise, we felt good about my choices. Also, I think I’d probably go earlier in the tournament. The grounds are so phenomenal, and one of my favorite things about a tennis tournament is seeing great players on smaller courts. Also, the ticket situation is so opaque - reselling is not allowed in the vein of StubHub. We paid 10x face value by going through the concierge at our hotel. Now that I’ve had a great final under my belt, I’d like to go back and really relax around the grounds.
Special thanks to Austin for taking the time to answer my questions!
