With Military Styling, Roger Federer Mounts Latest Assault on Wimbledon Fashion

With the assurance of a male model basking in a catwalk spotlight, Roger Federer arrived at ­Center Court yesterday in yet another ­statement-making ensemble. Last year's preppy Brideshead Revisited-style cardigan was swiftly outshone in a flash of golden shoulder bag. This hulking specimen, crafted in his signature blend of white with gold details, naturally boasted his fancy RF crest and threatened to overshadow the rest of this year's rather snazzy get-up.

His jacket – best described as a suit jacket with utility styling (it featured three front pockets and one on his left arm's sleeve) – had the slight whiff of sailors and combat trousers about it. It is a far more souped-up look than the blazer he wore in 2007, which was a simple three-button affair. "It's kind of a little bit more of a modern look with the military, but staying true to Wimbledon with the white," he has said of the new jacket.

He may very well be on to something. The multi-pocketed jacket is a front running trend for spring/summer 2010 if this weekend's latest men's fashion shows in Milan are anything to go by. Burberry and Gucci showed casual versions while a grey Versace suit featured four utility pockets on its front.

But wasn't the jacket just a bit of a big old tease? Of course it was. Like a human pass the parcel, he soon peeled that layer off to reveal a posh waistcoat, at which point you can't help wondering why not just go the whole Kanye West hog and wear a bow tie and some giant sunglasses? Though if Federer really wants to be down with the kids, he should look to the vintage Arthur Ashe mix of nerdy specs and too-short shorts. Now that is so totally American Apparel-meets-Shoreditch 2009.