Zara Tindall’s striped shirt dress and raffia Aspinal bag at Wimbledon was smart-casual at its best

Zara Tindall’s striped shirt dress and raffia Aspinal bag at Wimbledon 2023 was the perfect smart-casual look.

When it comes to incorporating patterns into your summer capsule wardrobe some of the most timeless and easy-to-wear of all are stripes and spots so it’s perhaps no surprise that the Royal Family are big fans of both. Last year Zara Tindall’s striped shirt dress and gorgeous Aspinal bag caught our eye as she attended Wimbledon with her husband Mike. The couple have regularly attended the championships over the years but this has to be one of our favourite looks from the King’s niece. It was a perfect occasion wear outfit that would look just as beautiful dressed down with a pair of her best white trainers and a denim jacket layered over the top.

Unsurprisingly for Wimbledon, Zara styled her navy and white striped ME+EM dress in a more elevated, formal way. Falling to an elegant midi length on her, this dress is described as a maxi dress by the brand. It had all the elements we love about a classic shirt dress design - the pointed collar, long sleeves and pockets on the bodice.

Shop Striped Dresses

Whistles Alex Shirt Dress

Also available in a white and burgundy colourway, this forest green striped dress is stunning and could easily be worn all year round with layers over the top. It's fitted at the waist, with a midi length and collared neckline. Style with heels in the summer or your favourite knee high boots in colder weather.

La Redoute Shirt Dress

This affordable shirt dress has a classic blue and white striped pattern and will soon become a go-to in your summer wardrobe. For days out this would look lovely with trainers and a crossbody bag and you could easily dress this up for special occasions with espadrilles.

Finery London Striped Dress

Crafted from cotton seersucker fabric, this shirt dress has aa tiered button-through design with a self-tie waist belt. The short sleeves are wonderful for summer and the turn back cuffs are another timeless and thought-out detail.

Shop Zara Tindall's Bag

Aspinal Crossbody Bag

It might not have the chevron raffia design of Zara's 2023 bag, but this is very similar and just as beautiful. The mix of raffia and tan leather is so summery and this is the perfect sized bag for all your essentials and has a handy open slip pocket inside.

Dune Natural Raffia Bag

Currently reduced by 40% in the summer sale, this raffia bag can be worn either as a clutch or using the crossbody strap depending on your preference. There's a zipped pocket inside and the smooth neutral trim is stunning with the raffia.

Mango Crossbody Bag

If you want to be hands-free and look chic at the same time then this high-street bag is a winner. It's made from a hard-wearing cotton blend and fastens with a press stud closure. The gold-toned hardware adds a touch of glamour to this classic accessory.

Shop Wedges

Phase Eight Leather Wedges

If you really want to recreate Zara Tindall's Wimbledon look right down to the shoes then these are a great option. The intricate weave pattern over the foot is so pretty and they have the classic combination of durable leather and espadrille jute sole that works with so many outfits.

M&S Suede Espadrilles

These are a slightly lighter colour compared to Zara's wedges and are made from soft suede, but they're equally beautiful. They have an ankle strap to keep them secure on your feet and the suede has stain resistant innovation to help them look more pristine for longer.

Barbour Espadrille Wedges

These heeled espadrilles would look stunning with a floaty skirt and vest top during the day or a gorgeous midi dress for an evening out. They're made from leather for extra durability and will last you for many years to come.

Zara’s striped shirt dress had a relaxed fit-and-flare silhouette and a tie-waist belt incorporated into the dress which accentuated her waist in such a flattering way. She wore the piece with a few buttons undone at the top to give it more of a smart-casual feel and although she wasn’t pictured using them, the Fluid Stripe Maxi Shirt Dress has pockets.

If you want to invest in a dress for your wardrobe then going neutral is often a great choice. Shades like black, white, camel and navy can effortlessly be styled with so many other colours. The combination of the deep navy and white on Zara’s dress was so gorgeous and ensured that the bolder print was still incredibly wearable. The equestrian royal stuck to what she knows with her bag which was a chevron raffia crossbody design from her go-to brand, Aspinal of London .

The exact handbag she wore to Wimbledon last year might now not be available, but Aspinal still sells a £350 Raffia Crossbody bag and it even comes in a similar tan and raffia colourway. This size of bag is great for all your essentials and if you want to be hands-free during the day as Zara likely did for a day at Wimbledon. Tan tones and raffia are so popular in the summer and Zara’s bag worked beautifully with her striped dress. She also copied Carole Middleton’s easy styling trick for achieving a polished outfit and matched the colours of her espadrille wedges to her bag.

She also brought a practical fedora hat with her to help shield her head from the sunshine, a white jacket in case of chilly breezes and added a pair of brown sunglasses. Zara’s short blonde hair was loose and straight for Wimbledon and keeping her overall look so pared-back added to its sense of sophistication.

Stripes might not be something we see her wear all the time but this outing showed how effective they can be at making a real style statement. We can’t help hoping we see her reach into her wardrobe for this ME+EM piece once again, or into her accessory collection for her Aspinal bag, if she attends Wimbledon 2024.