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  long and short of it: Fiona Butler's 'Tennis Girl' poster and her dress

This year the authorities at Wimbledon have issued a note to players reinforcing the rule that their kit must be 'predominantly' or 'nearly' all white.

'This is traditional,' explained a spokeswoman for the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, whose origins go back to 1868 when there was a croquet craze with the first tennis matches introduced in 1877.

A letter from the tournament referee, Andrew Jarrett, reminded any woman player who might be tempted to provide spectators with a bit of titillation: 'Any undergarments that either are or can be visible during play (including due to perspiration) must also be completely white except for a single trim of colour no wider than one centimetre (10mm). In addition, common standards of decency are required at all times.'

What's certainly been traditional at Wimbledon in recent decades is the healthy interest in women's underwear, especially among well-heeled Indian men who are now able to afford the high prices for the best tickets, champagne and strawberries and cream (one of the unintended consequences of India's economic boom). The aachhe din arrived some time back for corporate types who have never held a racquet in their lives but somehow wangle their way into the women's matches. The loud grunting sounds, girly shrieks and feminine screams uttered by the women stimulate even greater excitement.

Television cameramen are under instructions not to focus too closely on the female form for Wimbledon attracts a worldwide audience of up to 17 million. However, when the long-legged Maria Sharapova and her like bend and stretch and take periodic tumbles, it is not difficult for male spectators to get their money's worth.

How else to explain that one of the bestselling posters of all time is that sold by Athena called, rather innocently, 'Tennis Girl'. Over 2 million copies of the cheeky but iconic poster have been sold and adorned many a male student dormitory.

It is fortuitous that the 'micro mini dress' worn by 18-year-old Fiona Butler when the picture was taken by her then photographer boyfriend, Martin Elliot, in 1976 goes under the hammer on July 5, 2014, at Fielding Auctioneers in Stourbridge, West Midlands.

'It's Ladies' Final Day — couldn't be better,' enthused Nick Davies, a director with the auctioneers.

'The auction at 11am will also be online, so someone sitting in court could bid for it,' he laughed happily. 'In fact, it could be worn by one of the finalists at 2pm that afternoon.'

Fiona had borrowed the dress from a friend, Carol Knotts, who revealed: 'I've had the dress tucked away in a cupboard all these years. It's a little piece of tennis history.'

Fiona was persuaded to pose without her underwear, but at Wimbledon there are strict rules on women's undergarments.

'Since 1963, Wimbledon championship entry conditions have laid down that competitors must be dressed predominately in white throughout,' a spokeswoman explained to The Telegraph. 'In 1995 this condition was clarified to mean 'almost entirely white'. The rule is unchanged, but this year the players have been issued with new information that clarifies exactly what is covered by the rule — accessories such as undergarments, headbands, wristbands, etc. are now included.'

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  Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2013

The letter from referee Jarrett, with its many dos and don'ts, has warned players that 'white does not include off-white or cream' and that 'there should be no solid mass or panel of colouring'.

Players do not have any latitude this year, he has stated. 'It is in your interests to prepare ahead of time to ensure that you are able to fulfil any contractual obligations you may have and that it does not come as a surprise once you arrive on court.'

A woman journalist from The Guardian was moved to comment: 'So there goes the fluorescent bra.'

According to The Times, 'there will be no repeat of Roger Federer's orange-soled trainers from last year, or Tatiana Golovin's fetching red knickers from a few years ago, nor John McEnroe's colourful sweat bands'.

Players are not the only ones to come under the scanner. Spectators are advised: 'The use of any annoying or dangerous behaviour, foul or abusive language or obscene gestures, the removal of shirts or any clothing likely to cause offence... may result in ejection from the grounds.'

One of the English women players, now knocked out, Naomi Broady, 24, was 'suspended in 2007 after a photograph of her standing next to a condom machine on a night out appeared on a social networking site'.

Pat Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon champion, claimed some players were told to change their underwear when it was noticed it was not entirely white. He told BBC Radio 5 Live some of the women have been sent back to 'change their bras and tops because they had slight colour on them'. And he believed some of them did not have suitable sports bras and had to go without them.

After England's early exit from the football World Cup and the loss to Sri Lanka at cricket, British hopes at Wimbledon rest with Andy Murray, last year's men's champion who has taken on a French woman — Am�lie Mauresmo — as his coach.

The erstwhile Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, is expected to set the trends for this year's fashions. In recent years male guests invited to the royal box, which can seat 74, have included Hollywood stars Bradley Cooper and Gerard Butler, rocker Ronnie Wood, singer Sir Cliff Richard and Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint.

Alex Longmore, a celebrity fashion stylist, said there would be lots of mirrored sunglasses on show, adding: 'Ray Ban and Victoria Beckham's designs have been popular this season. I predict an elegant Wimbledon this year with white taking centre court followed closely by an array of block pastel colours, and, for those celebrities that really want to hog the limelight, bold reds.'

According to William Hanson, author of The Bluffer's Guide to Etiquette, Wimbledon is 'terribly, well, middle class'. As for the working classes, particularly the women, Hanson is not convinced they should be admitted at all. He notes with distaste that the women turn up 'with skirts that are basically belts, and breasts hanging over their tops, and fake tan running down their leg, which is incredibly disrespectful to themselves and to everybody else'.