Sporting couture or disaster? Olympic apparel that has followers divided
On Friday, the cream of the world’s athletes will gather in Paris – along 6km of the Seine – for the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics.
Teams from across the globe will don official attire – designed by some of the biggest names in fashion including Giorgio Armani and Ralph Lauren – for the three-hour event to mark the official opening of Paris 2024.
However, from early reveals of country’s chosen designs, it’s clear there’s some gold medal winning ensembles in the mix – and some more dubious efforts.
Many have, of course, played it safe, sticking to the colours of a nation’s flag and firmly muted designs.
Here, we round up some of the Olympic ceremonial outfits that have caused the biggest reactions so far…
CZECH REPUBLIC’S SPLATTERED PLASTIC TRENCH COAT
Czech climber Adam Ondra modelling the distinctive plastic mac that athletes will don in Paris
Czech Olympic Committee president Jiří Kejval recently told newspaper Prague Morning that he was delighted with his country’s eye-catching designs, saying: ‘Even in the crowd, no one will miss us. This is what we want to achieve in the heart of Paris, the capital of fashion.’
And that’s certainly true of the striking blue-and-white splattered plastic trench coat, which is inspired by a traditional Czech ‘baloňák’ coat.
It’s hoped the design will be well received in a country that has a long-standing love affair with the mac.
The Czech trench coats are the brainchild of Alpine Pro and homegrown designer Jan Černý
The ceremonial attire is a collab between the Czech Olympic Team, ALPINE PRO, and designer Jan Černý – but their ideas haven’t proved a hit with everyone.
When a photo of Olympic climber Adam Ondra appeared on the country’s official Olympic Instagram account wearing the coat, people weren’t shy in saying what they thought.
One wrote: ‘Dude. You can’t wear that’, while another added: ‘Some designers gonna get fired this year.’
Another joked: ‘Looks like Czeski team is going to France to do some decorating.’
FRANCE: OWN GOAL IN THE FASHION CAPITAL OF THE WORLD?
Sensible shoes and a striking jacket…France has gone for cabin crew vibes with its official Olympic outfit, which sees the colours of the Tricolore blended onto the lapels of the jackets
As the host nation – and one of the world’s most stylish countries – all eyes will be on the French team on Friday evening.
The country’s sporting stars will be wearing garments designed by the former editor of Vogue France, Carine Roitfeld, who’s teamed up with LVMH, but their play-it-safe designs, essentially navy blue suits with the colours of the French flag blended onto the lapels, means there’s been mixed reactions to the clothing.
While some deemed the suits ‘magnifique!’, others were less keen, one suggested they were ‘inelegant’ and looked like cabin crew or RATP uniforms – RATP is the city’s transport system.
Another added: ‘Outfits are so ugly! It’s really a shame’.
And one disappointed fan wrote: ‘Our champions are beautiful, but I still can’t manage the outfits… looks like a final year project for fashion school.’
TEAM GB’S LOUD SHIRT – INCORPORATING FOUR NATIONAL PLANTS
Team GB via Hawaii! The floral design that athletes will wear at the opening and closing ceremonies at this month’s Olympic Games in Paris
Fashion brand Ben Sherman has created a range of items including a bomber jacket with a rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock embroidered onto the back and a polo shirt
Team GB have released their Olympic Games ‘ceremonial kit’ to be worn during the opening and closing ceremonies in Paris this summer
August 11’s closing ceremony will see Team GB athletes donning a Hawaiian-style shirt decorated with Great Britain’s four national plants.
Fashion brand Ben Sherman has created a range of items including a bomber jacket with a rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock embroidered onto the back and a polo shirt with a Union Jack design.
‘It’s not just about creating a uniform; it’s about capturing the essence of British heritage and contemporary style, and embodying the pride and unity of Team GB,’ Mark Williams, Ben Sherman’s creative director, told the Evening Standard, last month.
But the designs haven’t pleased everyone. ‘Team GB’s 2024 Olympics kits are a let down compared to past few ranges, particularly Tokyo which was outstanding. The Paris kits are the definition of unadventurous,’ someone wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
HAITI’S GO BIG OR GO HOME PUNK PERIOD DRAMA ATTIRE
Hit or miss? Haiti has gone for bold prints and period drama punk with its Olympic ceremonial clothes
There’s 21st century Bridgerton vibes to Haiti’s Olympics ensembles, with cinched in waistbands, gothic boots and formal jackets.
The country’s design team has added bold prints to the pleated skirts and trousers as well as a pale blue cotton for the shirts.
Designed by Stella Jean, the collection has been created in collaboration with Haitian artist Philippe Dodard, who’s behind the print used.
The reaction has been largely positive, with people applauding the bravery.
One person wrote: ‘Honestly those are fire, I saw the French ones – they should take notes’.
TEAM USA: PRIVATE SCHOOL UNIFORM WITH A DENIM TWIST
Team USA’s Olympic uniform is the work of Ralph Lauren: Athletes will wear navy blazer with white and red trim
The designer’s trademark preppy look is incorporated with a more casual stonewash jean
The US Olympics team will once again be out to impress in Paris this summer, with the all-conquering nation expected to go toe-to-toe with China at the top of the medal standings.
The team, led by basketball legend Lebron James, will be arriving in the French capital in style, after collaborating once more with global fashion brand Ralph Lauren to dress the 592 athletes competing in Paris for the opening ceremony.
Team USA will travel down the River Seine on boats ahead of the curtain-raiser, dressed in a navy blazer with red and white trim, as well as a striped Oxford shirt, navy tie and light denim jeans – and white brogues.
The look has been compared to a private school uniform by some though, with RL’s preppy style not winning over everyone.
One person wrote on X; ‘When is RL’s contract up? His designs are damn near the same every summer Olympics.’
MONGOLIAN DRAMA: STYLE FANS SWOON OVER TRADITIONAL OUTFITS
Mongolia’s stylish Olympic robes have won praise from fans saying the designs have ‘won the Olympics before it’s started’
The stylish attire, by design house Michel & Amazonka, uses traditional symbols from Mongolian culture as well as the colours of the country’s flag
Munkhjargal Choigaalaa, one of the design team from Michel & Amazonka, which is behind Mongolia’s Olympic ceremonial dress says she’s been astonished by the reaction on social media to the label’s designs.
The traditional outfits take the red, blue and gold from the Mongolian flag and also uses symbols that mean longevity.
The white and cream robe-style outfits take inspiration from Naadam, an Olympic style Mongolian festival.
One fan gushed: ‘This won the Olympics before they even started’.
Another wrote: ‘They look great. Very classy.’
