US Olympic Team Wears Polo Ralph Lauren at Opening Ceremony
Friday August 8, 2008
The US Olympic team marched in Ralph Lauren outfits especially designed for them to wear at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing, August 8, 2008. According to the Norman Bellingham, Chief Operating Officer of the USOC, Ralph Lauren was chosen as the US Olympic team's official outfitter for the opening and closing ceremonies because "Polo Ralph Lauren is a quintessential American brand that represents a timeless and classic look which we believe our athletes will be excited to wear." Inspiration for the team's outfits came from the 1920s and 1930s, when sporty elegance was in vogue. The team's outfits consist of a white pants, shirt, shoes, and sporty jockey cap topped by a navy blazer. The only red color in the ensemble is a stripe in the tie for the team's men and a stripe in the scarf worn by the team's women.
Much of the sportswear designed for the Olympics is also available online at the Ralph Lauren website. (Vendor's Site)
Photo Credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Comments
During the opening ceromonies the US team was to wear an outfit that was designed by a member of the popular show on the Bravo Network, Project Runway, in which a white jumpsuit with flaired legs and a matching white sleeves jacket with red and blue triming. Will we see the winning design in the closing ceromonies? I was very disapppointed since the announcement was made on national television on the Aug.6 ‘08 airing of the show.
I’m disappointed in the U. S. Olympic team’s outfits. Surely Ralph Lauren can do better than this! They’re unimaginative and unattractive, but at least they avoid the over-the-top combination of red and blue. (The flower rings, mentioned and shown in the other article, were cute, though, and perky.)
I thought it was nice. I’m a RL fan anyway and I thought it was perfect for the U.S. since he’s such the classic American designer.
But I liked the French outfits even better.