Olympic Fashion – Gold. Silver or Bronze ?
It’s the greatest event on Earth – but is it the most stylish?
Whilst the Olympic opening ceremony was celebrated for its style and drama, the athletes themselves are more used to the feeling of lycra than Louis Vuitton and early morning jogs rather than late-night catwalk shows. But with the world’s media converged upon a few square miles in East London, there’s going to be more attention than ever paid to what they wear..
So what have been the fashion highs and lows of the games so far ? 
The Team Outfits
It wasn’t just a factory chimney and Mr Bean getting all the attention at that opening ceremony. The outfits worn by the athletes, many of which were created by world-renowned fashion designers, have garnered fervent column inches both pre and post their billion person debutant.
Naturally, it has been the Americans that have attracted the most attention. Designed by Ralph Lauren, but controversially made in China, their look would have been as at home in the 1948 London Olympics as 2012. Preppy and refined, they are exactly how you’d imagine a team of US athletes to look. That is until you look at their heads and realise they’re wearing berets – seriously, what’s that all about ?
Result = Bronze
But it’s not just the athletic giants that have been making sartorial waves. Monaco, that renowned playboy hangout brimming with glitz, glamour and loose taxes, were never likely to turn up in tracksuits. Even so, their stylish Salvatore Ferragamo suits looked more like something James Bond should be wearing rather than a couple of sailors and a triathlete.
Result = Gold
And what about us ? Well, sadly we did turn up in tracksuits instead of the advertised black suits. A word for future teams – when you’ve got celebrated designer Stella McCartney on retainer designing the athletic uniforms, don’t let Next anywhere near the drawing board.
Result = Silver (but only because it matches the tracksuit)
And the less said about Spain’s uniforms the better…
Nails
Anybody with a keen eye will have noticed strange going-ons down the Aquatics Centre. Abandoning the skin-tight space suits of Games gone by, the swimmers (at least the female ones) seem to have become obsessed with having their nails emblazoned with their national flags.
Hand-painted and, hopefully, water resistant, the Minx nail bar inside the Olympic Village has been nail-wrapping away a host of willing athletes, bringing a sense of fun to the high-tension event. Guess you’ve got to give swimmers something to express themselves with – it’s not like there’s much the can do with their hair under those swimming caps.
Result = Gold
Ryan ‘The Style’ Lochte
Continuing the aquatic theme, there has only been one man at the pool to rival these fashion-conscious women. Not content with winning gold medals and destroying Michael Phelps’ superman persona, Ryan Lochte has brought his very own ‘style’ to London. With a taste for diamond-studded mouth grills (think a gum shield gone wrong) and bracelets straight out of the 70s, he’s definitely not winning any fashion awards. And he really has been the gift that’s kept on giving, with his sparkly trainers, crocodile shoulder tattoo and penchant for training in retro Speedos only adding to his ‘unique’ style. But hey, if you’re THAT good at swimming I guess you can do what you want.
Result = Surely he must fail the drug test ?
So, what have you made of the Olympic fashion so far ?
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August 3, 2012
Fashion