Everything You Need to Know About the Fashion of the Olympics

The Olympics have begun. Friday, July 26th, the opening ceremony occurred on the Seine in Paris, each country showing up with a delegation of athletes to celebrate the onset of multinational competition. With that, of course, come the outfits. The getups that each country’s team wears during the opening ceremony has, in recent years, cemented itself as a crucial part of the games, and this year is no different.

The History of Olympic Costuming

Fashion and Olympics history intertwined for the first time in 1992, when Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake designed the uniforms Lithuanian athletes wore during the year's opening ceremony. This was the first year that Lithuania competed in the Olympics independently of the USSR, which slowly dissolved after the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989. Miyake’s innovative costumes showed that sportswear could be fashion. 

Since this event, countries all over the world have teamed up with famous fashion houses to come up with the best possible gear for their athletes. It almost seems like a competition at times, with different brands and countries attempting to be in the spotlight during the opening ceremony each time the Olympics rolls around. 

Image: LTOK via Lithuanian National Radio and Television

The U.S.’s Looks

As usual, the U.S. is being dressed by Ralph Lauren, and, as usual, the getup is about as All-American as it can be. The opening ceremony outfit consists of light blue jeans, a striped blue and white button up shirt (complete with a navy tie), and a navy blazer rimmed with red and white edging. The wool blazer is emblazoned with the Ralph Lauren logo as well as the Olympics logo. This look is only a slight variation from the 2021 Olympics, at least stylistically; athletes that year also wore jeans, a striped shirt, and a navy blazer. 

These looks are tried and true. On one hand, they embody the American spirit, and every athlete will look excellent. On the other hand, these looks are really nothing new. Of course, one might argue that the Olympics aren’t the best place to be bold and brazen when it comes to fashion.

Photo: Ralph Lauren via Time

U.S.A.’s Leisure Wear

Ralph Lauren has also created looks for the closing ceremony and a line of more casual outfits for the athletes to wear around the Olympic Village. The closing ceremony outfits are white, moto-inspired jackets and pants, complete with “USA” emblazoned across the front along with a dark blue stripe. The leisurewear is varied and less publicized, although some athletes have taken to TikTok to show off (or make fun of) some of their outfits. For example, Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher posted this TikTok comparing her red Ralph Lauren tracksuit to Sue Sylvester, a character in the popular television show Glee, which ran from 2009 until 2015. Another leisurewear look designed by Ralph Lauren is a navy blue tennis-inspired dress with blue and white edging.

Skims, Kim Kardashian’s leisurewear brand, also designed some pieces for the athletes at the Olympic Village. These somewhat revealing pieces include a teeny tiny bikini and a skin-tight long-sleeved red crop and short set. Once again, Ilona Maher took to TikTok to show off her Skims pieces. There was also a white tank top, a bodysuit, a t-shirt, an American flag patterned bra and underwear, and a white fluffy Olympics robe. Needless to say, the American Olympians are very well-dressed this year.

Photo: Greg Swales for Skims via GQ

Other Opening Ceremony Looks

Looking beyond the U.S., it is revealed how varied the Olympics looks can be, especially for important events such as the opening ceremonies. Different countries have worked with different designers, each coming up with their own unique spin on an opening ceremony outfit. A huge stand out in this year’s opening ceremony looks is Mongolia. 

These looks, which pay homage to traditional Mongolian clothing, were designed by the fashion label Michel & Amazonka, and they have gone viral for good reason. Each tunic is inspired by a traditional Mongolian deel and intricately patterned. The men’s looks are ivory and a rich, teal-like blue, whereas the women are dressed mostly in ivory. While there is slight variation in the sleeves and pleated skirts (or pants), the embroidered tunics remain the same. Richly embroidered with images symbolic to Mongolian culture, Michel & Amazonka have managed to capture the hearts of the opening ceremonies – and of the internet. 

Image: Michel Amazonka via GQ

There are, of course, too many countries to celebrate that have created beautiful looks for their athletes. South Korea, working with Musinsa Standard, is dressing its athletes in powdery blue suits that look simple at first, but their lining reveals an intricate design of twisting trees. Designer Stella Jean has transformed Haitian athletes into pieces of artwork with her colorful looks that celebrate Haitian culture. Canada’s athletes are dressed head to toe in Lululemon, wearing looks focused on blending fashion and function. The Netherlands, meanwhile, has gone in a different direction, opting for bright orange tracksuits that slouch in a fun, funky way. Designed by The New Originals, these looks celebrate the color associated with The Netherlands. 

It is exciting to see how each country chooses to represent itself and its athletes at the Olympics. Arguably, the opening ceremony looks are the best indicator of this representation. Still, the best is yet to come; as this international event commences, so does the friendly competition, capturing the attention of viewers all over the world.