The athletes’ trot around the Olympic stadium at the end of the London 2012 opening ceremony last Friday night was not far short of an international fashion show. While a few of the teams wore national dress or something like it – Mexico in a glorious array of big Technicolor dresses, Tonga rocking the thatched hut look in their grass skirts and haystack head dresses – many of the official outfits were designed by some of the world’s most prestigious couturiers.
The Italians were suave in minimalist monochrome navy and white tracksuits by Giorgio Armani, while their sailing team wear Prada. The neighbouring tiny European republic of San Marino has a uniform designed by Salvatore Ferragamo, while the luxury brand Hermes provided riding jackets for the French equestrian team.
Jamaica’s outfits feature the national colours of green, yellow and black, and were designed for Puma by Cedella Marley, daughter of the island’s most famous export, singer Bob Marley.
Another daughter of a music legend, Stella McCartney, created the uniform for Team GB. Based on the Union Jack flag, but with the red controversially stripped out and sidelined to use of a trim and on the socks and shoes, the outfits were
pared down to navy, turquoise, cobalt and white. The designer said she had deconstructed the Union Jack to make it “more delicate and feminine.” But with her Scottish surname and the uniforms resembling the blue and white saltire of St Andrew, one wonders if this was her comment on the future devolution of Scotland? McCartney worked with Adidas to design both the sports kit and “village wear” (lounge wear) for Britain’s home team, although none were seen in the opening gala as the team paraded in white and gold tracksuits.
Most striking of all the contestants’ costumes, the American team’s preppy East Coast sailing fraternity look was pure Ralph Lauren. The clean-cut navy blazers, crisp white trousers and skirts, navy berets and blue, red and white striped scarves were given an extra fillip by the super-confident march around the arena of the good-looking, Steradent-bright US athletes.
The New Zealand team brought a 1940s vibe to the parade. Their ensembles in grey, white and black were inspired by the 
uniforms of the country’s team in 1948 – the last time the summer Olympic Games were held in London. Designed by Irena Prikryll of Rodd & Gunn, the formal men’s uniform was a neat combo of grey slacks, a black blazer with white piping and a pinstripe shirt. The women wore the blazer over a white, on-the-knee cotton dress patterned with the New Zealand fern and Olympic rings emblem.
While the fashion industry is agreed that this is the most stylish Olympics ever, the Czechs were obviously mindful of the British summer weather and paraded in bright blue Wellington boots and white shorts. And Spain bucked the high-end trend by kitting out its team in lurid red and yellow outfits by Russian sportswear company Bosco that would look at home behind the counter of any branch of McDonalds.
“Want extra fries with that?” Must try harder next time, amigos!
Were the Spanish so embarrassed by their national Olympics uniform that they couldn’t even find real athletes to model them and had to make do with dummies?
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