The City of Light dazzled the world once again, not only with its breathtaking skyline and with Celine Dion’s performance on the Eiffel Tower but also with a spectacular showcase of fashion at the Paris 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony. As athletes from around the world floated through the River Seine, they brought with them a burst of color, style, and cultural pride. Here’s a roundup of the most unforgettable looks that turned the opening ceremony into a haute couture runway… and some that missed the mark.
Honorable Mentions
Team USA Women’s Gymnastics, Designed by GK Elite
From the Swarovski crystals on the star and strip motifs to the simpler warm-up fits, the Fab Five is looking fierce. Their leotards cost an eye-watering $3,000, making them the most expensive in the Olympics’ history.
Team USA Golf Uniforms, Designed by J. Lindeberg
Now, this is a controversial pick because viewers accuse the patterns of being “too loud” and “distracting” for golf. However, the mix of European cuts, sharp-angled stripes, and clean geometric patterns is a fresh reimagining of the American flag into a work of modern art. It’s fair to say that for me, the American golfers have won the gold medal for style.
And even if the uniforms are a bit controversial for fans who prefer a more traditional look, that’s OK. Pushing boundaries is part of the strategy. “We always want to be sophisticated first and disruptive second,” Davis said. “That’s how we see our brand. It’s absolutely born and sits in that Scandinavian lifestyle field. So we want the consumer to feel cleanliness, fit, technicality, plus a little bit of disruption.”
The Hits… and The Misses
Team USA… is a MISS for me, Designed by Ralph Lauren
For me, the Team USA opening ceremony look was disappointing. A pair of jeans, a button-down top, and an overpriced, uninspired sports jacket—BORING! I wanted drama, something unexpected, and maybe even something that is the intersection of athleisure and couture, but alas, I got something that looked like it was off the rack with an Olympics patch stuck onto it.
Team Mongolia, a CLEAR HIT!!! Designed by Michel & Amazonka
This is what team uniforms are all about! A celebration of culture, fashion, and that jaw-dropping moment. Michael & Amazonka is a sister-run Ulaanbaatar-based label that has since been catapulted into the spotlight. “We are still shocked. We didn’t expect that the world would receive it this way,” says Munkhjargal Choigaalaa, CEO at Michel & Amazonka.
Team Paris was a MISS, designed by Berluti
As the host nation, I expected more from Paris. Despite only having to step out their front door to make it to the games, they looked like jet-lagged flight attendants—not the look you want from your host nation or from an Olympic team.
Team Chinese Taipei, aka Taiwan, is a HIT! Designed by Justin Chou
The Team uniform for Chinese Taipei is probably what Team USA thought they were going for. The designer, Jason Chou found inspiration from a piece of art entitled “Mountain Range of Taiwan” by Taiwanese artist Paul Chiang. He printed a pattern inspired by it on fabric for the suits, the blue waves representing the natural beauty of Taiwan’s landscape. Adorning the Olympic opening ceremony looks are lapel pins crafted by flower-weaving artisan Lin Pei-Ying, made up of Taiwan’s national flowers, the plum and the canola blossoms, serving as a traditional token of good luck for the athletes. Meanwhile, the belt and shoe uppers were made by Artisan Yan Yu-Ying with banana fiber woven fabric, an ancient textile tradition used in Taiwan. Chou also worked with a typography designer, Kokia Lin, to create a print that, through an optical illusion, transforms the words “Chinese Taipei” into the words “Cheer On.”
Team Canada is a MISS, designed by Lululemon
To me, there is just too much going on here. This looks more like a Target x Lululemon collab than an Olympics team uniform, let alone something to be adorned during the opening ceremony. Canada may want to consider a different designer for next season’s games, as Lululemon returned as Team Canada’s outfitter for Paris. Canada really jumped the gun, so to say, since their partnership with Lululemon includes opening, closing, and medal ceremonies outfits, alongside pieces for media appearances and life in the Athletes’ Village.
Team Haiti is a HIT! Designed by Stella Jean
When I saw this look glide down the canal, I was excited. The way they cinch in the waists of the women with those beautiful fabric belts creates an exciting and modern silhouette with the sports coat. Designed by Italian Haitian fashion designer Stella Jean, the self-described “bridge builder,” she sees her work as a “cultural distillate.”
“I believe that these athletes have already won the most important medal by their very own presence in Paris,” the designer said in a post. Jean collaborated with Haitian painter Phillipe Dodard, whose paintings have inspired other fashion designers. “Haiti exists and wants to live standing up on HER feet,” Jean continued.
Vive la Mode!
From timeless elegance to futuristic flair, the fashions of the Opening Ceremony were a testament to the power of style in bringing cultures together and inspiring the world. As the games proceed, one thing is certain: the fashion bar has been set high, and we can’t wait to see what else is in store.
And as always, we want to hear from you! What do you think? Did we get it right, did we miss any looks from the best and worst dressed list? Let us know below!
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