A Gold Medal Year in Olympic Fashion

By Alisa Welch
August 18, 2008

If you were one of the billions who watched the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, you certainly noticed how chic the American team looked as they paraded into the Bird’s Nest with their fancy duds by Polo Ralph Lauren.  The design team behind the official Olympic wardrobe was influenced by the preppy attire from the film Chariots of Fire, chronicling British athletes and their quest for gold in the 1924 Olympics. Dressed in crisp white shirts and pants, navy jackets, red white and blue ascots and neckties, and topped off with white berets, the American team was fashionable and iconic, and sure to influence fashion this fall.  

Much of Ralph Lauren’s Beijing collection is already available at ralphlauren.com, Macy’s, and the US Olympic Shop, so shop now for the best selection.   

Other Olympic outfitters have made splashes at the 2008 Summer Games, including swimwear by Speedo, whose hi-tech LZR Racer suits certainly helped the American team win some major metal.  For us mere mortals (i.e. everyone except Michael Phelps), Speedo’s collection has serious style. We love the retro look of the Stars and Stripes Endurance suit and fab yet functional Gold Medalist tote.

Another ubiquitous presence in Beijing is Nike, whose swoosh can be seen on the U.S. track, basketball, softball and BMX teams.  Their Cities on Stage collection celebrates Olympic cities, past and present. Check out their glossy black patent leather Free L.A. slip-ons, an updated homage to the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

Not to be outdone, official sponsor Adidas makes a shoe for every Olympic sport from kayaking to taekwondo. We’re smitten with their shiny gold Coverup Run Image jacket designed by Stella McCartney, which takes athletic wear to another level.

Here’s to a gold medal year in Olympic fashion. 

Polo by Ralph Lauren Big Pony Player Mesh Knit $125.00

Short-sleeved polo shirt, cut for a trim modern fit with higher armholes than the classic