Critics Evaluate U.S.' Ralph Lauren Opening Ceremony Outfit
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U.S. Olympic Team Sports Ralph Lauren
Uniforms During Opening Ceremony |
The U.S. Olympic team "looked nothing like the stereotypical shorts-and-sandals clad 'American tourist'" during Friday's Opening Ceremony, as it wore Ralph Lauren-designed "elegant blue blazers paired with a crisp white shirt and pants," according to Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. The outfit also included a "preppy blue tie with red and white stripes and white newsboy caps." The outfits worn by the countries during the event "made few waves," and Lu-Lien Tan asks, "Why not seize upon this moment to make a memorable, fashion statement? ... It's curious that more memorable fashion statements aren't made" (WSJ.com, 8/9). NBC's Matt Lauer said during the Opening Ceremony, "They're hoping that beret becomes the Roots beret of this year" ("Summer Olympics," NBC, 8/8). But in Boston, Shira Springer wrote, "What was up with the white scally cap-like hats? They did [not] come across as cool or fashionable unless you looked at [sprinter] Tyson Gay, who wore his tilted off to the side. In general, hats and other forms of headgear are not the best way to go" (BOSTON.com, 8/8). ESPN.com's Jackie MacMullan said of the U.S. team wearing the uniforms, "They look to me like they should [be] caddying for Tiger Woods on the 18th green" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 8/8). The N.Y. TIMES' Eric Wilson said of the outfits, “They looked rather poorly made and there wasn’t really any distinguishing characteristic that made you think of the Olympics" (NYTIMES.com, 8/8). Polo Ralph Lauren ran a two-page ad spread in the front section of Sunday's N.Y. Times (N.Y. TIMES, 8/10).
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Australia's Opening Ceremony Outfits Criticized
For Dropping Green And Gold Color Scheme |
FOREIGN FASHION: In N.Y., Jeff Klein reports, "Critics of the Australian contingent's blue and silver windbreakers and caps said the outfits looked sloppy and were an unwelcome departure from the traditional green and gold." The "controversy prompted a representative of Sportscraft, the company that designed and manufactured the outfits, to defend them in an essay" in Sunday's edition of the Sydney Daily Telegraph (N.Y. TIMES, 8/11). In Australia, English & Markson noted the Opening Ceremony was the "first time an Australian team had marched without any green or gold." Australian Olympic Committee Media Dir Mike Tancred said that the switch was a "deliberate measure to modernise the look and feel of the Aussie uniform." Tancred: "Every time we wear green and gold people say, `Why are we wearing green and gold?'. You can't win. The athletes loved it. It's not for old fogies" (NEWS.com.au, 8/9). The N.Y. TIMES' Klein offers a full review of different countries' outfits and reaction by local media, and wrote complaints about the clothes worn by the U.S. team are "nothing compared with what people in other countries are saying about their respective teams’ clothes, demeanor and general appearance" (NYTIMES.com, 8/10).
WARM WELCOMING? In N.Y., Juliet Macur reported the U.S. contingent attending the Opening Ceremony "did not seem much smaller than usual for an opening ceremony." As expected, "most of the swimmers and other athletes whose competitions were early in the games did not attend." None of the athletes "marched in wearing masks to filter the pollution" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/9). In Toronto, Thane Burnett reported the Americans were "booed when they entered the stadium during the Olympic opening on Friday night" (TORONTO SUN, 8/9). However, in Detroit, Michael Rosenberg reported the crowd "did cheer as the Americans entered" the stadium (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8/9).
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