Which nation has the most stylish Olympic uniform?
With every new Olympic Games, the fashion stakes seem to get even higher. Could Paris 2024 be the steeziest Olympics yet?
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CLEARLY, HEADING TO the fashion capital has inspired the world’s Olympic teams to turn up in style. Enlisting top designers and sportswear brands from around the globe, this year’s Games is shaping up to be the most stylish yet (with LVMH as the premium sponsor, could we expect anything less?). But before we dig into this year’s kits, we must pay homage to the iconic uniforms that paved the way: who can forget Issey Miyake’s Fortuny-pleated designs for Team Lithuania during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics? I’m still hunting for them on Grailed to this day. Or how Usain Bolt’s gold Puma sneakers carried him over the finish line at the Beijing Olympics in 2008? With untied shoelaces, at that.
Of the 206 national teams competing this year, standout uniforms seem to combine the functionality of sportswear with the national dress and iconography of its team. But the real winners go even further, by adding some on-trend detail (Japan, we see you).
Whether you’ll be watching the Opening Ceremony from the stands of the Seine or in the early hours of the morning from your couch in Australia, caffeine in hand, there’s nothing to get your patriotic juices flowing quite like seeing your national colours on the big screen. But if every team is so turned out, which uniforms will be the ones we remember in years to come?
Scroll on for some of the gold medal-worthy kits to keep your eyes peeled for this opening ceremony, as well as the details that make them significant to this year’s Games.
The most stylish Olympic uniforms at Paris 2024
Australia
Designer: Sportscraft
Now in its 10th year of designing the Australian Olympic uniform, Sportscraft will be sending our athletes to the continent in boxy green blazers and beige chino shorts for the guys, while the ladies will rep pleated skirts in yellow and green. Although the specific combo of wearing an oversized blazer with adolescent shorts evokes private school uniform vibes, there is also a great sense of national identity in the small details. Pocket squares are printed with a turquoise artwork by Torres Strait Islander artist David Bosun titled Ngalmun Danalaig (‘Our Lives’), and although it can’t be seen, the Australian Olympians’ oath is embroidered on the inside pocket of each blazer. Bonne chance!
Mongolia
Designer: Michel & Amazonka
Perhaps the most talked about uniform of the Games so far, its viral circulation online is the work of pret-a-couture label Michel & Amazonka, the sister design duo who chose to honoured the Mongolian deel (a centuries-old item of clothing that are worn by flag bearers during celebrations and competitions) for the occasion. With elaborate gold embroidery depicting mountainscapes, images of nature, and the Nine White Banner (flown to commemorate the beginning of the annual Naadam festival), all 120 uniforms for the Olympic and Paralympic Games each took 20 hours to complete.
Japan
Designer: Y-3
To call on one of your country’s greatest designers to make your Olympic uniform is a major power move. Designed under his Y-3 line with Adidas, legendary designer Yohji Yamamoto created the enviable uniforms for the Japanese football team. In brooding colour combinations of red, white, royal blue, navy and black, the jersey and shorts carry flame motifs to symbolise the “unwavering strength and mysterious power” of Japan. But now we’re wondering: when can we cop the kit, Yohji-san?
The Philippines
Designer: Francis Libiran
Created by Filipino designer Francis Libiran, the barong – worn by men for important occasions such as weddings – has been designed for the Opening Ceremony and crafted from piña-jusi fabric, a lightweight yet durable silk that’s ideal for the nation’s equatorial climate (and also for summer in Paris). Each barong features a harness in the national colours, with yellow embroidery depicting sun rays in the Pintados-style warrior patterns. Steez.
USA
Designer: Ralph Lauren
Although we won’t be seeing this fit on Team USA until the Closing Ceremony, the suite of uniforms designed by Ralph Lauren is quintessentially American. In casual white jackets and jeans that recall racing attire, each uniform is replete with custom patches that reference the wearer’s sport. Prepare to catch these kits on the backs of athletes to watch this year, including tennis-pro Coco Gauff. Gauff, 20, is the youngest American flag bearer in history, and will also be accompanied by basketball legend LeBron James.
Haiti
Designer: Stella Jean
Known for mixing vibrant prints with basic and staple pieces, Italian-Haitian designer Stella Jean has brought that same spirit when tasked with designing Team Haiti’s uniform. The focal point being the prints – created in collaboration with Haitian painter Philippe Dodard in bold hues of red and blue and abstract patterns known in his work – its pared back with a lightweight chambray work jackets popular among Haitian men.
Egypt
Designer: Concrete
Team Egypt is bringing the made-to-measure fits. Designed by artistic director Ettore Veronese of Concrete, stripes adorn the shoulders of blazers to the ends of the sleeves in stripes of the Egyptian flag. Take this as a style note: made from seersucker, a lightweight, breathable fabric, these suits are composed of cotton, linen and silk blends, making it an ideal summer choice. And it’s crisp texture won’t crease.
Great Britain
Designer: Ben Sherman
Its third time dressing Team Great Britain, iconic menswear designer Ben Sherman is letting the details – which nod to a united Britain – speak for themselves. Dressed for the Opening and Closing ceremonies in navy and white bomber jackets, each one is embroidered with the national flowers – the English Tudor Rose, Scottish Thistle, Welsh Daffodil, and the Northern Irish Shamrock – in vibrant stitching, with a knit polo underneath print with, of course, the Union Jack.
France
Designer: Kenzo
As the host country, the French team are absolutely spoilt rotten this year. Dior, Stéphane Ashpool and Berluti are some of the designers dressing Team France, but it’s the judo team’s uniform, from Japanese brand Kenzo, that stands out. Honouring the origins of their sport, Nigo, Kenzo’s artistic director, created the Kimono-style suits featuring clean collarless jackets. In a way, the choice of Kenzo was also to honour its late founder, who came to Paris in 1964 as one of the first Japanese designers to pioneer the ‘East-meets-West’ aesthetic.
Italy
Designer: EA7 Emporio Armani
Designed under the sportswear line EA7 Emporio Armani, the Armani team was tasked with dressing both Olympic and Paralympic teams this year. In simple hoodies and track pants emblazoned with ‘ITALIA’ in block text, the uniform keeps comfort and accessibility top of mind for all its athletes. Each hoodie is also lined with the three stripes of the Italian flag – a reminder to keep your head in the game, perhaps?
The Netherlands
Designer: The New Originals
As this year marks the first Games for breaking (aka breakdancing), uniforms in the sport event take much inspiration from streetwear. Specialising in performance-wear, Amsterdam-based label The New Originals have designed custom sets for the Dutch performers. In various colours of navy, orange and white, each set features individual patterns that reflect the various style of breakdancing to each wearer.
Czech Republic
Designer: Alpine Pro x Jan Société
Prague-based sportswear brand Alpine Pro – known for its gorpy offerings – knew what the occasion called for when tasked with dressing their athletes for Paris. Collaborating with Jan Société, trench coats in tie-dyed white and bleeding ink-blue colours are sure to be an eye-catcher. And to complete its callback to the national colours, the contrasting orange polo shirts make for excellent colour blocking. It might just be our fave.
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