In a few days, the best athletes from all corners of the globe will converge to compete in the most eminent sporting arena for a chance to stand on the podium. Last held in Tokyo four years ago, as tradition dictates, the upcoming instalment of the Summer Olympics will officially take place on July 26th, 2024 in the French capital of Paris.
For the sartorially inclined, Paris’s cultural significance needs little to no introduction. After all, its position as a cultural epicentre across Europe has been well-established since the 18th century, when the arts played a vital role in prominent French noble and aristocratic circles. Case in point, the roots of haute couture, or ‘high tailoring’, can be traced back to the House of Worth’s Parisian headquarters at number 7, rue de la Paix.
Naturally with the world of sports converging with the world of fashion, one can be assured that we can expect nothing short of a truly fashion-forward iteration of the Summer Olympic Games, especially where official uniforms and kits are concerned. Let us not forget that this isn’t the first instance of both industries crossing paths, especially over the past few years when high fashion labels such as Miu Miu and Loewe have been known to work collaboratively with renowned sports equipment brands including New Balance and On.
Judging by the spectrum of designs introduced ahead of this year’s Paris Olympic Games, that intersection of athleticism and unparalleled style is about to reach its zenith. Ranging from Team USA’s blazers outfitted by preppy-chic prognosticator Ralph Lauren to Team Japan’s form meets function designs by ASICS, and Team Canada’s floral adorned lululemon athleisure kit, let us take you through 20 of the most stylish Olympic kits across the globe that will be touching down in Paris.
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12 most stylish opening ceremony Olympic kits from the Paris Olympics 2024
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The United States isn’t short on fashion talent, that much is for sure. But when it comes down to uniforms for the Olympics, they have always turned to legacy names who truly carry the weight of their legacies. One especially frequent label to carry that honour is Ralph Lauren, who has outfitted Team USA nine times up to this point.
For the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the New York-based brand is staying true to American preppy sensibilities inspired by the East Coast for the opening ceremony, with a single-breasted navy blazer trimmed with a white and red border in the colours of the American flag, complete with a single Polo horse representing the label and another patch for the Olympic team’s insignia. This is paired with washed denim jeans and a striped shirt underneath.
The closing ceremony will see the contingent change into an all-white look consisting of a zip-up bomber jacket and matching jeans, emblazoned with the words USA in bold.
Designed by: Ralph Lauren
Image credit: Ralph Lauren
The French are obviously not about to be outdone on home turf, especially where fashion is concerned. In light of that, expect elevated sophistication and glamour from France’s contingent during the Opening Ceremony, as they will be dressed in matching suits by none other than French luxury menswear label Berluti.
Reflecting the debonair backdrop of Parisian streets and some of the most storied monuments in its history, male French athletes will sport a tastefully designed single-breasted navy blazer with a shawl lapel that is richly adorned with a deep gradient of burgundy, white, and cerulean, to represent the country’s tri-coloured flag, as well as a pair of matching trousers. Ladies, on the other hand, will receive a vest with the same shawl lapel detail, which can either be paired with trousers or a navy satin skirt that stops just past the knees. Footwear is also courtesy of Berluti, with men clad in BerlutiShadow trainers, and women having the choice between the same sneakers or a pair of custom loafers.
Designed by: Berluti
Image credit: LVMH
Another gorgeous and relaxed entrant for the Paris Olympic Games 2024 comes by way of the Canadian team’s kit, designed and manufactured by workout apparel supplier to the stars, lululemon. Taking after the success of their debut range back during the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, this version sports a bespoke print that serves as the anchoring design element across the entire collection, comprised of motifs indigenous to Canada and its culture.
What is especially interesting about the Canadian contingent’s opening ceremony uniforms is that they are adaptable to the weather, keeping in line with the event’s outdoor nature along the River Seine. Each kit comes with a Packable Rain Poncho which can be stowed away into a kangaroo pouch when not in use, while the Vented Jacquard Bomber Jacket can be removed and worn on the shoulders via backpack straps for hands-free movement.
As for the podium look, expect a convertible jacket and trouser moment interspersed with the Canadian flag’s maple leaf design. Capping things off, the Closing Ceremony look features a unique illumination print designed by Whistler-based artist Mason Mashon of Saddle Cree Nation, who was inspired by the northern lights.
Designed by: lululemon
Image credit: lululemon
There are a few countries that have maintained long-held associations with producing excellent sporting gear, and Japan is one of them thanks to ASICS. This time around for the Paris Olympic Games 2024, Team Japan’s kit considers two key areas: Performance and Sustainability. Where the former is concerned, pieces such as the Podium Jacket are equipped with ASICS’s proprietary ACTIBREEZE technology to reduce humidity when wearing the garment by arranging mesh materials in strategic areas that open and close in response to movement, thus improving ventilation.
In the latter regard, both the Podium Jacket and Pants adopt the use of recycled materials in their manufacture while incorporating renewable energy sources to power the production line, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 34%. Each item from the official Olympic kit this year will feature Sunrise Red as its main colour motif, in addition to a matching YAGASURI graphic that is meant to represent determination and strength.
Designed by: ASICS
Image credit: ASICS
Never has there been a more opportune time to showcase local talents than during the Olympics, especially considering its global syndication that attracts upwards of billions in viewership. Understanding that importance, Team Great Britain has worked extensively with English designer Ben Sherman for a third year running to design their official kit. An especially beautiful motif created from this collaboration is a fresh logo made by combining flowers that represent the four nations that make up the United Kingdom: the English rose for England, the thistle for Scotland, the daffodil for Wales, and the shamrock for Ireland.
These will be featured on a range of bomber jackets paired with an open-necked polo shirt adorned with what they have dubbed as a ‘deconstructed’ Union Jack. Oxford trousers with a Union Jack tape waistband, as well as complimentary socks from Happy Socks complete the look. Better yet, some of these design details will be incorporated into an exclusive range of capsule merchandise that you can purchase for a slice of the action in your own wardrobe.
Designed by: Ben Sherman
Image credit: Ben Sherman
Taking after Team Thailand’s tagline this year, ‘Be Our Spirit’, uniforms designed and manufactured by local sportswear brand Grand Sport are richly adorned with motifs that take after Ban Chiang heritage, one of the nation’s most enduring Indigenous peoples with a history that stretches back into prehistoric times. Featuring a pattern inspired by weaving techniques used by the community, every article of clothing from the collection will be made using an innovative fabric created using recycled plastic bottles.
Resplendent in hues of blue and red, the Opening Ceremony Uniform is expected to take the form of a zip-up jacket paired with dark-coloured sweatpants and white sneakers. The shoulder detail on the jacket is especially interesting, as it features a scalloped motif that joins the sleeve, while the back is emblazoned with the country’s name in capital lettering. Accompanying this look is another bomber jacket design with blue front panels and white sleeves.
Designed by: Grand Sport
Image credit: Grand Sport
If you spot a contingent down the River Seine in emerald, then you’ll know that you’ve found Team Australia. Developed and designed by Australian sportswear company Sports Craft, the debut looks for the Opening Ceremony are strikingly debonair, appearing elevated yet, approachable in their easy-breezy sensibilities. Every participating athlete will get to strut their stuff in a loose-fitted single-breasted blazer with gold buttons, which also features the names of all 301 Australian Olympic champions that have come before and the Australian Olympic oath discreetly embroidered onto the lining of the inside pocket.
The company has chosen to pair this look with a set of cream shorts for men, while women will receive a sunray pleat over-the-knee skirt that carries a graduated combination of green, yellow, and white shades. Lads nab a belt to accessorise with, and ladies get a crossbody bag and a colour-matching scarf to finish things off.
Designed by: Sports Craft
Image credit: International Olympics Committee
Titans of Asian entertainment, South Korea, knows a thing or two about putting on the Ritz when it comes to outfits. After all, with an entire catalogue of best-dressed looks from television, film, and music, in addition to its rich cultural heritage, all one has to do is find the right combination of facets and assemble them together. That is exactly what North Face managed to accomplish with this year’s official Olympic kit for Team South Korea, featuring three variations on key foundational pieces.
The most notable of which can be seen in the jacket, which starts off with a rich, deep blue before graduating down into a stark white at the hem. Said to be inspired by the traditional Korean art of sumukhwa, or ink-and-wash painting, these are paired with a set of black pants and a contrasting red belt. Athletes will also receive a separate all-white jacket, and what appears to be a v-neck sweater, along with white pants. Upwards of 16 items from the collection are made from recycled materials and come with enhanced cooling, water-repelling and lightweight features.
Designed by: North Face
Image credit: Maeil Business Newspaper
Brave and passionate, the colour red has always been inherently associated with the Spaniards. It comes as little surprise in which case why the fiery shade dominates the palate for this year’s Olympic garb, just as the preceding editions did. Designed in collaboration with Spanish sportswear brand Joma, the Opening Ceremony look is similar to that of Australia’s featuring a single-breasted blazer in a deep burgundy with colour-matched buttons, adorned with Team Spain’s official Olympic patch.
Male athletes will be dressed with a pair of cream-coloured trousers and a button-up shirt underneath, while female athletes will receive the same button-up shirt and trade the trousers for a sunray-pleated skirt that runs past the knees in intermingling shades of red, yellow, orange, and white. Naturally, all apparel will be made using sustainable fabrics such as recycled polyester and organic cotton.
Designed by: Joma
Image credit: Joma
The French are stylish, yes. But by no means do they have a complete monopoly over style as a whole, with Italians sharing equal claim over fashionable culture. After all, with names like Versace, Prada, Valentino, and Armani, it would be an understatement to claim that the know just a thing or two about dressing to impress. For the upcoming games, it is the lattermost name on this list that will bear the honour of outfitting Team Italy under its EA7 range, a collaboration which first took place during the London Summer Olympic Games in 2012.
Leaning into its sportswear sensibilities, the Armani team kept to the EA7 recipe for casual cool. Athletes are offered a tracksuit set in Armani blue embroidered with the phrase ‘W ITALIA’ on the front, in addition to a matching tee shirt, sweatshirt, and polo shirt. Naturally, they’ll also be walking on footwear provided by EA7, and sport trolley bags from the brand during travel. Select pieces will even be made available for general purchase at boutiques.
Designed by: EA7 by Armani
Image credit: Armani
Practical and easy on the eye, the Swedish have tapped one all-too-popular brand to dress their athletes for the Summer Olympics this year: Uniqlo. As most Asians can easily vouch, the Japanese retailer is most beloved within the continent for manufacturing quality apparel at fair prices, making them a staple among the fashion-conscious. Dubbed The High-Performance Simplicity of LifeWear, the range spans a healthy roster of easy-to-wear apparel that features polyester fabric woven using a molecular-level recycling technology, which effectively turns fabric waste into a new resource.
The opening ceremony looks are decidedly simple but designed for unparalleled comfort, which comprise a colour-matched tracksuit set with the Uniqlo square on the right side of the chest, adorned with the colours of the Swedish flag around the neckline. Better still, designated panels on the tracksuit jacket such as the underarms, chest, and upper back zones are designed with increased air permeability to allow perspiration and heat to escape.
Designed by: Uniqlo
Image credit: Uniqlo
Suited and ready to roll, Team Chinese Taipei aka Taiwan, has their eyes set on gold with their tastefully tailored opening ceremony suits, designed in conjunction with Japanese sportswear brand Yonex. While it may be the first time that both Taiwan’s Olympic Committee will be partnering with the brand to outfit their athletes, one cannot deny that the results appear to be quite promising indeed.
Appearing to take upon a more retro guise, the opening ceremony looks consist of a double-breasted suit in blue, contrasted by gold-tone buttons and an exaggerated peak lapel. Underneath, both male and female athletes will receive an open-collar white shirt with a broad collar detail, as well as a bright red scarf that can be worn as an ascot to best represent the colours of the Taiwanese flag.
Designed by: Yonex
Image credit: Taipei Fashion Week/Instagram
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This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Kuala Lumpur
