Olympic Fashion Winners and Losers

When it comes to fashion, winter sports have always walked precariously along the fine line of good taste.

Perhaps it’s that blank backdrop of all that snow and ice that makes the garish colours and wacky pattern combinations leap out on the television screens. And they love a bit of theatrical flair. What would figure skating be without some glitzy sequins and shimmery spandex?

And is there a winter sports athlete that one can call a fashion plate during their off-hours? Unlike summer sports counterparts like soccer players (David Beckham) and basketball players (LeBron James), who show they have game even in their off-hours.

But thankfully, winter sports have snowboarders, usually a young, brash contingent that sport some radical and cool outfits on the slopes.
So it’s always with some trepidation one looks at the Parade of Nations during the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Games to see what the teams from each country are wearing.

While we are aware that local customs, Olympic rules and sponsorships can all play a role in what the teams wear, we root that these sporting heroes will look cool rather than comedic.

2. U.S.A.
Designer Ralph Lauren was responsible for Team USA and their chunky knit cardigans and cream pants tucked into Alpine boots, which looked like it stepped right off the runway – so on trend it was. Sure, the cardigan might have been a little too overly patterned with all those star motifs, but none-the-less it was ruggedly good-looking.

4. Norway
Blue and white. Might as well have called it bland and weak. It’s not that there was anything wrong with their blue pants and white jackets ensemble but it was just tepid and less-than-memorable.

6. Spain
Eschewing any snow type dressing like puffy jackets or ski pants, the Spaniards went for elegance in smart red blazers and dark trousers.

8. Russia
Somewhat bizarrely, the Russian team dressed their men and women differently. The women got the short end of the style stick. with fur trimmed coats that made them look like Santa Claus while the men got the good stuff – sharp-looking navy pea coats.

9. Ireland
Was it shamrock green they were going for? Unfortunately, the green outfits, flicked with bits of orange, looked more military than sporty.