Fashion will nevertheless be front and centre during Paris Olympics opening ceremony on July 26. - MICHEL & AMAZONKA, STELLA JEAN, LULULEMON
SINGAPORE: Arguably, no one is going to be watching the Paris Olympics for the fashion.There is, after all, plenty to admire among the thousands of youthful athletes striving to go “faster, higher, stronger” in the various competitions.
But with no actual sport taking place during the Parade of Nations segment of the opening ceremony on July 26, fashion commentary will become a spectator sport for the millions of people tuning in.
Contingents from more than 200 countries will not be marching into a stadium, but will float down the French capital’s iconic River Seine instead. All will be donning threads that show off the best of their home countries, many of which were created by top designers.
The Straits Times highlights eight winners and losers to look out for during the spectacle, which will be streamed live on Singtel TV, Cast.SG and mewatch on July 27 at 1.30am.
Gold medal: Mongolia
If the matter of national uniforms is a best-dressed competition judged by the online masses, Mongolia can probably take a victory lap.
Social media users are full of praise for the garments, which are an updated take on the traditional Mongolian robe known as the deel and have gone viral.
Raves on X range from “is this the nicest Olympic uniform ever made” to “these are warrior fits, and they go hard”. On TikTok, a user effused: “It is truly a blend of beauty and (tradition).”
The richly detailed uniforms are designed by Mongolian couture brand Michel & Amazonka, helmed by the sister trio of Michel, Amazonka and Munkhjargal Choigaalaa. Each set took an average of 20 hours to produce, according to the Mongolian National Olympic Committee.
Look closely, and you will see various motifs embroidered on the tunics, collars and cuffs – such as the Olympic torch and rings, along with traditional Mongolian cloud and mountain patterns.
Silver medal: Canada
Team Canada will keep cool in more ways than one while dressed in their maple-red athleisure outfits made by popular Canadian activewear label Lululemon.
The jacquard bomber jackets and shorts are made of sweat-wicking fabrics, and emblazoned with a print design that includes motifs of art, nature and architecture found throughout Canada, such as beavers and moose.
As one netizen declared: “Team Canada would win gold if it was a fashion contest.”
You have to love an outfit that works for multiple occasions, and no doubt many of the athletes will keep these functional and stylish outfits long after the Games are over.
Bronze medal: Haiti
Haiti may be undergoing political and social upheaval, but its dozen or so Olympics athletes will proudly represent their country in uniforms designed by Haitian-Italian designer Stella Jean.
“These athletes will stand and compete for a nation that asks the world not to forget that it has changed history,” she wrote on Instagram.
Jean incorporated the work of Haitian artist Philippe Dodard into the attire, weaving his painting titled Passage into her design for the trousers and skirts.
The women’s skirt is paired with a light blue chambray shirt and a sleeveless blazer made from recycled fabric, while the men’s trousers are paired with a striped shirt, scarf and jacket inspired by the Guayabera shirt favoured by Haitian men.
“You have managed to capture our souls,” said an Instagram user, thanking Jean for her work.
Meanwhile, a TikTok user wondered: “Are they going to a fashion show or what? My gosh, the uniform is beautiful.”
Finalist: Czech Republic
At first glance, the Czech contingent’s uniforms – designed by Czech sportswear label Alpine Pro – are startling. Arguably, the trench coat resembles a stained smock you would put on to protect your clothes while painting walls.
But the fit is flattering, and no one can say the outfits are boring or forgettable.
The inner uniform consists of a more conventional sports T-shirt and a pair of casual trousers. Notably, the triangular pattern on the back of the shirt calls to mind the triangle on the Czech flag, which is red, blue and white.
Many Czech netizens praised the originality of the designs, with one person on Instagram writing: “Finally, athletes will not look like they bought their clothes on sale from Alpine Pro. The oversized fit will fit various body types, from slim to broad-shouldered.”
There were also a few users who admitted to not “getting” the designs.
But as the 56-year-old head of the Czech Olympic Committee and former rowing champion Jiri Kejval pointed out: “My generation may be surprised, but it will be worn mainly by young people who appreciate the designs.
“If the athletes feel comfortable in the clothes, they will have the confidence needed for their sporting performance.”
Semi-final flop: France
French brand Berluti, known for making belts and menswear, designed the French contingent’s opening ceremony uniform for the Olympics and Paralympics Games taking place in its homeland.
The men’s uniform is a sleek, well-tailored take on the classic suit, with thoughtful details such as red-and-blue ombre lapels that together with the white shirt, represent the French flag.
But they apparently ran out of jacket sleeves for the women. Unfortunately, the sleeveless look makes for a jarring contrast to the stiff material and formal cutting of the jacket.
Pairing the sleeveless jacket with a skirt makes it even more dowdy. It is more reminiscent of line judges from the Wimbledon tennis tournament circa a decade ago than of top athletes in 2024.
Some TikTok users even feel the uniforms resembled cabin crew attire, with one saying that “they look like flight attendants”.
On the bright side, given that France has been assaulted by deadly heat over the summer, at least the women of the French Olympic contingent will be able to keep a little more cool than their male counterparts.
Comeback kid: Malaysia
The Olympic Council of Malaysia hoped that the gold-themed opening ceremony uniforms would be as fierce as the country’s national animal, the Malayan tiger known for its sharp and strong claws.
Unfortunately, the only “shredding” that followed after the unveiling in late June was that by Malaysia’s social media community, who came out in force to condemn the original iteration.
“We dress them in these and expect gold medals in return?” mocks one commenter on Instagram.
“It’s not too late to delete (this announcement) before other news outlets pick this up,” urges another user.
The ribbing was savage enough that the Olympic Council went back to the drawing board with official manufacturer Yonex Sunrise.
The updated iteration uses a thicker fabric that does not have the cheap look that plagued the original. Meanwhile, the orange collar, cuffs and ombre slash design are subtle but impactful callbacks to the claws of the powerful and dangerous tiger.
The revised uniforms seem to have escaped the ire of Malaysian netizens.
Disqualified: United States
You cannot go wrong with a reputable American fashion house like Ralph Lauren designing your Olympics kit, right? After all, it is a celebrity favourite for glamorous red-carpet events and award shows, and during sophisticated sporting events such as the annual Wimbledon tennis tournament in London.
But that is precisely the problem, as Team USA’s uniforms make them look like posh prep school students who got lost on the way to a horse ranch.
Between the navy blue blazer with red and white piping, the pin-striped Oxford shirt, the tie and the light-washed denim jeans, there is too much happening – and none of it is good. The result is a look reminiscent of retro Uncle Sam war propaganda posters, all they are missing are top hats.
There is a marginal improvement in the women’s outfits, which seems to do away with the neck ties and the top buttons on the shirts. But there is no coming back from those jeans.
As a user commented on X: “It’s giving yeehaw mixed with flight attendant.”
Just happy to be there: Singapore
Team Singapore has mostly stuck to a core uniform of a red jacket and light-coloured trousers for the last few Olympics Games, including Tokyo 2020.
There have been minor variations via the use of accessories such as scarves, though in 2000, there was a small change-up with female athletes wearing all-beige outfits.
As Chris Chan, secretary-general of the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC), told ST in 2012: “Prior to 1973, our national sportsmen wore an all-beige ensemble for formal dress. But the late Minister for Law and National Development, E.W. Barker, suggested a red and beige uniform to represent the national colours. (Since then), Team Singapore wears the same formal attire at all major sporting events, including the Asian and Commonwealth Games.”
He added: “What works for any formal occasion is always a jacket and pants... we don’t need to be the most fashionable.”
As seen in a video shared by national swimmer Quah Jing Wen on TikTok on July 12, Singapore’s athletes will once more don the red blazer, white button-up shirt and beige trousers.
But a couple of commenters on her video did wonder if it was time for an update, with one writing: “I would like the Singapore uniform to evolve... It is too stale.”
Another simply blurted “Junior College uniform”, perhaps because of the uncanny resemblance to the formal attire worn by National Junior College students.
A spokesman for SNOC says that national athletes will be accessorising with special edition Paris 2024 ties and scarves, designed by local dressmaker Esther Tay and her design studio Esta. Tay and her team also produced the opening ceremony uniforms for Paris 2024. - The Straits Times/ANN
