Opening Ceremonies: Fashion hits and misses
The world will be focused strictly on sports for the next two weeks, but before we start talking point deductions and photo finishes, it’s time to analyze the athletes in a way that doesn’t involve gold, silver, and bronze, but rather blazers, scarves, and skirts. Here are our top fashion hits and misses from Friday’s Opening Ceremonies.
Hits:
1. The blazer: It was probably the most worn item last night, but you can’t go wrong with a classic. From navy, to white, to red, blazers took center stage during the Parade of Nations.
Poland. Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
2. Traditional with a twist: Most uniforms feature a country’s traditional colors, but Poland made it interesting last night when the country’s female competitors wore shift dresses featuring white and red, but with a twist. The colors were displayed in swirly florals at the bottom of their dresses, a breath of fresh air in a parade of stripes.
Brazil. Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
3. Brights: Brazil did bright the right way with muted, black tops paired with lime green or neon yellow skirts and pants. It was a great combination of professional and fun. The skirts and pants also had a very modern feel and worked in the flag’s colors without looking like a costume.
The Netherlands. Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
4. Classic with an edge: The Netherlands used classic pieces in monochromatic styles to create a look that packed a punch. Orange and royal blue were the colors for the team’s trench coats, shift dresses, blazers, and pants.
Great Britain. Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
5. Going for the gold: Great Britain’s uniforms weren’t the most fashion forward, but you can’t blame them for coming in the way they want to go out – wearing gold. We’ll let them have this one since, after all, they are the host country.
Misses:
Germany. Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA Today Sports
1. Gender based colors: Really, Germany? Cotton candy colors are always fun, but their decision to put all the female competitors in pink and all the male competitors in blue seems a little unoriginal.
Czech Republic. Credit: Richard Mackson-US PRESSWIRE
2. Crazy footwear: Maybe it was an ode to British culture and Wellington boots, but the Czech Republic’s plastic rain boots looked uncomfortable and frankly, a little silly. The shiny boots were paired with spandex leggings under their skirts and shorts.
3. Sweatsuits: Athletes have almost two weeks of the Games to wear athletic gear. Maybe it’s just me, but the Opening Ceremonies seem like the time to keep the sweatsuits in the closet and dress up a bit.
Placard holders. Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
4. Face dresses: Technically, these costumes weren’t worn by competitors, but they were so weird they deserve a spot on this list. The country name placard holders who walked into the arena next to each country’s flag bearers wore dresses with the faces of the ceremony’s volunteer performers. The sentiment is nice, but these face dresses might have been the strangest article of clothing in the arena.
5. Jeans: Apparently Liechtenstein decided to go with “Casual Friday” for their Parade of Nations uniforms, as the country’s competitors entered the stadium and kicked off the Olympic Games in some blue jeans. Comfy? Yes. Stylish? Not at all.
