Ralph Lauren —who has dressed Team USA at nine consecutive Olympics and Paralympics— has unveiled Tuesday his latest creations for the athletes who will represent the country at the Paris Olympics. For the opening ceremony on the Seine, the designer has opted to outfit the Olympians in a classic navy Ralph Lauren blazer with red and white detailing, paired with a striped Oxford shirt, navy knit tie, and tapered light denim jeans.
David Lauren, the company’s chief branding and innovation officer, and its founder’s son, was unbothered by the casualness of blue denim.
“We work very closely with Team USA to make the athletes feel at once dressed up, feel like a team, but at the same time comfortable and very distinctively American,” he told The Associated Press on Monday during a media preview at the company’s posh New York headquarters.
“Nothing says America like blue jeans,” Lauren added.
Daniela Moroz, competing in sailing at her first Olympics, said she loved the racing details of the closing look she modelled for the launch, down to the shoes. Paralympic swimmer Jamal Hill was also a fan of the closing ceremony outfit. To him, it’s a combination of “cowboy tuxedo” vibes and Formula 1 style.
“I’m a racer on the water so that really speaks to me,” said Moroz, who was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, of the moto touches. “It’s super comfortable.”
“I’ll definitely be wearing it outside the Paralympic Village,” Hill added.
While Ralph Lauren has the opening and closing ceremonies covered, Nike is outfitting athletes for the medal ceremonies and Team USA medallists will sport blue zip-up jackets and stretchy tapered pants.
