Few people are more synonymous with American fashion than Ralph Lauren—whose namesake brand is once again the official outfitter of Team USA for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. At the opening ceremony, closing ceremony, and around the Olympic village in Paris, the American delegation will be head to toe in Ralph. That means everyone from flagbearer LeBron James to triumphant returnee Simone Biles, two megawatt athletes with very different dimensions.
The ensemble for the opening ceremony is a dark blue blazer with red and white trim on the lapel worn with a striped oxford shirt, blue jeans, and a navy tie. It’s a very classic take on an Olympic uniform—and of the classic Ralph look. The threads for the closing ceremony skew a bit more ambitious, meanwhile: on August 11, the Americans will bid Paris adieu in white jeans and a white motorcycle-style jacket splashed with Team USA insignias, the Olympic rings, and yes, the iconic man riding a horse logo. David Lauren, the company’s Chief Branding Officer (and Ralph’s son), explained that making simultaneously universal and unique uniforms is not without its challenges.
“You have all these different body types, you have all these different styles, you have all these different personalities,” he said. “You have to come up with a uniform for the opening and closing [ceremonies], and they each have different moods and expressions. Then, in between, there is a lot more play. I'd say the village gear is where you have the most flexibility to go from something that's classic or traditional to something that's a lot more fashion and fun.”
The blazer makes plenty of sense given the pageantry of an Olympic ceremony—but that idea didn’t just come from company headquarters. They’ve handled Olympic wear since 2008, and during that time, they’ve received oodles of feedback from the athletes themselves. “We've had a lot of experience getting to know the athletes,” Lauren said. “There's a great picture of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James tying each other's ties. These guys love dressing up. They love the blazer. They reinforced to Team USA, ‘We love this kind of look. Don't put us in a sweatshirt. We want to dress up for the Olympics. This is a special moment.’"
While highly-paid basketball players may be a bit more comfortable in formalwear, Lauren also noted that many of the Olympians are dipping their toes in that water for the first time. And when introducing themselves to the world for the first time, they don't want to look schlubby. “A lot of the young athletes have told us this is their first blazer, this is the first time they've ever worn a tie,” Lauren shared. “And it's not just an opening ceremony. They really are very proud that they'll continue to wear this jacket for the rest of their lives. It's a piece of history that they're wearing.”
As the world turns its eyes to the biggest sporting stage in the world, they’ll see some garments that are made in the USA—and have seen a huge chunk of the American frontier. The wool that’s used for the opening ceremony blazer, for instance, has quite the resume. “We start sourcing that out in Nevada, Colorado, Oregon,” Lauren said. From there, it moves across the country. “We're weaving the wool in North Carolina, then it goes to South Carolina, then it goes to Connecticut, and it finally lands in Long Island City before it's done. So, it's touched five or six states on a trip across America.”
Competing in the games is undoubtedly the honor of a lifetime for many of the participants, but the magnitude of the moment is not lost on fashion designers, either. Lauren recognizes how special this assignment is—and like the rest of us, is looking forward to watching it all unfold.
“In a world that is full of ups and downs and challenges, we need the Olympics,” he said. “The Olympics is about peace, it's about sportsmanship, it's about leadership, it's about people coming together and competing. Whether you're wearing the uniforms at the winner's podium or watching it on your couch at home, it is an incredibly unifying and inspiring moment that we're proud to celebrate with them.”