Critics hate RL's US Olympic Team Uniforms

[Ich_Dien]

I honestly don't get the thinking behind the beret. A boater maybe, but a beret?!

 

[lasbar]

That's the French Olympic costume..

[ATTACHMENT=3205]uni.png (144k. png file)[/ATTACHMENT]

 

[Kai]

Ugly

 

[Ianiceman]



I honestly don't get the thinking behind the beret. A boater maybe, but a beret?!

Supporting the troops?

Or did I hear recently that the US Army is doing away with berets?

I can see why too, as most of them are clueless as to how to wear them. Instead of being slightly oversized and louche as worn by good old Monty, I see them shrunken up to not m,uch more than the size of a yarmulke, perched on their crown with a tin-tin style peak where the regimental/rank badge goes. Looks bloody ridiculous. Go back to wearing your c**t caps now, and see how you like that!

 

[MyOtherLife]

Well it could have been a lot better but a lot worse too. Pure propaganda. Business as usual. I am suprised they didn't have the gold fringe around the flag.

 

[PhiloVance]

I liked Ralph's idea in 2008 with the cream colored caps. A nod to classic men's style which is right in his wheelhouse.

Is the US connection with berets really just the green berets? Seems like a bit of a stretch . . .

I also did not quite understand David Lauren's explanation this morning - the inspiration behind the design was Chariots of Fire? But I don't recall anyone wearing a beret in that film - certainly not anyone on the US Team. But its been awhile, maybe I'm wrong . . .

 

[JensenH]



Good one!

 

[Mr Knightly]

Agreed. The 2008 flat caps looked smashing. They were sporty, classic, and definitely American. These berets are ridiculous. On the other hand, the rest of the outfit is quite nice, and I don't think the overall effect will be that odd, at least in the context of the long and absurd history of opening ceremonies outfits.

 

[PhiloVance]

Right. I think the bigger issue would be that no part of the outfit is actually made in the US. Assuming everything is made to black or purple label standards, the shirt, tie, slacks, and blazer are probably made in italy, and the shoes are made in england. Perhaps the beret is made by Kangol?

 

[papa kot]

I like the uniforms. The berets may grown on me, but I am on the fence.

For those who say that berets are French, un-American, sissy, socialist -- the this to the guys pictured below.





Looks pretty bad-ass and American to me

 

[Ianiceman]

Looks awful but thanks for providing an illustration to the point I was trying to make above. QED.

 

[cptjeff]



Agreed. The 2008 flat caps looked smashing. They were sporty, classic, and definitely American. These berets are ridiculous. On the other hand, the rest of the outfit is quite nice, and I don't think the overall effect will be that odd, at least in the context of the long and absurd history of opening ceremonies outfits.

Que? Flat caps are an english/Irish thing, traditionally. Not to say they weren't worn in the US, but they were damn near universal in england, scotland, ireland and the US for a long time- anyone who wasn't upper class wore one on a daily basis, or an 8 panel cap. While certainly commonly found in the US, I'm pretty sure they're originally an irish design.

If you want distinctly American hats, the fedora, the cowboy hat, or the baseball cap are your primary options.

 

[CYstyle]



I like the uniforms. The berets may grown on me, but I am on the fence.

For those who say that berets are French, un-American, sissy, socialist -- the this to the guys pictured below. 





Looks pretty bad-ass and American to me

I was just about to say the same.

 

[Holdfast]

@ HF do you really like the Wimbledon kits? I'm in two minds as I like the traditional prep school look up to a point, but (unliek you!) I hate contrast collar shirts and don't really like the piping on the blazers. The older green blazers were probably more traditional looking - maybe a bit safe but probably more wearable in the real world outside of Wimbledon. The women wearing men's shirts and baggy-kneed cotton chinos or old maid skirts invariably look crap.

I do like them. I think RL is very good at this sort of "invented tradition" for the world stage. What I mean is that of course the RL Wimbledon outfits are very un-traditional in reality, but he's captured a certain flavour of the event, concentrated it to the point of pastiche, and so created an image that then plays very well with the international branding of the tournament. It all meshes together well, making it a very coherent/sellable vision.

I happen to like contrast collars but even so, I'd never wear the Wimbledon outfit! It would be ridiculous outside the context of being staff at the event. It's a horrible men's clothing outfit in that sense. But I think it's looks perfect for the event. That's what I mean by liking it as a uniform.

I agree that the women's uniforms are less well-suited; I think part of that is the practical difficulty of retaining the modesty of some of the more mature women forced into the less-than-flattering positions that a line juge occasionally must adopt. So they're more of an aesthetic compromise than the men's version.

I don't think RL has pulled off the same trick with the Olympic outfits; they don't feel like a quintessentially American aesthetic (or even a faked one). But it's harder for America to inspire new uniforms than older countries as most good really American looks are IMO not formal or uniform ones but ones that are formal mixed with some casual elements. RL's tried to reflect that with the blazer/white trousers combo, the bobby socks, etc but I think it doesn't quite hit the mark.

 

[MikeDT]

I see the Olympic team uniform is available for purchase on RL's website, including the "imported" berets. But who would actually buy and wear this stuff though?