London 2012 - Fashion olympics

There’s a whole new competition in London, 

with team collections by Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney,

 Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, Prada, Hermès, and others.

RALPH LAUREN (USA)

Even before the Olympic torch was lit in London, there were calls for Team USA’s uniforms to be thrown onto a bonfire. It wasn’t just that Ralph Lauren, who created the outfits for the United States, had topped them off with a beret. Rather, it was that the all-American designer’s Olympic collection was made in China. “I think they should take all the uniforms, put them in a big pile, and burn them and start all over again,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told ABC News.  “If they have to wear nothing but a singlet that says USA on it, painted by hand, that is what they should wear.” Thankfully, cooler beret-covered heads prevailed and Team USA was allowed to wear the yacht club–inspired uniforms. Ralph Lauren, meanwhile, has promised American-made uniforms for the 2014 Winter Games.

Photo: Getty Images

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STELLA MCCARTNEY (GREAT BRITAIN)

Her father may have performed at the opening ceremony, but Stella McCartney has had a much bigger presence throughout the London Games. That’s because the British designer collaborated with Adidas on Great Britain’s uniform, podium outfit, and Olympic Village wear. (Ironically, McCartney did not design Team GB’s clothes for the opening festivities; the white-and-gold tracksuits were made by Next.) And like Ralph Lauren’s Team USA uniforms, McCartney’s Olympic collection is not without controversy: Some critics felt her modern take on the Union Jack was “too blue.” But McCartney explained her vision to the BBC: "I wanted to start with the union flag, but I'm really aware the reds, whites, and blues are in other nations' flags, and sometimes you can feel quite confused when you are watching the Games. Is that American, is that French? It's very recognizable still; I've represented all the parts of Great Britain. There's a lot of red in there but in a nontraditional way." In other words, let it be.

Photo: Getty Images

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GIORGIO ARMANI (ITALY)

How’s this for an Olympic perk? Each member of the squad Italy sent to London received a 50-piece collection from the team’s official outfitter—Giorgio Armani—as well as a set of Armani luggage. The designer’s Emporio Armani EA7 label produced the stylish gear, which will not be used in competition. And the collection—which includes a warm-up suit, shoes, shirts, and Bermuda shorts—will not feature the colors of the Italian flag; Armani designed the clothes in midnight blue, or azzuro, because Italy’s sports teams have long been known as the Azzuri. There’s also one secret patriotic touch to his clothes: The words of Italy’s national anthem are stitched into the lining of the opening-ceremony jackets and under the collar of the polo shirts.

Photo: Getty Images

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HERMÈS (FRANCE: EQUESTRIAN)

Exactly 175 years after Hermès began in Paris as a saddle and harness company, the luxury label returned to its roots this summer by outfitting the French equestrian team for the London Olympics. (The house had previously dressed the team for the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta.) The new collection features a blue blazer with a red collar in a technical fabric to allow riders freedom of movement in show jumping and eventing. No word on whether it comes accessorized with a Birkin or Kelly bag for “gear.”

Photo: Getty Images

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SALVATORE FERRAGAMO (REPUBLIC OF SAN MARINO)

With Giorgio Armani creating the outfits for Team Italy, Salvatore Ferragamo agreed to design the official uniforms for the Republic of San Marino, a tiny state in the northeastern part of the Italian peninsula: crepe dresses, trench coats, an updated version of the label’s iconic Sofia bag, and of course shoes. The fashion house didn’t have to produce too many outfits for the Olympics, though—San Marino sent only four athletes to London.

Photo: Getty Images

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CEDELLA MARLEY (JAMAICA)

Like Stella McCartney, Cedella Marley’s father, Bob Marley, is a musical icon in her native country. So it was fitting that the woman behind the Catch a Fire clothing line was selected to design Jamaica’s Olympic uniforms. In a partnership with Puma, Marley’s military-inspired collection uses the colors of the Jamaican flag—green, yellow, and black—and also features vibrant patterns with a Caribbean flair. (In honor of her father, Marley named the opening-ceremony shirt the “Buffalo Soldier button-down” and stitched the words positive vibrations inside the collar.) And to launch the collection on the right foot, Marley had the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, model her clothes. “I said to Usain, this is the first time Daddy is actually going to the Olympics," the designer said when her collection debuted in London, "and you're going to be wearing him on your shoulder."

Photo: Getty Images

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SUITSUPPLY (NETHER-LANDS)

For the third straight Olympics, the Dutch fashion label Suitsupply is the official clothier to the team from the Netherlands. With whimsical-but-dapper preppy uniforms—including blazers with piping, tennis sweaters, and a minidress inspired by the Avengers’ Emma Peel—the Dutch collection also features elements with the country’s signature color: an orange trench for women and orange trousers for men.

Photo: Getty Images

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ERMANNO SCERVINO (AZERBAIJAN)

The Republic of Azerbaijan isn’t exactly one of the world’s fashion capitals, but perhaps that will change after the Olympics, where the Middle Eastern nation’s athletes will be dressed in clothes by Italian designer Ermanno Scervino. The collection resembles Team USA’s—blue blazers with white skirts or trousers—but the uniforms are accented by tropical scarves and ties featuring the colors of the country’s flag: blue, red, and green. The Village wear is even bolder—color-blocked tracksuits in the flag colors with a matching rolling suitcase.

Photo: Getty Images

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TAKASHIMAYA (JAPAN)

Although it’s not a fashion house, the upscale Japanese department store Takashimaya produced the opening-ceremony uniforms for Japan’s Olympic delegation in London. And admittedly the clothes have a certain flight-attendant look to them—red blazers (featuring the Japanese flag) with white shirts, white trousers, and white shoes. The women’s uniforms are even accessorized with a little scarf. (For the record, JAL flight attendants wear blue blazers.)

Photo: Getty Images

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JEFF BANKS (BELIZE)

“I used The Great Gatsby as my inspiration with a modern touch reflecting the Belize Caribbean sprit,” Welsh designer Jeff Banks said about his uniforms for the Central American country, which is part of the British commonwealth. Anchored by boat blazers in royal blue with white piping, the outfits are accented with blue-and-white-striped shirts with scarves and ties in the national colors. With just eight athletes, Belize managed to stand out—in a good way—at the opening ceremony.

Photo: Getty Images

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PRADA (ITALY: SAILING)

Because Giorgio Armani didn’t create gear for competition in the Olympics, Prada became the official outfitter for the Italian sailing team. It was a natural fit for the fashion house, which has previously sponsored four America’s Cup campaigns. In addition to supplying technical clothing for the athletes and their coaches—in Italy’s signature blue—Prada’s logo will also be on the hulls and sails of Italy’s competing boats.

Photo: Getty Images

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BOSCO (SPAIN)

Would you like fries with that medal? The gaudy Gaudi-inspired polos and baseball caps worn by the Spanish national team look more appropriate for a McDonald’s employee—right down to the ketchup and mustard colors—than an Olympic athlete. Designed by Bosco di Ciliegi (which supplies the uniforms for its native Russia as well as Ukraine), the uniforms were mocked mercilessly after their debut last weekend, particularly by the Spanish athletes themselves. “It might suit the Russians and Ukrainian athletes, but not us,” said Ona Meseguer, a water polo player. “Maybe I will give it to my grandmother afterward,” added Roser Tarrago.

Photo: Getty Images

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KARL LAGERFELD (TEAM KARL)

Like a man without a country, Karl Lagerfeld unveiled his Olympic-themed micro-collection at Selfridges last week under the name Team Karl. The cheeky logo for the line depicts the Chanel creative head in a traditional discus-throwing pose while wearing his signature suit and powdered hair. There are T-shirts with Lagerfeld’s name on it, metallic sunglasses, and of course collars in gold, silver, and bronze. Despite his appreciation for the Olympics, Lagerfeld told reporters at the collection’s launch party in London that he won’t be tuning in to the Games. “I like the idea, I like the people, but the performances, they are something of a little unhuman now,” he said. “I like the image and the idea better than to watch it.”

Photo: Courtesy of Selfridges via Facebook

See also the very interesting video at:

http://fashionguests.blogspot.com/2012/08/karl-lagerfeld-and-his-olympics.html

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By Michael Solomon