04/30/2008
Olympic Athletes Unveil Ralph Lauren-Designed Team Outfits
Earlier this month I posted that the U.S. Olympic team had rejected Canadian fashion maker Roots in favor of Ralph Lauren for the Beijing 2008 Olympic team outfits. Today they were showed off by two of the American athletes.
Deontay Wilder, a boxer on the U.S. Olympic team, and Giuseppe Lanzone, a rower on the U.S. Olympic team, show off the new Ralph Lauren closing ceremonies team outfits.
Norman Bellingham, chief operating officer of the USOC and a former Olympic kayaker, told Ralph Lauren that he wanted a look that was more classic and formal, inspired by 'Chariots of Fire,' the 1981 movie about British athletes competing in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Here are Wilder and Lanzone in their element.
A few more images from their shoot, AFTER THE JUMP...
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Posted 9:59 AM EST by Andy in Beijing, Fashion Men, News, Olympics, Sports | Permalink
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Love Ralph!
I've worn his stuff since elementary school (along with J.Press & Brooks who he copied, but ALWAYS go back to Ralph), and probably have enough of his stuff to open my own boutique. It's the best, and like Bean, lasts forever.
I especially love the new big pony stuff.
He totally leaves Abercrombie in the dust. They aren't even in the same class (and wouldn't know what class is to begin with)
Posted by: Chad | Apr 30, 2008 10:16:10 AM
Love the outfits! Very Americana.
Posted by: Britton | Apr 30, 2008 10:17:29 AM
Yes, very Americana, and I suspect the garments are made in China. The fashions will be a big hit in Tibet.
Posted by: Jack Scribe | Apr 30, 2008 10:21:39 AM
They look like ninnies.
Posted by: Protogenes | Apr 30, 2008 10:31:24 AM
Quick!!! Someone spill some grape juice!!! ;)
Posted by: Darren | Apr 30, 2008 10:32:09 AM
Ohmy Guiseppe. Between him and Van Kooverden, I will be watching he rowing competition nonstop.
Posted by: secretagentman | Apr 30, 2008 10:44:25 AM
Very American? With a look inspired by a British Olympics movie?
Too many stripes, too much logo schmutz. And it'll be interesting to see how those white sweaters will hold up under the heat, humidity and pollution of a Beijing August.
In any case didn't this sort of of "haute-preppy" style peak in 1983?
Posted by: Buster | Apr 30, 2008 10:52:09 AM
I rowed out of the same boathouse as those dudes in college, and yes, they're very pretty, but as a former rower, it has to be the most BORING spectator sport in the history of the world. One of my good friends will be in the Women's Eight (or the pair, if because she just won the National Selection Regatta), so if you can muster up the strength to watch the racing, definitely cheer for the ladies!
Posted by: David | Apr 30, 2008 10:57:11 AM
Ugh - I HATE them, one more reason to boycott the opening ceremony IMHO.
Posted by: Ryan | Apr 30, 2008 11:09:27 AM
They PAID him for this?
Posted by: Calpete | Apr 30, 2008 11:11:07 AM
Take it from a Canadian, thank gawd those hacks at Roots didn't design your 2008 olympic outfits or you'd be sporting 2nd rate crud in Beijing.
I like that the sweater V-neck borders mimic medal ribbons in this context. And nice to see Lipschitz clothing featured on male models with abit of flesh on them for once.
Posted by: A.J. | Apr 30, 2008 11:17:30 AM
They look like the clothes that gay Republicans wear.
Posted by: crispy | Apr 30, 2008 11:21:01 AM
Are you sure this isn't the promo for the new gay Love Boat on LOGO?
Posted by: Marc | Apr 30, 2008 11:21:27 AM
John Bartlett should've been given a shot at making the clothes. Rakph is good but very boring and predictable.
Posted by: gabe | Apr 30, 2008 11:30:37 AM
God... same tired, old Ralph Lauren / Polo garb. What? Did someone dry that sweater in high heat before giving it to the model? I can just see any normal [read overweight] American trying to wear that over their paunch.
Not inspiring. Boring. It's not even retro, it's just the same 'ole junk that Ralph One-note has been producing since Polo was the trend in the... 1980's.
Posted by: Rad | Apr 30, 2008 11:38:06 AM
The stripe at the bottom of the sweater is too high and bugs me. Otherwise, I like it. Way better than the track suits of previous years.
Posted by: Dean in NYC | Apr 30, 2008 11:38:53 AM
Can I just be shallow for a second and state how unbelievably sexy Lanzone is? Wow...
Posted by: Cory | Apr 30, 2008 11:39:04 AM
Those logos look like cockroaches.
Posted by: Tweety | Apr 30, 2008 11:49:36 AM
"Bunny Bixler and I were in the semi-finals of the ping pong tournament at the club".
Posted by: JJ | Apr 30, 2008 12:23:00 PM
"Classic and formal" is fine, I suppose. But I tend to agree with Rad - these outfits are boring, predictable, conservative and not forward-thinking in the least. I actually think that the sweater looks very poorly designed (logo placement, stomach-stripes).
It might have been fun to let an outfit like "Triple Five Soul" design the USA Olympic team outfits.
American streetwear rocks. And the Great Gatsby look is so over.
Posted by: excy | Apr 30, 2008 12:27:48 PM
A.J. has a good point that it is a nice touch that the stripe on the V-neck sweater (in combination with the laurel wreath embroidered on the chest) mimics an Olympic medal...that is a nice touch...but why, oh why, did he have to feature the Polo logo so prominently? It isn't about him or his company...it is about the U.S. Olympic team...the horse should have been discreetly placed on the sleeve or left off altogether...of course that would have deprived the wee Mr. Lipschitz of precious free advertising.
Posted by: peterparker | Apr 30, 2008 12:28:35 PM
JJ - LMFAO!
Posted by: D.R.H. | Apr 30, 2008 12:41:35 PM
SECRETAGENTMAN has it right. Those outfits are going to be gray after three days in the city's famously lung-choking smog.
Posted by: Shazzer | Apr 30, 2008 12:44:13 PM
REMINDED ME OF THE OLYMPIC ATHELETES IN 'CHARIOTS OF FIRE'
Posted by: CLIFF | Apr 30, 2008 12:44:13 PM
They remind me of CARLTON on "THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR"...Very gay republican indeed!!
Posted by: Shabaka | Apr 30, 2008 12:45:23 PM
Crisket player FOP style
Ughhhhh
Whatever happened with the simple matching sweat suits of yesteryear?
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Apr 30, 2008 12:52:25 PM
LOL at all of y'all. When it comes to fashion, don't mess with gay men's sensibilities. Lord.
"Bunny Bixler"
is that the Rosalind Russell or Lucille Ball version? Don't tell me you were old enough to see the Angela Lansbury stage version.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Apr 30, 2008 12:56:40 PM
BORING!! I think the Roots apparel they've worn the past couple of Olympics was better than this "stuff". And the oversized Polo pony?? We get it...it's Ralph Lauren. Ever hear of "less is more"? Must Ralph lower himself down to the A&F standard of branding?
Posted by: Keith | Apr 30, 2008 12:58:00 PM
Oh Derrick, how could you even ask that?! If I was wearing my mother's pearls, I'd be clutching them right now.
Rosalind Russell by a mile.
Posted by: crispy | Apr 30, 2008 1:07:24 PM
Derrick - I never saw the stage version :( .
Rosalind Russell on DVD. It's a classic. Really top drawer!
Posted by: JJ | Apr 30, 2008 1:18:48 PM
I think the logo is tacky and disgraceful. It's the Olympics, not an ad for Lauren. Yes I realize that most everything sports-related has a logo on it, but will it never end?
Plus I just hate white clothes
Posted by: Paul R | Apr 30, 2008 1:50:59 PM
Even the photographer has a popped collar, that's pretty great -- everyone on-set is deeply INVOLVED
Posted by: Darko666 | Apr 30, 2008 2:22:38 PM
Those extra large logos look like something a Outlet Mall Queen would wear.
Posted by: Matilda | Apr 30, 2008 2:37:25 PM
Well, CRISPY & JJ:
I agree, but there are two words that must have made Lansbury's Broadway version great--the same two words that make the Lucille Ball movie version worth seeing: Bea Arthur.
Olympic men to Broadway musicals to worshipping Rosalind Russell: gay, honey...gay.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Apr 30, 2008 2:44:38 PM
LOL! You are so right about Bea Arthur. This one's for you...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilV5K8tw_6o
Posted by: crispy | Apr 30, 2008 2:53:18 PM
Oh, Crispy! Thanks for the YouTube link.
BUT IF YOU WANT A GAY DUET WITH BEATRICE ARTHUR, I'VE GOT YOUR GAY DUET RIGHT HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3VbSfQ3nAM
Enjoy.
Posted by: Rey | Apr 30, 2008 3:29:55 PM
Oh, I already have that one bookmarked! :)
Posted by: crispy | Apr 30, 2008 3:46:06 PM
Hey, thanks CRISPY & REY:
Now, I have something to do at work besides troll the blogs all day.
You know, I think Bea Arthur and "Golden Girls" helped many of us survive Reagan and Papa Bush.
Boy, we hijacked the original topic of this thread. So, what? GAY POWER! We all need a break from the Clinton/Obama Wars.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Apr 30, 2008 3:59:50 PM
Terrible. Totally irrelevant to 2008. Ralph Lauren hasn't designed anything remotely relevant since the 90s.
Posted by: Horrendous | Apr 30, 2008 7:08:53 PM
aww Andy - aren't they great? any time you want a photo of yourself styled like that, it can be arranged!
Posted by: Tyler | Apr 30, 2008 8:22:10 PM
another reason to boycott beijing. horrid.
Posted by: holdensf | May 1, 2008 10:28:10 AM
CRAP! CRAP! CRAP!
And what is with that sweater that the Black guy is wearing? From a distance it looks like his mommy shrunk it in hot water!
Posted by: soulbrotha | May 1, 2008 12:22:59 PM
Hijack alert: Not only did I see the revival of "Mame" with Angela Lansbury, I got to meet her courtesy of the actor who played Gloria Upson ("Gloria" was in the ping-pong tournament with Bunny Bixler). She and I were students at Julliard at the time so she was able get me a pair of "Annie Oaklies" (hole punched tickets [pre-computerized ticketing]) since the producers were papering the house. The revival was a low rent version with cheap costumes and sets but La Lansbury was fabulous. Her rendition of "Bosom Buddies" remains the gold standard.
As for the US team's Olympic uniforms: Meh. They are typical Ralph Lipschitz creations. He still hasn't gotten over being blackballed from The Club in Darien. Hence, his Anglophilic-esque "designs"-- retreads with logos--are continual pleas for admission.
That striped stomach girdle on the sweater vest (god forbid, a sweater vest, something no self-respecting gay man would ever wear) is particularly hideous. Ralphie has managed to dress two incredibly hot men and make them boring. Quite a feat!
Posted by: rudy | May 1, 2008 6:08:55 PM
crispy and rey,
thanks for those links. angela looked fantastic. and well, bea is bea.
Posted by: nic | May 1, 2008 7:09:56 PM