Olympic Opening Ceremony ensembles have humble beginnings as stepped up takes on simple activewear, and then…Ralph, Giorgio, and Stella got involved turning the OC and the athletes’ gear around their sports into much anticipated fashion events. Even though some of the Opening Ceremony looks are often critiqued for their over the top styles that would be too much for even the most patriotic citizens to wear in their daily lives (á la Team USA’s 1984 cowboy get ups by Levi Strauss), we can’t help but love the festive pageantry of it all. So, we looked back on years past and then to some of our favorites from Friday’s Opening Ceremony parade of uniforms to see just how far they have come.
1. Team Korea looked chic in tailored red, white and blue looks at the London 2012 Olympics.
2. Ankle Boots and head bands? Yes, please! It was all about Mod in Mexico City for Team USA in 1968.
3. Following their bronze medal win, Canadian figure skaters Debbie Wilkes and Guy Reveil rock Hudson’s Bay jackets at the 1964 Olympics.
4. Members of Team USA at the 1984 Sarajevo games couldn’t help but say giddy up in their Levi Strauss-designed uniforms.
5. France’s Opening Ceremony outfits by Lacoste stand at the top of our list for favorite looks from Sochi.
6. Team Russia looking glam in their Sochi ensembles.
7. A classic coat by Hudson’s Bay for Team Canada in Sochi.
8. Team UK had an effortless, chic style mastered in Mexico City, 1976
9. Head-to-toe white works in every decade, especially for Team Japan in 1960.
10. His and her fedoras for Team USA in 1948.
11. Ryan Lochte in Ralph Lauren at the London 2012 Olympics will always be one of our favorite Opening Ceremony looks.
12. We will be rooting for Paralympic Snowboarder Mike Shea, pictured in one of the looks from Team USA’s Ralph Lauren-designed gear.
