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The athletes aren't fashionistas. I loved Korto's design, and agree the Lauren uniforms weren't very original. But all of the athletes looked great, looked comfortable, and looked like ladies and gentlemen. It's a classic American prep look, but I think it gave a certain pride and sporty formality to the athlete's behavior, not just their look. They rose to the level of their outfits. And hey, at least he didn't put the women in some abomination like the poor Hungarian women were forced to wear.

The parade also showed that the more formal skirts and dresses that the judges dissed weren't coming out of left field. Several of the European countries had their women in afternoon dresses.

I was very disappointed in the team USA outfits for the Parade of Nations! While the overall idea of the blazer with pants/skirts was appropriate for the event, the design ended up looking like something that should be worn to a regata. Since when does the Olympics have a nautical theme? Finishing off the look with the white hats and canvas shoes did nothing to help. Ralph Lauren is a brilliant designer but what happened here?

Boring, boring, boring!The look was old fashioned. The American athletes should have had a look that's more in the NOW.

I totally agree with Kathryn. The judges were hard on Jerrell and actually, I would have rather been in his design, sans hat, than some of that stuff (HUNGARY) some of the athletes had to wear. I did like when the athletes wore traditional costumes from their countries. I guess that was what Ralph Lauren was trying to do, but after all the other countries, ours looked a little boring. The guy who lost the challenge because his dress was accidentally purple should be put back on the show and kick off the frilly gold skirt girl.

I waited hours to see USA walk in - and that's it ? Men's suits ? I know Ralph Laurel has been in fashion for a long time - but so long that he forgot what a woman should wear ? It looked like a bad annie hall outfit - poor girls.. 90 degree heat - there wasn't anything more sporty, exciting or comfortable for these world class hero's. Project Runway had 2 or 3 outfits that were far better - next time let's get a more youthful designer for our Olympic Youth !

I thought this was a summer olympics , not a sailing Regatta. Boring and a fashion Don't.
Deidre.

I was really disappointed with the Opening Ceremony outfits... I'm a big Ralph Lauren fan, but the design wasn't that original, and it really didn't do any justice to the girls! It made them all look really masculine, which isn't a good thing!

In answer to your question, the US olympic uniforms puzzled me. 1. you could not tell women apart from men; 2. the jackets were too dark and somber; 2. the hats looked like they were pulled out of grandpa's closet at the last minute in an attempt to add pizazz. Why didn't someone tell Lauren that Canada "owns" that hat after they wore them backwards some years ago??? The outfits were a miss, but gladly they are not the reason we root for great athletes!

I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE OPENING CEREMONY OUTFITS FOR THE USA...I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE GIRLS IN THE OUTFIT THAT KORTO'S DESIGN FROM PROJECT RUNWAY........

Ralph Lauren didnt make it work.

If any one of the designers had sent Ralph Lauren's outfit down the runway, they probably would have been Auf'ed! Boxy, stuffy, and fashion-backward are words that come to mind. I agree with Becky, that the outfits did not compliment the female athletes at all. Like women in drag or something! UGH!! Now, if Korto's design was used in the actual ceremony, I think the athletes would have looked fresh and modern. Maybe n 2012 Korto! Ralph, you missed the mark...

I could hardly wait until the USA came in the arena to see what they would be wearing. I have to admit that I was disappointed and the hats were awful! But in the end, it's not about style is it?

Ralph, YOU'RE OUT!! Auf wiedersehen.

Are ascots coming back into fashion? Good lord! When I saw the beach volleyball women in the outfits with the chauffer caps I thought, this is a stuffy old look, what are USA's vibrant young athletes doing in these dowdy old clothes? Who approved these outfits? They should go back to their croquet game and leave fashion to some younger, hipper designers.

They looked a bit like Flight Attendants, rather than Olympiads. I would have to say he missed the mark. Maybe American Airlines would like to use them instead.

I think the USA team should ALL have been in shorts, or cargo pants. That would have updated it and made it more appropriate. As is, they looked more like British stewards and stewardess from the early '70s.

It showed that Terri's design was very close to what actually was used...but her's was better! It seemed ironic that the PR designers were shown outfits from the past, one they showed us was exactly like what was used: blue blazer, white pants and white hat. So Ralph went totally 'retro'. My question, what does one call the type of hat they wore? Bob Costas said it was a "beret". I'm sure that is wrong. It's like what British sports car drivers wore in the 40's/50's?

I thought Korto's design was suppose to be used for the Women's outfits in the opening ceremony. Does anyone know why they weren't used?

I believe that the men should have worn chitons and the women peplos. The uniforms of the original olympics.

The most remarkable thing about the USA Olympic opening ceremony uniforms were you could not distinguish the women from the men. They all looked the same when viewed from a disance. Perhaps I different style or color of shirt would have helped. There were many other countries that got it right. I liked Suede's , Joe's , keith's, and most of al Terri's design from the show.

Well, despite what others have to say, I thought that Ralph Lauren did an absolutely WONDERFUL job designing the Olympic outfits. I thought that our athletes looked clean and fresh and I loved the contrast of the dark and light colors. Personally, I am a blazer freak myself and I thought everything was tailored to perfection. I give it a perfect ten!

big miss

Fashion Fiasco.............Cricket Anyone? What country were the representing? USA or UK?

I don't like the hats. Remember the winter game hats? How popular those became? Well I have a feeling these will be just the same. America has gone down the fashion toliet.

Ugh. All I can say about the Ralph Lauren design for the Olympians is ugly, ugly, UGLY.

First of all, my grandpa has a hat just like those. I have seen it in his closet! The only difference is that his is plaid.

Second, what is with the funereal navy blue? It must have been hot as blazes in those heavy jackets.

And the ascot? Saints preserve us! I did not appreciate the ascot.

And it was so very homogenous! I did not see any differentiation from male to female. Was the cut different at all from mens to womens?? Those jackets were shapeless and boxy.

I wish there was a little more red. I love red; it's brazen, it's patriotic, it's lucky: let's face it, it's downright fun!

On top of all that, I hate white pants. (What if you sit in the grass? So impractical.)

Ralph Lauren stylists, you have made me sad. Project Runway was much better. Korto and Terri's looks were both better in comparison.

I did not like the outfits at all.The athletes looked hot and uncomfortable. Not many people wear a hat and a blazer in that kind of heat. I think Korto's design was better and more functional.

i dont really think it represents USA as much as it should, and i dont like the golf-like hats.

i dont really think it represents USA as much as it should, and i dont like the golf-like hats.

Ugh.. I just did not get the look! It was dated, and boreing.. and I have to agree.. Cruise ship crew like.. blah!!!
I think we need to have a "project runway" type contest to find an All American yet forward looking style. Korto's design was way better.. way more today.. ... I am with the judges on this!

RL's costumes were not only boring, but pretentious -- based on his near fetishism of the Ideal Wasp/British Upper Class at play. Hardly the real America. (The caps were a miss; out of proportion and lacking real zing.) Uninspiring as they were, the outfits did seem beautifully tailored and rich looking. But I could NOT believe the size of his own Polo logo on every blazer. They outweighed the US/Olympic medallion in prominence. This idea of squeezing every last atom of corporate publicity out of a national/international event may be the reality now, but how incredibly tacky!

ewwww. wtf. my grandpa has and wears tht hat on a normal basis. and on top of tht on the women the outfit makes their bodies look weird.

The uniforms are disappointing. When will we be moving past wearing cotton khakis? Unless your creating a natural living, organic, "at one with nature" feel, khakis in pant form should be over. Beyond the khaki issue, I feel like they are swimming in fabric. Where are their great bodies? These uniforms do nothing to show body form, muscles, and/or power. Could you image the difference if they would have had Korto's look on? Now that's sleek muscle power!

The US athletes needed something basic with clean lines, because there were so many of them walking across the floor together. When I finally saw the US come out, I have to say I was pleased. The Olympics, for me, have been a place to show your country's colors, and then hang up your opening ceremony jacket and look at it for the rest of your and your grankids' lives. What they wore was classic, American, and much better than what I've seen them in for previous Olympics.

I thought RL did a great job for the men. Classic ( always a RL staple) . But he women looked too masculine, they needed a feminine touch. The hats were terrible and maybe an after thought--they needed to throw then into the stands as they waled by --people would have loved them as a great memento. The women really need some outfits like the cool and sleek designs on PR. The vest one and the white short were good ideas that needed to be incorporated with the blue blazer for an overall unified look. Maybe do the women's blazers shorter and more modern. All in all an A- for the men and C+ for the women. RL is always classy.

I didn't like the hats. You couldn't really see their faces. They did look comfortable but I think the women could have been slightly more feminine. They weren't terrible but they weren't interesting or unique either. I give them a C+.

I did not like the women in that outfit. What was RL thinking. Let make our women look like women.

I definitely agree with whoever said that the outfit resembles Terri's and that hers was far superior. Terri and Korto are my favorite designers on the show and I appreciated both of their Olympic outfits. However, I prefer Terri's and think the women would have looked very chic in it as opposed to uninspired and predictable.

Like most I didn't care for the hats or these particular ascots...nevertheless, overall ascots are definitely in style!

The winner from Project Runway had a much better outfit. Any of the top 3 would have been better. Men's suits? That would have been in the bottom for boring. I watched especially to see the Project Runway outfit. Disappointing. And why did they tell the contestants they were designing the opening outfits when they weren't used"

I thought the Lauren design was dated.It looked like elitist yacht club design for an older crowd.What was with those hats? I much preferred the winning design on the show.It said young & hip athlete to me while the Lauren design said Hamptons snob.I think Ralph Lauren is usually such a classic designer but he missed the "challenge" on this one.

Yawn, yawn yawn!

Golf, croquette, cricket, boating?

No idea.

RL's emblem overpowers the Olympic rings.

It's difficult to distinguish men from women even in the picture on this page.

Too heavy. Too boxy. Too much fabric on beautiful bodies.

Too old fashioned.

Too tragic.

Too bad.

If they had to have hats, Jerell's would have been a delight. The team would have been -- easily -- the most memorable of the lot. And it screams USA (Hollywood, that is)

I was very disappointed in the outfits. All we hear is that Ralph Lauren is "classic American design" but, in my opinion, it's nothing but the same British/UK/stuffed-shirt look he's done forever. Let's get out of the past and realize that today our country is multi-cultural in many ways; why not fashion? Even Poland had it's women in beautiful simple sheath dresses that showed off their toned bodies and were probably comfortable in the stifling heat. I guess Ralph didn't get the memo that August in Beijing is 90 degrees in the shade at night, or else he was too stuck in his one-note design esthetic to care. Long-sleeved shirts, jackets and hats! Every US athlete interviewed had a face glistening with sweat. Those clothes were likely drenched long before they walked into the stadium. These are world-class athletes. Put them in something tasteful that also shows the work they've put into their world-class bodies. Baggy pants and unconstructed jackets are worn by flabby couch potatoes, not Olympians!

The Olympic men looked OK, a little old, however I love seeing today's young men in a suit, but the hats made them look goofy, not athletic at all. As for the women, could you picture the good looking models strutting down PR aisle looking like that-Michael Kors would have been frowning for days! Korto & Terri's look was chic not masculine. I loved Korto's vest, very flattering for female athletes of all sizes. Why was that hot mess chosen for USA women anyway?

Boring! I think the big Polo logos were tacky...basically an advertisement for Ralph Lauren.

i THINK rALPH lAUREN'S DESIGN PERFECTLY FIT THE OLYMPICS...tHE aTHLEtes were ALL Gorgeous! oFFicial, fORmAL but Lively! USA is a BIG AND repUTABLE CounTRY IN sporTS....tHIS OUTfit OUtshines Korto's Which I still CaNT FIGURE OUT why IT won the 1ST....her Design can be FOUNd anyWhere in oUR aSIAN SPORTS STudio....Ralph Lauren roCKS...

It's soooo NOT hot. Back to the 50's style !!!

It looks as if they're all waving and saying: "Ahoy Mateys"! I don't think they should have worn Korto's design either, still this Olympic costume is playing it a little soo safe for my taste.

Sorry,but I thought the USA outfits were a definite "ho hum" this time. Did not make me instantly say "there goes the USA". The group could have been from just about anywhere! Very disappointing from a fashion view point.

Oh My, how unfortunate that our atheletes had to look so very dated! There were a couple of designs on Project Runway that would have been so much better to show off our team USA and our team members would have been so much more comfortable. Those guys and gals must have been roasting in those blazers and ties! And oh how British looking! Don't get me wrong, I love the brits and have some dear British friends but we did win our independence a few hundred years ago!

I was very disappointed. They looked as though the were on the Love Boat! Korto's design would have made a statement. This throw together of something Ralph did was out dated and didn't take and thought. It just made him richer!

Ralph Lauren put out his predictable traditional fare, if you go with RL you know what you're getting. A more contemporary look should be considered the next go around perhaps Zac Posen. While Kyoto's design was an interesting design for the female athletes...what in world would the guys have worn?

One thing to consider, since in my last comment, I decided to play devil's advocate...

I see a lot of people wishing the female athletes looked more feminine in their outfits.. but consider that being a serious female athlete means giving up your beautiful fat lined, curvy form for a huge muscled, very low body fat, boobless, although gorgeous, hard to fit form. Essentially, a masculine looking body. I don't think the average lines and cuts for American women would work on US athletes.. they need something easy to tailor, easy to fit into.

Yuck. Yuckity, yuck, yuck. Could it get any more boring than that!?!

I thought the outfits Ralph Lauren made for team USA were awful. Granted they aren't fashionistas, but yikes. I was execting them in hip-hop style clothing (since it's very in right now) and is very today's american style. Or atleast them Korto's design or something that's reminicent of sporty/athletic type clothing.