- From Stella McCartney and Team GB to Ralph Lauren’s US uniform, Rio isn’t just for sports lovers. Next month, expect Canada to reference Gosha Rubchinskiy, golf wear to triumph and high jumpers to wear socks
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| H&M kit for the Swedish Olympic team. |
It’s about sport, really. Sport, but also national pride, transitory
crushes on archers you’ve never heard of, and predicting all the medals
each country will win now that some of the Russian team has been banned
from the tournament. Fashion, too, has its place, so with that in mind,
here are seven looks, people and sports to look out for.
Canada’s soviet-chic uniform
The Canada uniform was designed by twins Dan and Dean Caten of
Canadian brand Dsquared2 who really pushed the envelope, what with the
regal blazersliteral zip-ups and tees in patriotic red and white in
homage to the Canadian flag. However, in light of the news that the
entire Russian team is being banned from the Olympics, we are now
interpreting them as an homage to Russia, as seen through the lens of
offbeat Russian designer Gosha Rubchinskiy and his eponymous label. Much
better.
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| The Team Canada collection For Rio. Photograph: GP Images/WireImage |
Gisele IRL
Since Gisele Bündchen is the most iconic Brazilian of all Brazilians,
it makes sense that she was chosen to open the Rio Olympics. That, and
the predicted record international viewing figures. Still, it figures.
Kate Moss was in our opening ceremony and we all watched because she’s
virtually a dodo these days. Plus, given that the “futuristic gateway”
at the Maracana Stadium through which Gisele is meant to walk is
apparently not yet finished, this should prove nicely diverting.
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| Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen in 2015. Photograph: Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images |
Swedish athleisure
Sweden is having a field day with its take on Olympic uniform, which
somehow manages to be part “technical fabrics”, part “recycled
polyester” and no Acne, yet somehow still cool. It helps that it has
channelled Ivy Park, Beyoncé’s sportswear line, and that yellow and blue
are a winning combination in that cheering Roksanda Illinčić way.
The opening ceremony
The best part is usually the opening ceremony because anything can
happen. Ours had the Queen, some shout-outs to the NHS and an expensive
steampunk sequence, none of which we predicted but which came together.
In a similar spirit, then, it’s likely Rio will drum up something
involving Carmen Miranda, avocados and carnival, like this pom-pom tower
dress from Moschino.
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| A model on the Moschino spring/summer 2016 catwalk. Photograph: WWD/Rex/Shutterstock |
Miles Chamley-Watson
That fencing is still a serious Olympic activity felt like an anomaly
that had slipped through the net. Then along came US fencer Miles
Chamley-Watson and, well, this stranger secured 2016 as the summer of
our objectification. The focus is on the clothes (Hood by Air?),
discreet tat and hair – as bleached hair has became a pro-sports look
(see Aaron Ramsey and Marouane Fellaini). Fencing, though, is still very weird.
Golf chic
“I don’t play actual golf,” said designer Orla Kiely, referring to
her spring/summer 2016 show, which took place on a golf course. In
fairness, neither did any Olympians until now, with this year being the
first time the sport will feature in the Games. It was hard to extract
any true golfing aesthetic from the show – a haze of California,
poolside chic in the vein of Slim Aarons, in pinks, oranges and blues –
but …
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| Orla Kiely’s spring/summer 2016 show. Photograph: WWD/Rex/Shutterstock |
Ruth Beitia’s knee-high socks
Spanish high-jumper Ruth Beitia is the European champion. Our
knowledge of high jumpers is pretty limited but we hazard that some of
her success is down to her socks – suction-tight, knee-high and very
Phillip Lim 3.1.
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