Ralph Lauren has dressed Team USA for nearly two decades.
Still, the brand’s creativity knows no bounds; designing custom outfits that continue to stun those in the apparel industry.
To get further insight into the making of this year’s fashion line, Vogue interviewed David Lauren, Ralph Lauren’s Chief Branding and Innovation Officer.
When asked about the creative choices made, Lauren said, “Our design philosophy has always been about creating dreams and telling stories through style.”
As the Winter Olympics kicked off on February 6, we saw this year’s designer collection unveiled.
During the opening ceremony, the Team USA athletes wore vanilla-toned coats, with American insignias embroidered on them, red, white and blue turtleneck sweaters, wool mittens, and knitted accessories.
In addition to the custom garments made for athletes, many brands created “merch” for supporters in attendance.
Aerie, known for its loungewear and everyday essentials, produced a series of sweatshirts and jogger sets.
The snug clothing ranged from $12 to $40, making it an affordable choice for fans to buy.
The most sold product was a comfy-crème set, with “Team USA 2026” labeled on the front of the crewneck sweater.
Recently, the famed SKIMS dropped its own Olympics line.
SKIMS has been a long-term partner of Team USA, and other sports leagues alike.
Unlike Aerie, SKIMS designed apparel made for indoors, appealing to the followers who watched from home.
The Fleece Unisex Sleep Top was a favorite, fitting both men and women.
The fleece is a pearly-white shade, with black stitching, featuring the stunning Olympics logo on its back.
The pajama collection also includes bottoms; a blue-flannel short and a cotton Paralympic jersey.
All the clothes made are sewn to withstand cold temperatures and insulate the person wearing them.
This unique alteration makes the apparel even better; keeping people warm during the winter season.
While these two brands were the most popular among consumers, GAP, J.Crew, Pac Sun and many more also dropped collections.
Aside from the impressive couture, hair and makeup especially took the spotlight this year.
Figure skater Alysa Liu drew media attention when displaying her distinctive “halo” hairstyle; inspired by alt-underground trends.
The hairstyle showed sharp alternating colors, brown and blonde, striped from the scalp to her ends.
Hair gurus online have applauded Liu for her bold choice, and expect it to become a growing trend as we move into spring.
After a series of wardrobe malfunctions, gold medals, and eccentric looks, the event spanning over the course of seventeen days, eventually came to an end.
Ice dancers Maia and Alex Shibutani showcased Team USA’s closing ceremony uniforms.
These looks were similar to the ones seen in the opening, yet had their own quirky flair.
Athletes wore chalky-white insulated pants; puffer jackets featuring the Ralph Lauren logo and current year; beanies with knotted patterns and durable snow boots.
In the end, figure skating certainly took the cake this time around for the most viral fashion moments.
Let’s wait and see how their eccentric choices impact style trends moving forward.
