From Armani to cashmere, Olympic fashion takes centre stage in Milan

Mittens versus gloves Hats against headbands Merino wool over Mongolian cashmereFashion is its own competitor in any Olympics from team uniforms at the opening and closing ceremonies to individual looks in the stadiums and during the Winter Games on the slopesTheres also the simmering rivalry between Europes top two fashion cities The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics were heralded as the most stylish yet but Milan is going for gold on the heels of its annual mens fashion week and ahead of the womens runway previewsAthletes around the world have been ginning up anticipation by flooding social media with unboxing videos of their new swag Before taking to the ice and manufactured snow they will make their grand debut Friday night at the opening ceremonys Parade of NationsHeres a look at some of the outfitsItaly and ArmaniTeam Italys uniforms are the last ever designed by Italian fashion icon Giorgio Armani who died in September at the age of 91The kits milky white color is meant to evoke harmony and snowcapped peaks and includes a down jacket thermal ski jacket and waterproof trousers Its star piece an oversized bomber jacket is covered with Italia heatprinted all over and finished with a high knit collar in the red green and white of the Italian flagThis was Armanis fourth Winter Olympics uniform for Team Italia made under the athletic EA7 Emporio Armani labelHe will be honored in a separate tribute during the opening ceremony given his ties to Milan and his legacy as one of the founders of Italian readytowearUSA and Ralph LaurenRalph Lauren is channeling cozy Americana with its opening ceremony outfit which was unveiled in December alongside other looks the Team USA athletes will wear throughout the GamesNaturally its red white and blue exemplified by the Fair Isle knitwear with a US flag and Olympic rings matching tasseled hat and mittens The prevailing mood for the opening ceremony uniform was winter white in both a duffel coat and trousers The choice was made with the athletes and unofficially endorsed whenPantone made Cloud Dancer color of 2026 coincidentally on the same day Ralph Lauren unveiled its Olympic uniformsThey thought it felt it felt like peace They thought it was very ethereal chief branding officer David Lauren told The Associated Press at the Ralph Lauren palazzo in Milan on Thursday nightThe Ralph Lauren team has been designing Team USAs Olympic apparel since 2008 and designers start on each Olympics looks about 2 12 years out from the GamesHaiti and Stella JeanHaitis twoman Olympic team will be sporting gear designed by ItalianHaitian designer Stella Jean and inspired by a Haitian artists paintingThe uniforms originally featured Toussaint Louverture the former slave who led a revolution that created the worlds first Black republic in 1804 astride a red horseBut the IOC ruled that the image violated Olympic rules barring political symbolism forcing Jean to paint over the nations founding fatherThat left only Louvertures charging steed representing Haitis founding moment against a lush tropical backdrop and azure sky The IOC didnt respond to TheAssociated Press request for comment but no demonstration of political religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic site or venueRules are rules and must be respected and that is what we have done Jean told the AP at an exclusive unveiling at Haitis embassy in RomeMongolia and Goyol CashmereMongolian brand Goyol Cashmere launched its Olympic looks last month to instant internet acclaim The designers were inspired by the warrior spirit of Mongolians who for thousands of years used cashmere to endure the brutal winters of the Central Asian highlands the company wrote on social mediaThe designers leaned heavily on attire dating back to the Great Mongol Empire between the 13th and 15th centuries the brand saidAt the Milan Cortina Games Mongolian athletes will wear cashmere ceremonial deels traditional tunics or robes with silk trimmings to honor the past and presentMore casual looks will also feature cashmere such as knitwear that draws upon the alpine ski sweater style of Western mountain culture and traditional Mongolian motifsOther teamsMany teams and designers are keeping hushhush about their looks Theyre counting on a big reveal during the opening ceremony inside Milans 80000seat San Siro stadiumHeres a list of some other known collaborations Austria and AlphaTauri Brazil and Moncler Canada and lululemon China and LiNing Czech Republic and ALPINE PRO Finland and Luhta France and Le Coq Sportif Germany and Adidas Great Britain and Ben Sherman Iceland and 66 North Poland and Adidas Spain and Joma Sweden and UNIQLO Switzerland and OCHSNER SPORT Ukraine and 4FThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the 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