2010 Winter Olympic Fashion
While all the insiders of the fashion world were busy viewing the shows in London last week, another international event was taking place: the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.
Even though most people, including myself, usually do not equate the sporting world with the glitz and glamor of high fashion, these Olympics featured many fashionable surprises, from the athletes’ outfits at the Opening Ceremony to designer figure skating costumes.
Ralph Lauren Team USA Gear
Ralph Lauren designed the Opening Ceremony outfits for the US athletes again this year, just like he did for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The outfits reflected his classic designs and captured the spirit of the states, from the flag design on the knit hats to the red and blue jackets. What makes this design even more remarkable is that it flatters both genders equally. You can support Team USA and score your own Ralph Lauren Olympic gear at the Official Team USA Shop.
Evan Lysacek’s Vera Wang Costume
Vera Wang Fall 2010 on the runway, Evan’s costume from his short program. Photo Credits: 1, 2
Designer Vera Wang created costumes for American figure skater Evan Lysacek to wear during his short program and gold medal-winning free skate. Once a skater herself and a member of the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame, Wang understands the elements of an appealing and functional skating costume.
Since Evan was skating to Firebird by Stavinsky, I love how she incorporated the feathers into his outfit without making it look too cheesy. You can watch Evan’s gold medal performance here, in which he also wore a Vera Wang design with a snake motif.
More Medal-Worthy Fashions
Shaun White wins gold in men’s halfpipe, Julia Mancuso and her signiture tiara, the Vancouver Olympic mascots, and Kim Yu-Na skating her James Bond-themed short program. Photo Credits: 1, 2, 3, 4
What do you think?
Were you glued to the TV over the past few weeks watching the Olympics, too? What Olympic looks were your favorite? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!
Posted on on February 28, 2010 / Filed Under: Fashion News / Tags: fashion trends, figure skating, olympics, Ralph Lauren, skiing, snowboarding, Sports, vancouver 2010, Vera Wang
Like this post?
Comment Rules: CF is a positive place and our comments section is no different. Constructive criticism is fine, but if you're rude, we'll delete your comment. Please use your PERSONAL name or initials and not your business name and do not put your website in the comment text, as both come off like spam. For more info, see our 
Kristen
Nothing about the pants?! The Norwegian Curling Team’s Pants have their own Facebook fan page with over 500,000 fans. They’re red, white, and blue diamond print.
Zephyr - CF Editor
Hahaha, I’m obsessed with the pants, too.
Jenn
It would be cool if you focused on some of the designs by other countries instead of just the US. The Olympics is the perfect example of international fashion!
Sari
Those pants are ridiculous!! If you haven’t seen them yet, take a look: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61F5JE20100216
I was very excited to see this article- but now I have to go watch the hockey game!
CLC
I love how creative and broad CF articles are!!! keep up the good work!
lalalina
Great idea for an article. I am going to go search for that curling team’s pants right now. I would love if this article could be extended and that more images could be shown.
lalalina
Those pants are SO fabulous!
jem
I have to agree with that other reader, I wished you had focused not only on the USA’s style but athletes from other countries as well. Some of the Ice Skating outfits were pretty awsome, and so were the snowboarders. Also what about the outfits which people wore to the opening (and soon to be closing) ceremonies? The Olympics are a good chance to celebrate international relations and style so why not show more of it? :)
BreaD
Gosh I love those Norwegian pants…
And I LOVED the Vera Wang costume. It reminded me of the character Ryuk from the Japanese anime Death Note (anime fans, anyone?)
Alycia
If you want the pants, they’re at http://www.loudmouthgolf.com
Not even kidding. The EXACT pants.
As far as this article is concerned, the focus on the USA’s outfits seems to be the focus, rather than looking at all the teams.
Check out the Peruvian skiing suit. It’s covered in Llama’s.
Danielle
I love the American hats, I think they are so so cute!
Along with the Canadian mittens!
susie
i love the vera wang ice skating costume! and she did throw in Kim Yu-Na’s ice skating outfit and shes from Korea.
Dee
>> BreaD. totally! i loved Ryuk, the apple muncher, which i can relate too. =P
i love figure skaters’ costumes. they tend to border tackiness but Vera Wang’s creation is quite something. who wouldn’t want to skate in that?
lulu
Great idea for an article…but you only showed two examples!! vera wang and ralph lauren. I feel like this would be a great article if it was better researched, showed more examples, included other countries, fashion on and off the ice/ snow. ETC….
Emily
YAAYAYAYA Olympics! I’m Canadian, so I’ve got loads of Olympic gear. Go, Canada go! :D
Iris
This post is woefully lacking completion, since it has so much potential. Plus, if you don’t have Johnny Weir in here, you’re seriously lacking in style points – his costumes were so much more aesthetically awesome than Evan Lysacek’s, since it actually tied in with his story and his personality.
Emma
What about other countries?
Fun fact: Everyone who worked the opening ceremonies (everyone that was dressed in all white) were all styled by Joe Fresh, a 100% Canadian brand. Their designer is the past designer for Club Monaco.
Iris
P.S.
The reason why I made that criticism is that this post clearly shows a lack of research and analysis. If you want to showcase other countries outfits (and you should, this is the Olympics) you shouldn’t just shove three outfits off towards the end of the post – it does nothing for your article. This article is also American-centered – this blog has international readers, and should reflect that. Just some constructive criticism.
Birta
haha I’m surprised as well that there is nothing about the Norwegian curling team pants ;)
kkakei
im happy CF listens i tweeted zephyr about writing a post about this. YAY!!! i feel important. LOL.
and yea the Norway pants are hilarious!! i love ‘em!
kkakei
- but i was kinda thinking about posting something about getting outfit inspirations from the different sports:
like oversized sweaters and tights/skinny jeans =Hockey jersey and their tights
bodycon dresses=speedskating
vests and straight pants =snow boarding/skiing
metallic mini’s /dresses = speedskating
that sorta thing…kinda disappointed.i felt like the post was rushed.
but im glad CF listened. =)
Megan - West Virginia University
Hey guys! I’m glad you are all as enthusiastic about the Olympics as I am! I was assigned to write a short article, so unfortunately I could not possibly cover all the great fashion seen at the games, so I decided to keep the focus on some well-known designer collaborations. But the closing ceremonies are tonight, so be sure to tune in to see all the great international fashions there!
P.S.- I am a HUGE Johnny Weir fan too, and one thing I love about him is that
he designs his own costumes- here is a great slideshow featuring some of his best work!
http://www.pixcetera.com/fanhouse/johnny-weirs-costumes/75114
Caitlin
great idea for an article, although I wish it was longer! I watched mostly the ice dancing, and I loved so many of the costumes. I live in Vancouver so I must say I was very excited to see this post, as I’m definitely very into the Olympics right now. good work CF :)
Sarah
I loved the snow boarders outfits!!!! with plaid and baggy!!! i also loved the closing ceremonies outfit….excluding those horrid boots
Alannah
Woooooo, I live in Vancouver the Olympics are so full of spirit some of the funnest stuff ever!
Nicole
LOVE that ralph lauren designed the olympic gear agian!! it’s all so fabulous.
Samantha
Take a look at the amazing Canadian fashion. After all, the Olympics were in Vancouver, CANADA!!
Eva
Yay for Julia Mancuso
Anna
Thank you for NOT including Johnny Weir in this. His attitude toward animal rights is despicable- humans are suffering, therefore we shouldn’t care about animals? He brought up the point that they wear leather skates, and he does have a point that should be addressed, but it doesn’t justify his fur. On top of that, his outfits weren’t stylish, they were tacky- hot pink corset laces? Really?
om nom nom
I definitely agree with Samantha – you should have shown Canadian Olympic outfits.
And the great thing about the Canadian Olympic styles is that it was pretty accessible :) – not too too expensive or anything, and simple yet still cute.
Hudson’s Bay Company was selling Team Canada gear ever since the winter started – you can’t go anywhere now without seeing those super iconic red Team Canada gloves.
lisa
the norwegian team was asked what to call their pants and they said… “well.. clownpants”
Teaka
Thats pretty cool and I love the olympics so much!!!!
Karlee
im glad you did this because i had a slight obession with the olympics! kim yu-na’s skating outfits were beautiful, and shaun white is awesome. :)
Ana
I have to chime in here, I’m a dual citizen, and I really wish you’d have covered more instead of just the US coats. Those red Canadian mitts, the Norweigan pants, the brightly coloured German coats! And I own a pair of the Canadian jackets and they really are adorable! The closing ceremonies I say had some of the best outfits.
Meg Ruggieri
I really like that all the designers for each country are actually from that country. It really showcases each style and design that these designers normally work with and gives each team a look that really represents each country in different and unique way than that of another. Another way for the Olympics to demonstrate each country’s national pride!