Gold standard style... which country has the most stylish kit?

Who are the winners and losers in the Olympic kit stakes? Emma McCarthy hands out the medals
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Emma McCarthy25 July 2012

Team GB

A long-standing philosophy among us Brits is that if it’s good enough for Kate Moss, it’s good enough for us. It seems only fitting then that the supermodel’s favourite designer is kitting out our Olympic champions. Home-grown Stella McCartney has been busy designing the kit for all 26 sports, alongside her annual five ready-to-wear collections, in a long-term partnership with Adidas. After mixed reviews at the launch for being “too blue” and unrepresentative of the Union Flag, McCartney took to Twitter to defend her designs, saying: “The design actually uses more red and shows more flag than any Team GB kit since 1984.” Well, we think she’s onto a winner.

United States

For Stateside dressing they don’t come much more all-American than Ralph Lauren, which is why he’s been the official outfitter of the US Olympic team since 2008. Designing the Olympic Village and Parade wear, while Nike takes care of the sportier side of things, the opening and closing ceremony threads include crisp white chinos, navy double-breasted jackets and red striped ties, while the athletes’ respite attire features retro motifs from London’s 1948 Games alongside USA emblems. Full marks for patriotism.

France

Hermès has been making kit for horse and rider for far longer than Birkin’s for the Parisian style set, as the brand was first established in the 1830s as a harness workshop. Heading back to its roots, the fashion house has designed the riding jackets worn by the French equestrian team. While the actual garment has yet to be spotted, sketches reveal a fitted single-breasted style in midnight blue, complete with a scarlet collar, flat gold buttons and the Olympic emblem. Très chic.

Italy

Undoubtedly enjoying some of the most luxurious apparel for the Games thanks to involvement from the likes of Giorgio Armani and Prada, the Italian Olympic offering is not a world away from the Milan Fashion Week catwalks. As official sponsor of the Italian sailing team, Prada’s sketched designs reveal sleek speed-suits in cobalt, matching waterproof jackets and dark navy trousers, all with the signature red stripe, while Armani — responsible for track and field attire — has branded the Games the “most fashionable Olympics ever”. Although his white and midnight blue creations bypass the country’s flag colours, Armani has the words of the national anthem printed on the jackets’ lining. Why settle for one stylish backer when you can have two?

Jamaica

When it was announced that Cedella Marley, daughter of reggae royalty Bob, was snapped up by Puma to design Jamaica’s 2012 kit, the island’s athletic inhabitants anticipated creations with style as well as substance — and they certainly weren’t disappointed. With a fashion label under her belt and the world’s fastest men to dress, Cedella’s stylish offering is an upbeat reflection of the Caribbean nation’s culture, saturated in the Jamaican flag’s colours and brimming with vibrancy and character. In a word, this kit’s jammin’.

Azerbaijan

Better known for his sartorial and sophisticated offerings for Milan Fashion Week, Italian designer Ermanno Scervino has turned his talents to decking out Team Azerbaijan. Tracksuits in the Azeri flag’s combination of teal, turquoise, scarlet and white on the tracksuits definitely take the gold as one of the more creative kits in the village and certainly won’t look out of place in the East End.

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