Team USA's closing ceremony outfits by Ralph Lauren at Paris Olympics sparks mockery

PARIS, FRANCE: Ralph Lauren is a name synonymous with American fashion, often celebrated for its classic designs and elegant aesthetics.

However, the latest unveiling of the closing ceremony uniforms for Team USA at the Paris Olympics has sparked a flurry of online mockery, with critics comparing the outfits to NASCAR uniforms and valet parking attire, as per HuffPost.

The American delegation's closing ceremony uniforms, designed by Ralph Lauren, were meant to embody a fusion of classic style and modernity.

Team USA's outfits at Paris Olympics designed by Ralph Lauren

The brand, known for its timeless designs, aimed to create an outfit that would be remembered for generations.

According to David Lauren, the Chief Branding and Innovation Officer for Ralph Lauren, the Paris Olympics provided the perfect backdrop for the brand to showcase its vision.

"Ralph Lauren is profoundly honored to define the look of the American delegation as they represent our country in one of the world’s most celebrated and storied events. This summer, Paris is the backdrop where fashion and sport will collide on the world’s biggest stage with a global audience and that is an incredibly exciting exposition," Lauren said in a statement.

The opening ceremony uniforms, which were also designed by Ralph Lauren, featured a navy blue jacket, light blue striped dress shirt, blue-washed jeans, and beige suede shoes.

The outfits were adorned with the US Olympic team logo on the right side and the Ralph Lauren logo on the left, with red and white stripes adding a patriotic touch to the ensemble.

In contrast, the closing ceremony uniforms took a different approach. The predominantly white outfits included a moto-style denim jacket and jeans, a polo shirt, and a hat, all featuring the same belt and shoes as the opening ceremony uniforms.

The white jacket was accentuated with a red, navy blue, and light blue stripe that ran across the center from arm to arm, with an American flag on the left sleeve and the number 24 on the right. The words "USA" were emblazoned across the stripe, with additional badges reading "24 Team USA" and "Team USA" adding to the patriotic flair.

Ralph Lauren has been responsible for creating the uniforms for American athletes at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics since 2008, according to NBC Olympics.

Over the years, the designs have ranged from classic and understated to bold and contemporary, often drawing mixed reactions from the public.

For the Paris Olympics, Ralph Lauren sought to incorporate elements of sustainability into the uniforms. The brand announced that each item in the uniforms was manufactured in the US, with the closing ceremony uniform featuring flat-knit technology aimed at minimizing waste from excess fabric.

This focus on sustainability was a continuation of Ralph Lauren's efforts to merge fashion with environmental responsibility, a trend that has become increasingly important in the industry.

Ralph Lauren's outfits for Team USA spark ridicule across social media

Despite the brand's best intentions, the uniforms were met with an overwhelmingly negative response from the public, who took to social media to express their discontent.

One X user humorously remarked, "Katie Ledecky embodies the 'If you're not first, you're last' vibe of this outfit." Another user quipped, ".@TeamUSA closing ceremony outfits: 'NASCAR by Ralph Lauren.'"

The NASCAR comparisons continued to pour in, with another user stating, "The USA closing ceremony outfits look like they’re about to join a NASCAR race."

The racing-themed mockery didn’t stop there, as someone else chimed in with, "Everyone’s #ClosingCeremony outfits are so clean, and then the US… is wearing something straight out of the Ricky Bobby collection."

"Hideous 'parking attendant' closing ceremony outfits for USA," wrote one user.

"What in the world are these NASCAR uniform outfits for the closing ceremony? I’m begging the US to get another designer for these athletes," pleaded one commentator. Another user added, "I'm gonna need someone other than Ralph Lauren doing the opening/closing ceremony outfits for LA28. Katie Ledecky looks like she just won the Indy 500."

Lastly, a user said, "Why can't USA athletes have opening/closing ceremony outfits that don't look look like prep school uniforms or NASCAR drivers."

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