Iconic Moments in Olympic Fashion

The Olympics serve as the pinnacle of athletic competition, but some athletes approach the games with more style than others. From double-denim looks and tie-dye coordinates to trompe-l’œil fabrics, here’s a look back at some of the most fashionable moments in Olympic history.

Cool jeans

Burton paid tribute to American jeans with its design for the U.S. snowboarding team during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. The snowboard brand partnered with Gore-Tex to make the athletes technical pants that resembled vintage denim.

It’s a tie

What does the Grateful Dead and the 1992 Lithuanian basketball team have in common? Tie-dye. After the Grateful Dead’s foundation, The Rex Foundation, donated money to help the team get to the Barcelona games, the band’s official licensing partner stepped up with uniforms, according to a USA Today. The team collected their bronze medals dressed in tie-dye T-shirts with the band’s skeleton mascot (making a slam dunk) and matching tie-dye shorts.

Double denim

Team Canada sported Canadian tuxedos to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics closing ceremony. Canadian retailer Hudson’s Bay orchestrated the outfits by partnering with U.S.-based Levi’s to make the team unisex Trucker jacket and white jeans—Levi’s 502 tapered jeans for men and white 721 high-rise skinny jeans for women. The jacket was boldly decorated with spray painted Tokyo and Canadian flag motifs. 

Grills and gills

Gold medalist swimmer Ryan Lochte shocked the world when flashed his all-American smile at the 2012 London Summer Olympics. The Team USA star infamously wore a $25,000 star-spangled-inspired grill to collect his gold medal. 

Cowboy cool

For the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics, Levi’s outfitted Team USA in a 30-piece collection would fit in with the current Western fashion trend. The collection included jeans for men and denim skirts for women, wool sweaters, plaid shirts, shearling jackets, cowboy hats, boots and more. Valued at $1,200 in 1980, the collection would be worth approximately $4,500 today. 

Red, white and blue

Ralph Lauren can always be counted on for a patriotic look that includes white jeans. For the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the American heritage label dressed U.S. athletes in white skinny jeans. The 2021 team got slim white jeans for closing ceremony in Tokyo. In keeping with the trend for looser fits, athletes in the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris will sport white curved tapered jeans for the closing ceremony with USA-themed embroidery.