London Olympics: Switzerland a sartorial standout at opening ceremony

Forget the medal count. In the first competition of the 2012 London Olympics -- the global runway show known as the opening ceremony's parade of nations -- it looks like Team Switzerland did it right.

Over the weekend, a couple of All the Rage readers were anything but neutral about their feelings for that country's gray-and-red ensembles. After bashing Team Canada's uniforms (described here), a reader from Montreal posted a comment Friday evening declaring: "For two weeks I am purely Swiss. They show style!"

That was followed by a Saturday morning email from another reader, who held forth on the wardrobe choices of several of the teams (including the rumpled-Elvis look of host team Britain), noting that "the Swiss looked snappy."

If there was an opening ceremony uniform you thought was a sartorial standout -- good or bad -- let us know by posting a comment.

ALSO:

London Olympics: What to watch on Monday

Chinese maker of U.S. Olympic uniforms baffled by backlash

Olympic games and the tricky science of telling men from women

 -- Adam Tschorn

Left photo: Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka leads his team into the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London on Friday. Credit: Adrian Dennis / AFP/Getty Images

Right photo: A view from above of the Swiss team's snappy gray-and-red ensembles. Credit: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

London Olympics: Swimwear that will make you feel like Michael Phelps

With the London Olympics in full swing, even those of us whose usual activity level consists of pressing buttons on the remote may get inspired to become more active.

And to get started, it wouldn't hurt to look the part.

All manner of vendors (Nike, Adidas, Ralph Lauren, among them) are pushing their own Olympics or Olympics-inspired apparel. But among the most intriguing are the swimsuits Speedo and Tyr are offering consumers that have been engineered using some of the technologies they employ in the high-performance suits they've provided to Olympic swimmers such as Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Amanda Weir, Ariana Kukors and Natalie Coughlin. These suits can help competitive swimmers move faster and beach bunnies look slimmer, as writer Diedre Crawford reports in this week's Image section.

These suits might just deserve their own gold medals.

ALSO:

Designers are part of the team for Summer Olympics

Olympics 2012: Gear, garb and goods for the armchair athlete

Ralph Lauren unveils U.S. Olympic team closing ceremony garb 

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Ariana Kukors in the new AP12 Speedsuit by Tyr. Credit: Tyr

Revealed: Canada's Olympic opening ceremony uniforms

Sure, the stateside broadcast of the opening ceremonies are just a few hours away, but we thought we'd pass along the sketches of Team Canada's opening ceremony outfits that just landed in our inbox.

Created by the Hudson’s Bay Co., the uniform consists of a bright red parade jacket with the country's name in white and red across the chest that takes its inspiration from the color-blocking motif of the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. That's layered over a tailored white dress shirt; the women's version has the official Canadian plaid on the shirt placket, and the men are accessorized with a necktie in the same plaid. Tailored khakis and white sneakers round out the uniform.

“We want our athletes to walk in the parade wearing a stand-out piece that reflects the Canadian spirit and who we are as a nation,” said Hudson’s Bay Co. senior vice president and fashion director Suzanne Timmins in the press announcement. “The Canada Parade Jacket was a natural choice, and it captures Canada’s love for the outdoors. It is also practical and versatile -– two characteristics we wanted to highlight when designing the look.”

We're told replica versions of the jacket -- in red, black and navy for men and women -- as well as Hudson's Bay Co.'s other 2012 Olympic gear is available online at thebay.com and across the nothern border at all Bay and Zellers stores until September 2012.

Our compatriots over at the Showtracker blog posted these details on Friday night's NBC broadcast:

"The opening ceremony, directed by Oscar winner Danny Boyle and featuring an expected 15,000 performers, will air at 7:30 p.m. Pacific and Eastern time in the U.S. And expect the fun to go until midnight." 

ALSO:

High fashion at the 2012 opening ceremonies

Chinese maker of U.S. Olympic uniforms baffled by backlash

Team USA's Ralph Lauren-designed made-in-China opening ceremony uniforms

 -- Adam Tschorn

Photo: Sketches of Team Canada's opening ceremony parade uniforms for the 2012 London Olympic games. Credit: Hudson's Bay Co.

Fashion News U.K. edition: McCartney, Branson, Olympic egg cups

With all eyes trained across the pond, where the opening ceremony of the London Olympics will soon be getting underway, we thought it appropriate to focus on some of the latest fashion news coming out of Britain. 

Virgin territory: Lawyers representing Richard Branson's Virgin empire have reportedly asked a new New York City-based eco-friendly denim line to stop using the name "I Am Not a Virgin," according to the Telegraph. Apparently they consider the name a copyright infringement, though we just consider it the funniest name to emblazoned on a pair of jeans since Guess. [Telegraph]

Cartoon McCartney: Stella McCartney is launching a seven-piece capsule collection of kids' clothing -- and a book -- themed around a cartoon character called "Little Miss Stella," British Vogue reported. The character was originally created by author/illustrator Adam Hargreaves to appear on a fashion show invitation for the designer, so any resemblance to the Beatles trippy animated movie "Yellow Submarine," is purely unintentional. [British Vogue]

Olympic egg cups: The real gold in the London Olympics will be in the estimated $1.55 billion worth of Olympic-themed merchandise -- from Union Jack bed sheets to egg cups -- the Wall Street Journal reported will be purchased over the course of the Games. We don't know who'd shell out good money for an Olympic-themed egg cup, but the fact that they even exist made us think about our favorite SCTV sketch from ages ago. A spoof on "Chariots of Fire," called "Chariots of Eggs," it featured Daryl Hall and John Oates facing off with members of the Second City Television cast in a spoon-and-egg race. [You can see a YouTube clip here]. [Wall Street Journal]

ALSO:

From Juicy Couture to Skaist Taylor

Frugal Fashion: Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi

Lines from Launch LA: Field Notes serves up the write stuff

-- Adam Tschorn

Photo: Sales of Olympics merchandise, like these Union Jack emblazoned pieces being sold in Cardiff, Wales, on June 25, may reach an estimated $1.55 billion, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Credit: Julian Finney / Getty Images

Olympics 2012: Ralph Lauren reveals U.S. team opening ceremony outfits

Athletes Heather Mitts (soccer) and Tim Morehouse (fencing) showed off the uniforms the U.S. Olympic team will wear during opening ceremonies for the London Summer Games on NBC's "Today" show on Tuesday. The uniforms, by Ralph Lauren, have been kept under wraps till now.

For women, the uniform includes a white blouse, knee-length cream skirt and fitted navy blazer featuring the official U.S. Olympic Team patch and an embroidered Big Pony logo on the chest. There's also a cotton scarf in -- ta da! -- red, white and blue stripes.

The men's uniform includes cuffed cream flat-front trousers, a club-collar cotton sport shirt with a red and navy necktie and a double-breasted blazer with peak lapels. The blazers feature the official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team patches, as well as the embroidered Big Pony logo at the chest. 

Topping things off for men and women is a navy beret with red and white stripes and the official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team patch and embroidered Big Pony logo.

The athletes will parade in the uniforms July 27. But fans can go online to purchase copies of some pieces now, along with a selection of other apparel related to the games.

ALSO:

Olympics 2012: Gear, garb and goods for the armchair athlete

Designers are part of the team for Summer Olympics

Ralph Lauren reveals Olympic closing ceremony uniforms

--Susan Denley

Photo: Past and present Olympic athletes model the Ralph Lauren-designed uniforms they'll wear at the opening ceremonies of the London Summer Games on July 27. From left, they are Ryan Lochte (swimming), Bryan Clay (track and field), Giuseppe Lanzone (rowing) and Heather Mitts (soccer).

Olympic athletes (and California girls) share beauty tips

Swimmers Dara Torres and Natalie Coughlin and volleyball player Jennifer Kessy have some things in common.

They are all Olympic athletes. And they are all California girls -- those storied creatures of beachy myth, who come with glowing complexions, fit figures and healthy, casually styled hair.

With the London Summer Olympics slated to start July 27, writer Alene Dawson asked them how they manage to keep skin and hair in such great condition even after hours in the sun, beach sand and chlorinated water. (She didn't need to ask how they keep the fit figures -- that's pretty obvious. It kind of goes along with four-hour sessions in the pool or running on the sand for volleyball fitness.)

Their routines are simple, Dawson found, and have something to do with overall health coupled with prevention of problems. Read about it  here.

Then go for a run on the beach or a dip in the pool.

RELATED:

Armani, Ralph Lauren among designers outfitting the Olympic athletes

Venus Williams playing Wimbledon, relaunching fashion line

-- Susan Denley

Photo:  Jennifer Kessy of the United States in action during a 2012 Swatch FIVB World Tour Beijing Grand Slam preliminary match in Beijing in May. Her beauty routine includes fighting sun, heat and sand. Credit: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

Olympics 2012: Gear, garb and goods for the armchair athlete

Although those of us watching the opening ceremonies of the 2012 London Olympics aren't likely to get our hands on the exact same clothes and accessories the athletes will be wearing as they parade into the stadium (some of which I've detailed in a story for Sunday's Image section), there are plenty of purchasable options for anyone angling for a style-centric buy-in to the Olympic fervor. Among them: 

A consumer version of the Puma by Cedella Marley yellow windbreaker that Jamaican athletes will wear on the medals podium at the 2012 London games is expected to hit stores (and online via Macys.com) Monday ($70), and running shoes with a design inspired by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt's spikes are available through Puma's own e-commerce site now.

If your tastes are more on the Marley side of the Puma/Cedella Marley partnership, you're in luck, since the eldest daughter of late reggae legend Bob Marley has recently expanded her own clothing line by adding swimwear. The High Tide collection of bikinis and monokinis (all $59.99) is available through the Marley family's Zion Rootswear site. 

Omega, the official timekeeper of the 2012 Olympics, is marking this time around -- its 25th -- with a trio of special-edition Seamaster watches. All three are described in detail on Omega's website, but our
hands-down (make that "wrists-down") favorite is the 1948 Co-Axial "London 2012," which is a redesign of the brand's first automatic Seamaster timepiece, issued in 1948 -- the same year London last hosted the Olympic games. It is a sleek, uncluttered and classy-looking timepiece, and the only overt reference to the Olympics is an 18-carat yellow gold medallion fixed in the caseback that's been embossed with the London 2012 Olympic Games logo. But since it's a limited edition --only 1,948 are being produced -- keeping time in that kind of Olympic glory comes with a price tag of $6,800. (As of this writing, the Omega boutique at the Beverly Center has all three of the above watches in stock.) 

If that leaves you feeling the need to go begging  -- hat in hand -- through your office cube farm for donations to an Olympic watch fund, there's one final item to consider: the Ralph Lauren Team USA 2012 bucket hat (in navy or white, $55) from the official outfitter of the U.S. Olympic athletes.

RELATED:

Cedella Marley, Puma unveil Jamaican Olympic team uniforms

Ralph Lauren unveils U.S. Olympic team closing ceremony garb

The big game is in Olympic merchandising

-- Adam Tschorn

Photos: At top left, a Puma by Cedella Marley Team Jamaica podium jacket ($70, credit: Puma). At right, a bikini from the High Tide Swimwear by Cedella Marley Design (style shown is "One Love," $59.99, credit: High Tide). Center, front and back views of the limited-edition Omega Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial "London 2012," ($6,800, credit: Omega). Bottom, Ralph Lauren Team USA bucket hats ($55 each, photo courtesy of Ralph Lauren).

Cedella Marley, Puma unveil Jamaican Olympic team uniforms

Bob Marley at the 2012 London Olympics? You can bet the late reggae superstar will be there in spirit.

That's the conclusion one might arrive at on seeing the uniforms the Jamaican Olympic team will be wearing during the opening and closing ceremonies and on the podium at the upcoming Games. Unveiled earlier this month in London at a ceremony that included three-time Olympic gold medal winner Usain Bolt and fashion designer Cedella Marley -- Bob's eldest daughter -- the collection riffs on the colors (green, gold and black) and designs of that country's flag, as well as imagery often associated with the legendary singer-songwriter who passed away in 1981.

The Cedella Marley for Puma collection will send the men on Jamaica's Olympic team into the opening ceremony clad in a lightweight, short-sleeve button-front shirts in army green with black accents at the shoulders, a black skinny tie and an embroidered Jamaican flag patch on the right breast. (To further hammer home the connection, it's dubbed the "Buffalo Soldier button down" and has the words "Positive Vibrations" stitched inside of the collar, both references to Bob Marley songs.) Additionally, the men may opt to wear a military-style jacket or a sweater. The uniform's trousers will be either yellow (with a black tuxedo stripe down the outer leg) or black.

The women have a single option for the opening ceremony outfit, which consists of a knee-length black-and-yellow allover leaf print skirt, a black, military-influenced jacket with a green contrast stripe running vertically down the button placket, a green belt at the waist and green accents at the cuffs. (FYI, this one is called the "Satisfy My Soul" jacket.) 

"I said to Usain, this is the first time Daddy is actually going to the Olympics," Cedella Marley says during a video presentation of the collection in London, "and you're going to be wearing him on your shoulder."

And, as long as having Bob on board doesn't slow down the "world's fastest man" in his quest for Olympic gold, we're pretty sure having a reggae shoulder angel will mean positive vibrations for all involved.

RELATED:

Speed style: a lightning fast chat with Usain Bolt

Ermanno Scervino has designs on Azerbaijani Olympic team

Change of seasons: Bogner outfits German team for Summer Olympics

-- Adam Tschorn

Upper photo: Usain Bolt models one of the Jamaican Olympic team's opening ceremony uniforms, designed by Cedella Marley for Puma. Credit: Mark Zibert

Lower photos: Women on the Jamaican Olympic team will take part in the opening ceremonies in military-influenced jackets paired with allover print skirts. Credit: Puma

Ermanno Scervino has designs on Azerbaijani Olympic team

When was the last time Azerbaijan was on the fashion map? Well, the Middle Eastern country, which on a world map borders the Caspian Sea to the west and neighbors Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Iran everywhere else, appears ready to make a memorable -- and stylish -- splash at the 2012 London Olympics, having tapped European luxury brand Ermanno Scervino to design a range of outfits for the big event.

The Florence, Italy, based label, which routinely shows its collections during Milan Fashion Week, has created a range of formal and casual apparel for Azerbaijan’s athletes that meld the blue, red and green colors and the crescent moon and eight-point star symbols of the republic's flag with the atelier’s upscale vibe. The result is a formal uniform consisting of a strong-shouldered, notch-lapel navy blue jacket made of a heavy stretch cotton jersey, paired with white chino trousers for the men and a white pencil skirt for women and pleat-front stretch cotton poplin dress shirts.  

The outfits are finished off with silk twill neckties and matching (and, dare we say, sharp-looking) pocket squares for the guys bearing a tropical-looking allover print in blue, red and green. The same print is rendered on a silk twill neck scarf for the women’s uniform, which is finished off with the thinnest of red belts encircling the waist. An embroidered patch on the left breast of the jackets bears the eight-point star from the republic’s flag.

Around the Olympic village, the teams will show off water-repellent nylon track jackets color-blocked in the colors of Azerbaijan's flag, with matching track pants in blue with white side stripes and red accent piping, screen-printed T-shirts, and other accessories including graphics-covered rolling luggage and bath towels.

RELATED:

Change of seasons: Bogner outfits German team for Summer Olympics

Danny Boyle inspired by 'The Tempest' for Olympics ceremony

Azerbaijan faces critics as host of Eurovision singing contest

-- Adam Tschorn

Photos: Among the uniforms designed by Florence-based fashion brand Ermanno Scervino for Azerbaijan's Olympic team are, from left, a formal men's outfit for the opening parade, a more casual track suit -- the women's version appears here along with a piece of rolling luggage -- and a formal women's outfit. Credit: Ermanno Scervino

Change of seasons: Bogner outfits German team for Summer Olympics

For the 2012 London Olympics, it looks like Bogner is marching in from the cold.

That's because, after kitting out the German athletes for 17 consecutive Winter Olympic Games, the Munich-based clothing label will be dressing the team for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Summer Games that get underway in London on July 27.

The parade outfits consist of zippered jackets -- bright pink weatherproof shells for the ladies and the same in baby blue for the men -- paired with white chinos and white shirts and accessorized with a lightweight pink or blue plaid scarf. (The shoes are by German footwear brand Sioux).

With the bright colors and bold zipper accents (dark blue on the men's jackets, white on the women's), the only thing that keeps these clothes from looking like they just schussed off the slopes and into the wrong season are the summery white hipster fedoras that complete the look, each boasting a hatband in the black, red and yellow stripes of the German flag.

As with past Olympic collections, Bogner's design team has created a unique emblem that melds design elements from the home country and the host city. For the London Olympics it's heraldry-inspired embroidery consisting of a shield design flanked by a stylized dragon (a nod to London's heraldic critter) and a stylized eagle (appropriated from the German flag). The design appears on the left breast jacket pocket of the men's jackets, and on the left sleeve pocket of the women's version. 

But there's a trick up Bogner's sleeve, which would be another sleeve, since the jackets are designed to be reversible, with the brightly colored nylon shells converting into navy blue blazers (complete with buttons) for evenings and more formal situations. "It is also important," the company explains in its press materials, "that athletes maintain a distinguished appearance, as they will be meeting a host of international diplomats and world class athletes and celebrities."  

The apparel brand's first presence at a Summer Olympics comes as the company celebrates its 80th anniversary. Founded in 1932 by German ski champion Willy Bogner Sr. and his wife Maria, the company got its start when he started importing skis and knit skiwear from Norway, and really got a boost after the 1948 debut of Maria's invention -- which just so happened to be elastic stretch pants.

The German athletes' competition wear and casual wear will be provided, as it has been in the past, by another German company with a long Olympic history: Adidas.

RELATED:

Ralph Lauren unveils U.S. Olympic team closing ceremony garb

Giorgio Armani to outfit Italian national team for 2012 Olympics

Loudmouth Golf to outfit U.S. Olympic men's beach volleyball team

-- Adam Tschorn

Photos, from top: German athletes debut their Bogner-designed opening ceremony outfits, which include pink (for women) and baby blue (for men) weatherproof jackets and white chinos; the men's and women's jackets, with heraldry-inspired embroidery; a model wears the reversible jacket with the navy blue "formal" side out. Credit: Bogner