Fashion earns gold at Tokyo Olympics - Boston Herald

Admittedly, lots of unusual things are going on in this year’s Olympics in Tokyo, from the games’ rescheduling (after last year, thanks to COVID) to the protests in Japan this year (COVID again), to the nearly empty stands (yup, COVID).

But regardless of all that, the athlete’s performances still deserve our applause and support. And arguably more than ever, so does the fashion being showcased in the Olympic Games, too. From the cool track suits donned by Sierra Leone’s teams and tech designs by Ralph Lauren brought by America at the Opening Ceremony, plenty of players proved that at least when it comes to fashion, they actually did not, in fact, come to play.

But I’ll get to that in a minute. First, we seriously have to talk about the First Lady’s wardrobe game. She was there as the official U.S. booster of our national team, and on her first solo international trip. She was there to represent, and did not fail. And by that I mean not only representing our country’s participation in the events, but our fashion industry (she wore all American brands, classic ones and breakthrough designers). But she also made a groundbreaking move in her unspoken fashion statement about recycled fashion. There’s been a lot of lip service given to how damaging fast fashion is in its contributions to climate change, and Biden seems to have thrown down the gauntlet on this trip.

U.S. first lady Jill Biden waves upon arrival at Yokota U.S. Air Force Base, outskirts of Tokyo, Thursday, July 22, 2021. Biden represented the U.S. government at the Tokyo Olympics, to attend the opening ceremony of the Games on Friday, July 23. (Kyodo News via AP)
First Lady of the United States Jill Biden watches the swimming competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

During her four days abroad, she re-wore many of her very well-known greatest hits. Out came her well-documented red Narciso Rodriguez dress with the cape. Ditto the white Michael Kors dress we’ve all seen and loved. And her polka dot dress from Brandon Maxwell, which came to international attention first on her visit to Cornwall, England.

And many others. All in the service of refusing to reinforce the culture of fashion disposability that keeps people buying way more than we need, using huge amounts of the planet’s resources to make all the clothes, and in the process clogging up the world’s landfills with things we wear only a couple of times. In fact, the sole new look she brought out was the Ralph Lauren navy jacket and pants — both part of the official U.S. Olympic Team uniform — that she wore to the men’s 400-meter swim race.

And about those Ralph Lauren outfits? Our American team spotlit them at the the 2021 Olympic Opening Ceremony’s Parade of Nations. Lauren has been outfitting Team USA since 2008, but this year’s has a whole new element: something called RLCoolant technology. The company announced that it “disperses heat from the wearer’s skin through a sophisticated device that monitors and optimizes temperature.” And none of that stops the looks from carrying out RL’s signature preppy, pulled-together, sporty-meets-classic vibe.

Misia performs during the Japan flag raising during the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

And there were so, so many other highlights. Like Japanese celeb singer Misia, who opened by crooning the Japanese national anthem in a gigantic, gradient rainbow-hued gown by designer Tomo Koizumi.

And as is the tradition, each nation’s teams brought fashion representative of their culture and history—and some straight-up clever. I smiled seeing the Bermuda team waltzing through in pink Bermuda shorts. And the smart cut and cheerfulness of the Croatian athlete’s red dresses reminded me of a bright day at the beach. Speaking of which, Italy came through in flying colors — literally — thanks to a design assist from Giorgio Armani featuring the Italian flag. Meanwhile, Lacoste and Le Coq Sportif also swept in to make France’s minimalist-cool looks some of the sleekest athleisure we’d all love to be wearing this fall.

Speaking of which, one of the biggest scores was made by the Liberian team, who wore the creations of Telfar Clemens, the Liberian-American designer whose genderless label has caught fire thanks to its vegan Telfar Shopping Bag — aka the “Bushwick Birkin.” For the Olympics, Clemens whipped up frocks in red, white, gold and blue, and then also conjured up very cool uniforms for the entire team’s performances, which the brand will be selling on retail racks soon.

Put it on your list for fall shopping now — and then make like Jill Biden and plan on wearing it again and again.

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