This is what Team USA will wear at the Paris Olympics

THere are some constants when it comes to how Team USA dresses during the Olympic Games. Expect the presence of red, white and blue, and almost certainly the letters USA. And since 2008, Ralph Lauren has designed the looks for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as the outfits that athletes wear in the Olympic Village when they are not competing.

The American fashion house today revealed its 2024 uniforms, which include tried-and-true silhouettes, plus much more modern than some athletes say that are eager to use.

For the opening ceremonies, Team USA will wear navy blazers trimmed with red and white ribbon over a blue and white striped oxford shirt paired with basic American jeans. The outfit is finished off with a light gray suede pump for a classic look that pays homage to the formal and ceremonial nature of the event while celebrating a distinctly American casual feel.

“We really tried to tell a story about the American spirit,” says David Lauren, director of branding and innovation at Ralph Lauren, of the company’s aesthetic. “We work closely with athletes to understand what makes them feel comfortable, but we also want them to feel like ambassadors [of the country] on the global stage, having a certain level of formality and yet a sporty and relaxed spirit that they feel comfortable with.”

For the more relaxed Closing Ceremony, athletes will wear a motorsport-inspired jacket in red, white and blue, as well as white jeans. The opening and closing uniforms were manufactured in the United States.

“Representing the United States is a huge confidence booster in general,” says Kamren Larsen, a BMX rider and one of Ralph Lauren’s athlete sponsors, who modeled the Opening Ceremonies uniform. “But wearing nice clothes and feeling comfortable and confident will only help us perform better.”

A running theme of this year’s collection is sustainability, and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies uniform pieces were made from recycled polyester and US wool grown with the Responsible Wool Standard certification, which includes meeting social welfare requirements and animal and appropriate land management. All Team USA athletes also receive a complete clothing kit to wear outside of competition, including a polo shirt made from innovative recycled cotton fibers that have been welded together. Ralph Lauren partnered with Natural Fiber Welding to develop the material manufactured without plastics or toxic chemicals and in a low carbon process. “It creates a cotton that has a performance attribute that no one has ever seen before, and it’s a quality that could become the future of the way we view clothing in America,” says Lauren. “A lot of the ingenuity and technology we tested at the Olympics, we will use as prototypes to see how athletes perform and get their feedback. And if it’s positive, we’ll start incorporating it into every part of our products.”

As much as Ralph Lauren represents American style, the company’s designs have been criticized for promoting an elitist version of that style — more typical of prep schools and vacation homes than what appeals to most Americans. “Our job is to understand what American culture is and reflect that,” says Lauren, who says the company solicits feedback from athletes about what they would like to see in their uniforms. Consistently, they find that blazers or jackets are appropriate for Opening Ceremonies to convey formal dignity, while a more relaxed look, including bombers and more popular running jackets, are appropriate for Closing Ceremonies and in the Olympic Village. “We’re looking at the future of America and what America stands for far beyond sports,” he says. “And equipping this team with Ralph Lauren reflects what America is today.”