The official uniform the Australian Olympic team will wear at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Games in Rio de Janiero have been revealed – a blazer and shorts combination that’s every bit as 2016 as a Mambo loudshirt was a product of 2000.
White brogues (or are they Oxfords?), white shorts or skirt, a white shirt, and a green-and-white striped jacket is the kind of combination that only a few short years ago your lawn-bowling grandparents would have described as being “a bit conservative”.
Now? Well, our young, cool (is it still cool to say cool?) athletes will be rocking this combination of Sportscraft threads and Toms kicks, and look superfly doing it.
To help battle the perception we’re heading to the Olympics leaning too heavily on the ‘casual’ side of ‘smart casual’, our ladies will also wear a gold scarf, while the gents will rock a green and gold tie.
And, in what we’re calling a nod to the reversible Mambo jackets of 2000, Sportscraft are also doing a bit of extra work on the blazers’ lining, which will feature the name of all our previous gold medallists.
In a classic case of getting the absolute perfect person to discuss the Olympic threads, the AOC’s website features a quote from actress Naomi Watts:
“It’s fantastic, as we all know in Rio it will be hot in August and so lightweight fabrics are very suitable for summer, very comfortable for the athletes, and very traditional, and I happen to be a fan of the seersucker, so a nice little bit of a stripe is a good detail.”
For the record, Watts is a Sportscraft brand ambassador, so it’s not totally out of line to get a bit of chat from her, but it does harken a little back to Rebel Sports naming Michael Clarke’s model wife Kyly as a brand ambassador instead of, y’know, a professional female athlete.
For the record, our Olympians seem to be keen on the clobber too.
What do you reckon Roarers? Is it “vintage yet sleek”, or the kind of hipster attire we’ll all look back on and laugh at in a few short years?
Craig Swanson
Guest
Tyson Chan people like you spoil sports forums like ours. Take your leave. Would look more classy if blokes were wearing long strides. Like the color co ordination though.
Marcus
Guest
No James, you opined they were Oxfords. I did nothing of the sort.
pat malone
Guest
look in the mirror for a definition of Neville
pat malone
Guest
ok
Don Freo
Guest
Nah, I'm sure they are Dunlop Volleys...and that's the ultimate.
Don Freo
Guest
Melbourne Cup goes to Rio.
Don Freo
Guest
And...they generate money big time. The funny thing is, Tyson, if you are paying a lot of tax, you're comfortable and should be able to watch with a fine red while not feeling the cost. If you are not paying much tax, it's costing you very little. Lift your game, work harder, pay more ....and relax with a red.
Jarrod Free
Roar Rookie
... why?
BigAl
Guest
Me too !
70s Mo
Guest
Miami Vice meets Hogwarts. Let's face it, we are a sporting nation not a fashion nation
jameswm
Roar Guru
I said the same in two lines, even with a Kingsman reference...
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yeah we are trying to look Aussie to the rest of the world!
jameswm
Roar Guru
Here we go again, "make them pay their own way". You're outvoted. Most of them train harder than most people work. Does beg the question why someone who is anti-sport would come and comment on a sport opinion website.
Tanami Mehmet
Guest
They are oxfords I think. They need some holes drilled in the toes to be brogues. The outfits look like they should be worn by Omega Theta Pi in Animal House
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Bring back the safari suits with shorts & walk socks!
Train Without A Terminus
Guest
Nah, we leave the tie off everything period.
Train Without A Terminus
Guest
Not only do I know what hipster is I know what a dufus is. Congrats Pat on graduating to dufus status.
Brendo
Guest
I didn't know that Alex Perry read the Roar.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
:) Why didn't they just go with Crocs and be done with it?
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
meh