The U.S. team uniform for the Olympic Games in London made its debut amidst beaucoup criticism. Not just for the design elements, which include an overly huge Ralph Lauren 'polo' logo (he designed the getup) and a beret, but because the outfits were made, get this- in China! Yes, with our economy in a shambles, a plethora of people out of work Lauren outsourced the sewing to China.
And it costs beaucoup bucks, to boot.
The price of all this made-in-China preppiness — if you for some reason want to buy it — $598 for the women’s blazer and $498 for the silk skirt. The men’s blazer is a staggering $795, flat front trousers $295 and nubuck shoes are $165. And that damn beret? $55.
I don't have as much problem with the beret as others who find it far too Frenchy for their liking, or the Brit preppy aspect of the uniform. The whole look to me is far more militaristic than preppy, a kind of upscale, blue, designer version of the Green Berets. Which probably isn't appropriate either. What irks me the most is that not one item was made in the USA.
Way to go Ralph and the U.S. Olympic Committee.
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