UK Edition
Can we take a moment to think about Christian Louboutin's outfits for Cuba's Olympic team?
Is there anything more joyous than the international sartorial judgement that we are allowed to indulge in during Olympic Opening and Closing ceremonies? The parade of nations goes on for hours, the only thing you can do is to take ones creative thoughts to Twitter and submit a running commentary on each countries attempts at sports-casual.
A gamut which usually runs from the bold block coloured tailoring favoured by weathermen in 1986 to ‘modern’ and ‘fun’ interpretations of national dress (see Mexico, London 2012 for services against the Sombrero) to ill judged bacofoil shellsuits (Team GB, we’re looking at you), to a silent, stealth competition of, ‘my country has better designers than you’ (Armani for Italy, Ralph Lauren for USA). Call us shallow (it happens), but frankly the opportunity for national pride appraisal during these things is what we live for. It’s the second best thing about the Olympics. The first obviously being the 100m race: because, that is exactly how long all sporting events should be.
But anyhoo. Can we take a moment to appreciate the Cuban closing ceremony uniforms for Rio?
They were designed, perhaps, somewhat improbably by shoe King Christian Louboutin (long time Cuban holiday-maker) and his friend Henri Tai, a former professional handball player and founder of online sportswear store, the nattily monikered SportyHenri.com. Good grief it’s good.
Look at those jackets! The minimal structure single breasted, oversized square pockets unadulterated chic of it! The tinges of the 1968 Yves Saint Laurent Africa collection, the cropped trousers (elongating, modern), the block colour block heels, the high tops! The red lipstick! The pristine white shirts. The nattily placed flag on the left hand breast pocket, the star emblem in between the shoulder blades on the back. It’s an excellent exercise in precise, considered design. What a fashion gauntlet to be thrown down! We await other contenders for our fashion affections with baited breath.