Fashion Recap: London Olympics Opening Ceremony

After watching the long-awaited London Olympics 2012 Opening Ceremony and one cup of instant coffee, I was bouncing around until 7 AM this morning and woke up after snoozing a mere 4 hours. My fault, my fault yes. But the good thing is FASHION RECAP is here! Four years ago the Beijing Olympics were about the ooh-ahh-fireworks and waiting forever for the USA and Chinese teams to pop up in Parade of Nations but this year my eyes were glued to the tube for what the athletes donned as they strutted the stadium.

The verdict? Mostly disappointing, with the same combination of blazers and pants/knee-length skirts with optional fedora. You would think that these buff and super fit athletes would all look good in anything but that's the common misnomer about fit. The Queen looked super fly in her Union Jack parachute as she played skydiving Bond Girl (okay not really but at first everyone bought it, right?) but her pink sequined getup complete with feathery headband and surly countenance weren't my cup of tea. [Disclaimer: these are my personal opinions on the fashion choices, not on any individual athletes or their countries. Go World!]

These are not the best images since NBC was the only channel allowed to cover in the US, so we make do with blurry snaps from my phone or scrounged from online sources with credits listed. If you missed out, the Opening Ceremony is very British (as an American I simply can't understand some nuances, so basically movies like Trainspotting involve my mouth hanging open in front of the screen for several hours and still not getting it) and quite fun. I'm sure all sorts of clips are available on Youtube and NBC.com. Favourite moments? Mary Poppins army with their light up umbrellas, swing dancing docs and nurses, Olympic Cauldron coming together, and of course, Her Royal Highness.

THE GOOD:

Ralph Lauren for Team USA

(photo credit: entertainista.com)

So what if Ralph Lauren makes his stuff in China? Looks like the USA team of 500-plus-strong walked straight out of a prepster catalog, but lookin' good. I especially enjoy the double breasted blazers that the guys had, which looked good with their little berets and white pants. The womens' white skirts were floppy and unshapely, why not give them trousers too or at least put some pleats in it, RL. And give them fitted double breasted blazers too next time.

Kobe looking sharp in his beret and rounded collar.

The country name-bearers wore super cool dresses with faces of volunteers from each respective country. Also digging the wire signs and font choice.

(photo credit: Max Rossi/Reuters; washingtonpost.com)

Denmark did right with their retro mod buttoned cropped red cardigans and navy midi skirts. Classy and classic!

(photo credit: bleacherreport.net)

Other notables: India's women athletes looked gorgeous in their bright yellow saris, Nigeria's white and green was refreshing but not overdone, the rounded-bottom hems of Latvia's white blazers. Liberia, Jordan, Netherlands with their contrast trim blazers. White sheath dresses from San Marino were very chic and the men looked equally suited (pun intended). David Beckham smirking in his gorgeous suit, nuff said.

THE BAD AND THE UGLY:

Sorry to hate, but seriously, Czech Republic? Rubber galoshes/rain boots/Wellingstons whatever you want to call them with weird swirly patterns, matched with knee length spandex tights of the same pattern? 

(photo credit: sbnation.com)

Germans and their bubble-gum-pink-for-the-ladies, baby-boy-blue-for-the-gents, mildly shocking for such it's a boy/girl! gender labeling.

(photo credit: Dylan Martinez/Reuters; washingtonpost.com)

Readers - did you watch the Opening Ceremony? What do you think of the show and fashion?