Winter Games in Milan will set a high bar for Olympic fashion

Every Olympic host city or region has a specific type of culture that is woven into the Olympic Games. There are elements of food, language and art that are so cherished and beloved that they are proudly showcased for the world to see. 

Milano Cortina is going to host the Olympics in February. Italy is globally known for its stellar cuisine, but Milan is one of the greatest theatres of fashion in the world. The famous leather goods, the beautifully designed pieces of ready-to-wear or haute couture are not only on runways but also in the streets and in the Olympic village. Fashion will be very present at these Games and not so much as a competition or mascot, but a profound participant. 

The Winter Olympics are not always considered the swaggiest of the swag or the drippiest of the drip on the sports scene. The Summer Olympics have fun fabrics, agreeable weather (most of the time) and sports where the body is showcased as part of the sport. Muscles visibly pulsing and covered slightly for us to be able to see every reach, every spike, every turn of the body. 

Whereas the winter sports have athletes covered and protected from the elements, and from injury at high speeds on ice. But creativity and imagination drives innovation and winter sports are that example.

National federations like to offer patterns, fabrics and colours that are not only technically protective and functional, but that also offer some insight into the country that they are representing. 

Will countries feel pressure to design and create uniforms and kits that were elevated because the Olympics are in one of the world’s fashion capitals? Italy’s kits, designed by legendary fashion mogul Giorgio Armani, are simple and sleek with white as a primary colour