by Alison Brown
October 29 marked 100 Days until the opening of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics and that meant news and announcements were coming fast and furious. We were at the Team USA Media Summit where the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee brings athletes and journalists together to generate publicity and excitement for the Winter Games. Also there looking to generate some excitement: sponsors. Team USA official clothiers, Polo Ralph Lauren and Nike, unveiled their first peeks at their Olympic fashion lines. What will Team USA will be wearing in Italy? Let’s take a look!
Polo Ralph Lauren
For the last several Games, Olympic fashion for Team USA has meant one company: Polo Ralph Lauren. Polo Ralph Lauren has a line of casual wear for the athletes which it also sells to the public. The company also creates the outfits Team USA wears at the opening and closing ceremonies. We didn’t get to see those yet but they brought a collection of “village wear:” items that evoke the spirit of the Olympic team and can give hints at what we can expect from the ceremony gear.
Three looks from Polo Ralph Lauren’s Team USA collection for Milano Cortina 2026. Photo: Jill Jaracz
Three looks from Polo Ralph Lauren’s Team USA collection for Milano Cortina 2026. Photo: Jill Jaracz
All these items will be available to the general public, though it is unclear when. It is pretty much what you would expect from Ralph Lauren: jeans, rugby shirt, USA branded sweaters, and red, white, and blue fleece. The fisherman’s sweater (left photo, center outfit) is an elegant option especially when paired with the pleated pinstripe trousers. My biggest complaint? The same complaint I have for every Team USA Polo collection: same old, same old. And the belt! Who thought a metal cowboy belt over a hockey jersey (detail: top left) was a LEWK?
Nike
On the other spectrum of Olympic fashion, Nike creates many competition looks, along with a line we saw at the Media Summit. There Nike debuted the podium and press conference outfits along with daywear that we will see on Team USA at the Olympics and Paralympics. The looks feature an eagle motif and mountains based on the Valley of the Gods in Utah. The press conference look (second from right) includes an off-white puffer and matching puffy pants. The navy fleece set (second from left) is cozy like pajamas and if you are still cold, the eagle-emblazoned skirt (far left) unwraps and unsnaps into a stadium blanket.
Looks from Nike’s Team USA line, including the press conference uniform and podium uniform. Photo: Alison Brown
I do appreciate that Nike is playing with the red, white, and blue color scheme, going with tones or turquoise, orange, gray, and buff. It all does look and feel warm and comfy, though I am not sold on the design. The fleece set looks a bit like pajamas and the puffer-on-puffy pants reminds me of the Michelin Man. Apparently, an eagle-emblazoned wrap skirt/stadium blanket and Michelin Man puffer set are *fashion forward.* On the other hand, I complain about things being ho-hum and familiar, so I appreciate Nike’s attempts at something really different.
The podium look, however, is no doubt futuristic. It has patents!
Nike podium look for Team USA at the 2026 Olympics and Paralympics. Photo: Jill Jaracz
The jacket inflates! I kept saying the jacket blows up, but the people at the Nike booth did not appreciate that terminology. Be sure to say it inflates. Nike has taken its air technology, same tech it has used for decades in its sneakers, and adapted it to outerwear. Not as easy as it looks. Nike has been able to inflate small chambers but the jacket is a single inclusive chamber so air moves around the entire garment. One valve at the bottom attaches to a small, electric pump. No plugs, just press the button twice to fill the jacket with air creating insulation with your body heat. The wearer can adjust the amount of air, thus adjust the level of warmth.
Surprisingly, it doesn’t feel bulky or constricting, more like a weighted blanket or a nice hug. It definitely will allow you to bring fewer jackets on a trip since deflated it feels like a warm windbreaker but after inflation, you have a hearty puffer. The arms seem to get overfilled but you push the air around when the emptying valve is open so it is easy to make comfortable. The sleeves also feature those handy thumbhole cuffs in a contrasting navy blue. Looks sharp and practical for warmth without gloves.
The pants are white with the same quilting pattern as the jacket but does not inflate, which is probably a good thing. Inflatable pants sound pretty questionable. It will be interesting to see how the jacket looks on the podium.
What do you think about the looks so far? Let us know!