The much anticipated Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics are well underway but as the athletes vie for those coveted gold medals, commentary continues about the unconventional opening ceremony on 26 July. Aside from the rain-soaked antics on the Seine, it was the striking uniform design that caught our eye – particularly from the home nation France and Team GB. Not to mention the elegant medal bearers and the coveted trophies themselves.
The athletes’ outfits: a stylish culture clash
With luxury brand LVMH one of the games’ premium partners, expectations were high. And as the French team waved to the gathered crowds along the river bank during the opening parade, we weren’t disappointed.
In the run-up to proceedings, LVMH revealed that French brand Berluti would create the opening and closing ceremony outfits for the French hopefuls. Founded in 1895, this high-end shoemaking brand created a look that married sophistication with sustainability. The Maison’s expert artisans toiled for months to create 1,500 outfits, crafted in Italy, while expanding their standard size chart to ensure an inclusive fit.
French athletes sailed along the Seine in Berluti tuxedos cut from elegant midnight-blue wool. The jackets featured shawl collars in a unique French flag-inspired blue and red patina, complemented by iterations of the brand’s Shadow trainers for the men and Lorenzo leather loafers for the women. Each outfit was styled with a shirt, belt, scarf or pocket square, ensuring every team member oozed elegance from head to toe.
In contrast, Team GB’s uniform embraced a more modern and playful approach. Heritage brand Ben Sherman presented their third consecutive apparel line for the Olympics in partnership with Happy Socks. Specially tailored pieces included a bomber-style jacket adorned with a unique four-nation floral motif embroidered on the back – a rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock representing the four nations of the United Kingdom. The ensemble also featured a knitted polo shirt with a geometric pattern, suede loafers and patterned socks to complete the look.
For the closing ceremony, they unveiled outfits featuring a floral shirt embellished with the floral motif, styled with Oxford shorts, a belt and Closing Ceremony liner socks created in collaboration with Happy Socks.
Medal bearers’ outfits: embracing the Belle Époque
France’s sartorial heritage was celebrated through the outfits of the volunteer medal bearers. Drawing inspiration from the 1920s — the last time France hosted the games in 1924 — LVMH Styling Director Kaori Moritz-Ishikawa paid homage to the Belle Époque that heralded the dawn of unisex dressing. She crafted a louche silhouette for the 515 volunteers, young members of national sports federations, who will carry medals during each victory ceremony in roomy white polo shirts, wide-legged trousers and traditional Gavroche caps.
The event’s focus on sustainability was front of mind during the design process, with trousers made from blended poly-wool recycled materials, and polo shirts and caps crafted from textiles sourced from the French upcycling manufacturer Weturn.
Bespoke trunks: luxury and heritage
Louis Vuitton also unveiled four bespoke trunks to house the medals and torches for the games. Clad in the brand’s signature Monogram and Damier canvases, they perfectly embody the luxury and craftsmanship synonymous with the iconic brand while evoking a sense of grandeur befitting the event.
The medal trunks can hold up to 468 medals, with a central section flanked by two hinged wings that protect and display these coveted awards. Meanwhile, the torch trunks are designed with circular sockets to secure them in place.
LVMH explains, “They are a key part of the Maison’s mission for Paris 2024 and a continuation of its history of creating handmade trunks. The trunks will be associated with key Paris 2024 moments of celebration”.
The medals: a symbolic design by Chaumet
The medals themselves were designed by Parisian jeweller Chaumet – a fixture at Place Vendôme since 1812 and the first jeweller in Olympics history to craft the medals.
Chaumet’s love for hexagons shines through, with a striking emblem at the heart of the medal made from iron salvaged from the Eiffel Tower during its renovation. This romantic touch gives winners a piece of France to keep close to their hearts. Around the emblem, clever faceting creates reflective ‘rays’, symbolising Paris, the City of Lights.
“At the same time, it imparts a special brilliance to the athletes who will wear the medals around their necks,” said LVMH. “The medal design is both confident and bold, perfectly matched to the sporting feats of the athletes.”
The medal tray: a crafted masterpiece by Louis Vuitton
Medals like these deserve to be presented with panache and the trays the bearers will carry certainly fit the bill. Manufactured by Louis Vuitton’s artisans in Maine-et-Loire, the tray draws inspiration from the brand’s rich trunk heritage. Like the medal and torch trunks, the elegant tray is made from the Maison’s iconic Damier canvas, lined with sleek matte black leather.
Designed to hold between two to six medals, the tray is crafted to be as lightweight as possible for the bearers as they present the medals during the victory ceremonies.
With elegant creations that balance sustainability, inclusivity and national pride, the athletes of this year’s Olympics are not only competing for glory but also representing a modern age of style and progress on a global platform.
Image Sources: lvmh.com / https://www.vogue.co.kr/2024/02/13/%ec%87%bc%eb%a9%94%ea%b0%80-%eb%94%94%ec%9e%90%ec%9d%b8%ed%95%9c-2024-%ed%8c%8c%eb%a6%ac-%ec%98%ac%eb%a6%bc%ed%94%bd%c2%b7%ed%8c%a8%eb%9f%b4%eb%a6%bc%ed%94%bd-%eb%a9%94%eb%8b%ac/