Team USA Olympics outfits designed by Ralph Lauren are panned on Twitter for making athletes look 'like they're on vacation in Newport' or 'meeting at the Yacht Club'

  • The outfits were showcased in the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony Friday 
  • Ralph Lauren created the ensembles once again, after becoming the official designer for the US Olympic team back in 2008
  • He opted for a revamp of his previous versions of red, white and blue preppy style including a navy blue blazer, striped shirt and US flag neck scarf
  • Social media users were quick to mock the 'pretentious', 'preppy' outfits
  • Some likened them to something 'a Karen' would wear while others said they belonged at a yacht club, elite public school or on holiday in the Hamptons
  • Find out the latest Tokyo Olympic news including schedule, medal table and results right here

Team USA's Olympics outfits have been panned on Twitter for making athletes look 'like they're on vacation in Newport' or 'meeting at the Yacht Club for brandy after a hard day of watching their trust fund grow'.

The ensembles were showcased during the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony Friday where the summer games kicked off with a spectator-less stadium due to COVID-19

Ralph Lauren created the national outfits once again, after becoming the official designer for the US Olympic team back in 2008.

He opted for a revamp of his previous versions of red, white and blue preppy style including a navy blue blazer, striped shirt and US flag neck scarf.

The ensemble sparked instant mockery on social media with people branding the outfits 'pretentious', 'preppy' and something that 'a Karen' would wear. 

Team USA's Olympics outfits by Ralph Lauren
Team USA's Olympics outfits by Ralph Lauren

Team USA's Olympics outfits have been panned on Twitter for making athletes look 'like they're on vacation in Newport' or 'meeting at the Yacht Club'

Athletes Sue Bird and Eddy Alvarez carry the American flag in the opening ceremony Friday. Ralph Lauren created the national outfits once again

Athletes Sue Bird and Eddy Alvarez carry the American flag in the opening ceremony Friday. Ralph Lauren created the national outfits once again

Team USA parades during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo

Team USA parades during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo

Several people said the outfits looked more like something the rich would wear to a yacht club, on holiday in the Hamptons or at an elite public school than the clothing of an athlete about to compete.  

'The Team USA Ralph Lauren outfits look like they're meeting at the Yacht Club for brandy after a hard day of watching their trust fund grow,' one person tweeted. 

'Every Summer Olympics they let Ralph Lauren dress our team like they're on vacation in Newport,' chimed in another. 

'What in the East Coast boarding school are these?!' added one person. 

Someone else went down the elite academic route too in their mockery.

'These outfits are kinda waiting to see what happens with the wait list at Tufts before really deciding....,' they wrote, referring to the private university in Massachusetts. 

Another person echoed this sentiment tweeting: '​​Team USA wear the same damn outfit for every opening ceremony, somebody rescue them from this WASP hell.' 

'Nothing says 'America only cares about rich white people' like having Ralph Lauren design bougie Long Island yacht wear for our athletes,' another person joined in.

Others said the outfits sent off signals of being privileged and entitled, caricaturing a snobby identity for the clothing. 

Several people said the outfits looked more like something the rich would wear to a yacht club, on holiday in the Hamptons or at an elite public school than the clothing of an athlete

Several people said the outfits looked more like something the rich would wear to a yacht club, on holiday in the Hamptons or at an elite public school than the clothing of an athlete

'I love the Olympics but I can't tell if Team USA's outfits look more like 'I'm going to call my dad, he's a lawyer' or the higher end clearance section of Ralph Lauren,' one person wrote. 

'To me they scream prep-school-beer-and-cocaine and casual racism towards 'the help',' someone else joined in.

'that outfit has called the cops on people for having vulgar hemlines,' added another. 

One person agreed: 'They look like they'd report you before you even did it -- just for seeming like someone who would.'

Comedian Molly Mulshine dedicated a whole thread to this idea, writing: 'Why do the Team USA outfits look like they'd report you to HR for cursing. 

'They are the lady with the 'communal' bowl of candy on her desk who looks you up and down in a judgmental manner whenever you take some.  

'These outfits picked me last in gym class every time,' she wrote. 

'It's like Oliver Trask and Blair Waldorf had a baby, and it fired me.'

Others said the outfits sent off signals of being privileged and entitled, caricaturing a snobby identity for the clothing

Others said the outfits sent off signals of being privileged and entitled, caricaturing a snobby identity for the clothing 

Some people went as far as to compare the clothing to something a 'Karen' would wear.  

'Ah the #Olympics and Ralph Lauren's Team USA outfits patriotically scream 'I'd like to speak to your manager!' #OurOlympiansArentKarensRalph,' one person tweeted.

Another person simply wrote: 'Team Karen.'

A 'Karen' is a nickname given to typically a white woman acting in an officious or entitled way, often towards people of color, with multiple incidents of such behavior emerging on social media in recent months. 

Others took aim at the outfits over their appropriateness as clothing for athletes and to represent America.   

Some people went as far as to compare the clothing to something a 'Karen' would wear

Some people went as far as to compare the clothing to something a 'Karen' would wear

Others took aim at the outfits over their appropriateness as clothing for athletes and to represent America

Others took aim at the outfits over their appropriateness as clothing for athletes and to represent America

'Ah yes. Nothing says 'America' like the sport of polo,' one person wrote. 

'These are the only jackets in the world which you can't practice any type of sport in. Besides straight jackets…,' added another, mocking the practicality.      

However, not everyone was critical of the outfits with some people heaping praise on the designs. 

'#TeamUSA opening ceremonies outfits are very preppy chic. The athletes looked great,' one person wrote.

Another agreed: 'Love the outfits!! Show 'em how it's done.'

However, not everyone was critical of the outfits with some people heaping praise on the designs

However, not everyone was critical of the outfits with some people heaping praise on the designs

Team USA showcase the ensembles during the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony Friday where the summer games kicked off with a spectator-less stadium due to COVID-19.

Team USA showcase the ensembles during the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony Friday where the summer games kicked off with a spectator-less stadium due to COVID-19.

Team USA BMX athlete Connor Fields wears the official Opening Ceremony outfits in NYC earlier this month

Team USA BMX athlete Connor Fields wears the official Opening Ceremony outfits in NYC earlier this month

Ralph Lauren opted for a revamp of his previous versions of red, white and blue preppy style including a navy blue blazer, striped shirt and US flag neck scarf

Ralph Lauren opted for a revamp of his previous versions of red, white and blue preppy style including a navy blue blazer, striped shirt and US flag neck scarf

The Ralph Lauren outfits were first unveiled back in April - sparking some criticism then - before the Opening Ceremony parade uniform was previewed earlier this month.

But they were first sported by America's gold medal hopefuls Friday as the games kicked off.   

The outfit consists of a navy blazer, striped T-shirt, star-spangled printed scarf, red, white and blue striped belt, white shoes and a face mask.

It has been made with sustainable materials including US-grown wool in the blazer and the shirt made through an advanced pre-treatment solution that uses less water, chemicals and energy in the cotton-dying process. 

The material also features a new cooling technology called RL Cooling that disperses heat from the wearer's skin.

Ralph Lauren described the uniform as celebrating America's 'pioneering spirit and tradition.'  

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