The 2018 edition of the Winter Olympic Games started on 9 February in PyeongChang, South Korea. It is the 23rd time this event has been organized since it first started out in Chamonix, France in 1924. It is the second time that South Korea hosts the Winter Olympics and the second time the Olympics are held in the country since the 1988 Summer Olympics, which were organized in Seoul.
The Games will last until 25 February and will feature 102 events in 15 sports disciplines, which will include the newly added big air snowboarding, mass start speed skating, mixed doubles curling and mixed team alpine skiing.
In total, 2952 athletes from 92 National Olympic Committees will compete, and will include some countries that will have their first participation, namely of Ecuador, Eritrea, Kosovo, Malaysia, Nigeria and Singapore.
The preparation of the events was itself eventful and resulted in South Korea and North Korea agreeing to march together during the opening ceremony, and to field a unified women’s hockey team and in Russia’s ban as the result of an ongoing doping scandal. However, some Russian athletes were allowed to participate under the title “Olympic Athletes from Russia”.
The start of the games was marked by an opening ceremony, which kept many people in awe and glued to their screens. The drone shows, the choreographies and the beautiful pyrotechnics impressed audiences from all around the world.
There was a lot in which one could find their inspiration in terms of shapes, colors and textures, and many incredible sartorial moments, with noteworthy fashions.
Of course, one of the most publicized moments was the shirtless Tongan man, but there was a lot to be seen besides him. Apparently, after his march, Pita Taufatofua said “I am from Tonga. We sailed across the Pacific. This is nothing.”
From our point of view, the fashion gold medal goes to Korean opera singer Hwang Su-mi, who performed the Olympic anthem. Her look was memorable and truly impressive; we enjoyed the mix of old and new and the simplicity of the outfit’s opulence.
We also adored the coat worn by South Korea’s former champion figure skater Kim Yu-na, who was the one who lit the Olympic flame. Her coat looked rich due to the sparkling crystals, but very simple and elegant and was very event-appropriate, it did not take away from why she was there, but it was a good representation of who she was.
During the Parade of Nations, besides the Tongan man and the shorts worn by the Bermuda delegation despite the cold outside, there were not very many incredible style moments. And the reason is a good one: the low temperatures make it hard to wear incredibly stylish clothes and so, most delegations wore warm winter clothes in the colors of their flag or resembling their flag, sometimes accessorized with hats or featuring certain traditional details such as prints or patterns. The US delegation was fashion-forward and culture-forward with their battery-powered heated jackets. These were made by made by Ralph Lauren and featured a rechargeable battery pack in the pocket that heats up conductive ink printed on the jacket to keep the athletes warm. The gloves were a little odd though.
Of course, the most remarkable march was that of the Koreans, as North Koreans walked side by side South Koreans in white jackets, resembling a unified Korean flag.
The opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games are always a grandiose pageantry, a global celebration at its best and offers its spectators from the stadium and from all around the world an incredible show.
We’re looking forward to the games as well as to the development of international relations, of which the Olympics are many times a reflection.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
Further reading:
The best Parade of Nations Outfits from the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in Rio de Janeiro
P.S. What do you think of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang? Which sports are you most interested in? Which parade look did you like the best? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!