Instead of beginning with a starting pistol, competition at the Commonwealth Games started against a Smooth FM soundtrack of Duran Duran. While the eighties’ answer to Harry Styles, Simon Le Bon, performed, we could fully compare the outfits worn by athletes in the opening ceremony.
Here’s the gold, the good and the pieces that should have been left in the locker room.
Team England parade during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in customisable uniforms by Community Clothing.Credit:Getty
England
With red workwear-inspired jackets, stone chinos and T-shirts emblazoned with the words “Bring It!” from a poem by wordsmith and boxer Matt Windle, the host nation scored gold in inclusive style at the opening ceremony.
The utilitarian approach taken by sustainable fashion brand Community Clothing was inspired by Birmingham’s strong association with working-class trades. Community Clothing’s founder Patrick Grant commissioned patches that athletes could use to customise their jackets, including the LGBTQ rainbow flag.
The result was personal and cool, for the Commonwealth Games.
“We wanted to create clothing that would have a life after the Games, and a uniform that expresses something about the athletes as individuals,” Grant said when the uniforms were unveiled.
Scotland
Team Scotland is immediately recognisable as they parade during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, Credit:AP
The bespoke tartan created by Scottish designer Siobhan Mackenzie and woven at the Locharron Mill nods to contemporary styles with a playful approach to scale but is pure Braveheart in execution.
With bold vests, sporty sporrans and tartan purses, it is impossible to confuse Team Scotland with the countless countries in casual tracksuits.
The dark shirts have a touch of the Edinburgh nightclub bouncer about them, but the overall effect is inviting rather than intimidating.
Eddie Ockenden and Rachael Grinham, flag bearers of Team Australia lead their team out during the Opening Ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games wearing uniforms by RM Williams.Credit:Getty
Australia
With other countries’ uniforms sprinting towards athleticism and relaxed silhouettes, Australia’s blazers, ties, skirts and scarves continued our longstanding tradition of athletes entering the stadium looking like prefects from a private school.
The RM Williams boots, a first for many athletes, were worn with pride, and the green of the blazers was smartly subdued but the bright yellow ties and scarves had a whiff of discount airline about them.
The most exciting part of the uniform was the unexpected flashes of lining by queer indigenous artist Jenna Lee.
Cameroon
Upstaging Prince Charles’s tailored suits is an accomplishment that neither Princes William nor Harry have managed, so congratulations to Team Cameroon.
Britain’s Prince Charles, Prince Of Wales poses with athletes and members of the team from Cameroon.Credit:Getty
In traditional attire utilising the red, yellow and green of the Cameroon flag, with some athletes transforming the flag into headscarves, the athletes looked ready to party rather than partake in powerlifting.
Expect influencers unaware of the pitfalls of cultural appropriation to be adding this to their dream board for next year’s Splendour In The Grass.
Geraint Thomas of Team Wales leads the parade in uniforms by Julien Macdonald during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Alexander StadiumCredit:PA
Wales
Rivalling the popularity of the character Ness from the series Gavin & Stacey, the Welsh are known for their love of music, which seeped into the marching band-style uniforms worn by the country’s athletes.
With navy suits dominated by pointed power shoulders, dragons perched on jackets and pins of Welsh gold, the uniforms were loaded with eye-raising symbolism.
“Overall, the design is something that is very Welsh and includes many Welsh symbols and colours that represent Wales,” says designer Julien Macdonald, a favourite of Liz Hurley and Kylie Minogue. “It’s something that I’ve really enjoyed doing and obviously, I’ve added a touch of Julien Macdonald glamour.”
The result is more Glee than gladiatorial, but points are scored for the unisex ties. Those same points are withdrawn for the sensible heels given to some female athletes.
The athletes of Lesotho enter the stadium during the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony at the Alexander stadium in Birmingham.Credit:AP
Lesotho
The bone shorts and black shirts worn by Team Lesotho, the landlocked country encircled by South Africa, were unremarkable but their accessories game was strong.
While the beads and necklaces worn by Kenya’s female athletes immediately catch the eye, it’s the inclusivity of Team Lesotho’s hats that pushes them up the fashion medal ladder.
Athletes proudly wore the national symbol the mokorotlo, a conical straw hat inspired by Mount Qiloane, which elevated their uniforms to peak fashion.
Perhaps it’s time for Australia to dust off the Akubra.
Canadian athletes enter the stadium during the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.Credit:AP
Canada
As the birthplace of activewear, with Lululemon founded in Vancouver, and a country where cannabis is legalised, the Canadian athletes looked seriously relaxed in their black tracksuits, red T-shirts and white sneakers.
The outfits were designed by Kukri Sports North America but some Lululemon tights or even boxy T-shirts from rising Canadian sportswear brand Reigning Champ would have added impact to the look. This could have been the Mounties on training day.
Athletes of South Africa enter the stadium during the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.Credit:AP
South Africa
There is a strong gender divide between the uniforms worn by Team South Africa. In a print by young designers Sandile Sikhakhane, Mbali Zulu, Sipho Lushaba and Nompumelelo Mjadu, the male athletes resembled lost cruise ship staff in their short-sleeved shirts.
Durban designer Nontsasa Benstwana, who utilised the print, had greater success with the tiered maxi skirts and full white blouses of the women’s uniforms. The women of Team South Africa looked ready for a smart brunch while the men were prepared to pour the bottomless mimosas.
Tom Walsh, Flag Bearer of Team New Zealand leads their team out during the Opening Ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.Credit:Getty
New Zealand
Coco Chanel managed to build a design empire using just black and white, but with the same palette Team New Zealand’s uniforms had all the excitement of a two-day-old lamington.
The men’s suits, worn with plain white T-shirts could be a cry for help from a country that has not figured out what to wear back to the office after lockdown.
The women’s uniforms would be great behind the counter at David Jones.
With such incredible designers such as Karen Walker, Kate Sylvester, Wynn Hamlyn and Maggie Hewitt from Maggie Marilyn, there’s no excuse for making black this basic.
Team Tonga enter the Alexander Stadium during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.Credit:PA
Tonga
If you can’t go nude like the Greeks at the original Olympics, we will have to settle for Tonga’s oiled-up shirtless flag bearer.
Brad Pitt has some stiff competition here in how to make a skirt look masculine.
The rest of the team’s uniforms are just fine but are you really looking? We are talking about athleticism here rather than objectification.
VERDICT:
Gold: England
Silver: Tonga
Bronze: Cameroon
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