Ralph Lauren has been synonymous with Team USA since 2008, when the brand made its Olympic debut as the country’s official outfitter. Colors emblematic of the American flag and the brand’s classic preppy styles long have made up the United States’ Opening and Closing Ceremony looks, and this year is no different.
Ahead of the brand’s 10th Olympic Games dressing the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams, Ralph Lauren unveiled its official collection for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics. The looks have been years in the making, with the Ralph Lauren team brainstorming ideas over two years out from each Olympic Games.
The collection features the athletes’ Opening and Closing Ceremony uniforms alongside a host of Villagewear consisting of loungewear, casual outfits, and accessories. In honor of this year’s Games being held in one of the biggest fashion capitals of the world, Ralph Lauren designed uniforms inspired by Milan’s creative spirit while staying true to the enduring style that define the all-American brand.
“Our design philosophy has always been about creating dreams and telling stories through style, and these uniforms, both timeless and modern, reflect the passion, optimism, and relentless pursuit of excellence that embody the American spirit,” Ralph Lauren Corporation Chief Branding and Innovation Officer David Lauren said in a statement.
The Opening Ceremony uniform consists of a statement white wool coat outfitted with heritage-inspired wooden toggles in place of buttons. An intarsia knit wool turtleneck in red, white, and blue featuring the American flag and tailored white wool trousers complete the look.
“It’s a refreshing, more up-to-date fit with a little bit looser and baggier clothes,” said 2018 Olympic gold medalist Red Gerard. “I’m a big fan of the Opening Ceremony outfit. I think they did a really good job of letting people know that we’re Team USA, but also having clothes that you can wear around the streets.”
The Closing Ceremony uniform takes a bolder approach, drawing inspiration from vintage ski racing kits with a red, white, and blue color-blocked puffer jacket embroidered with Team USA graphics. A color-blocked wool turtleneck stitched with the Olympic rings under the American flag paired with white utility pants complement the jacket.
Both uniforms are completed with intarsia knit hats and mitten design in the colors of the American flag as well as a leather belt and brown suede Alpine boots.
“[Ralph Lauren] designed this for us, not the other way around,” said three-time Paralympic gold medalist Brenna Huckaby. “They said ‘Hey, I’m going to listen to what you guys feel most confident and most comfortable in, and we’re going to make a really beautiful collection so that you feel represented.’ I feel like they did a great job.”
Huckaby is a sewing aficionado, designing a lot of her own clothing from repurposed item and bold colored fabric. As a two-time Paralympian, she is no stranger to the Ralph Lauren family, finding inspiration in little details from the Team USA uniforms like the wooden toggle buttons.
"My own personal style is something I've been figuring out how to cultivate for a while," said Huckaby. "Learning how to be and represent myself as I am and not by being influenced by what's trending or what other people are doing is something I'm really trying to lean into."
Much of the collection’s Villagewear takes on a vintage feel echoing Olympic style from the 1980s. Some standouts include a Team USA-themed rugby shirt and a hockey jersey reminiscent of the United States Olympic Hockey Team’s gold medal-winning moment at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Another standout is the brand’s version of a brown sheepskin bomber jacket embroidered with Team USA emblems, a take on the flight jackets once made by the U.S. Army Aviation Clothing Board for pilots during World War I.
“For the most part of what I can remember, Ralph Lauren was the outfitter of the Games,” said Huckaby. “When you’re dreaming about being a Paralympian, it’s a huge part of it. Walking with your teammates and representing your nation while looking good in the process, it feels like I get to live out my legacy as an athlete wearing an iconic brand.”