60 years of United States Olympics uniforms - CNN

    Patriotism! Puffy coats! 60 years of U.S. Olympics uniforms

    By AJ Willingham, CNN

    Updated 1213 GMT (2013 HKT) August 7, 2016

    <strong>Rio, 2016:</strong> Nothing to see here, just ... wait, is that the Russian flag? Uniform haters dinged this year's Ralph Lauren offerings because the jaunty patriotic striped top resembles a certain rival country's banner, which has horizontal white, blue and red bars.
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Rio, 2016: Nothing to see here, just ... wait, is that the Russian flag? Uniform haters dinged this year's Ralph Lauren offerings because the jaunty patriotic striped top resembles a certain rival country's banner, which has horizontal white, blue and red bars.
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    <strong>Sochi, 2014: </strong>No,<strong> </strong>these patchwork cardigans featuring Olympic rings and a stars-and-stripes salad were not heinous. They were FASHIONABLE. (2014 was the height of the ugly Christmas sweater trend, if you've already wiped that detail from your memory.)
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Sochi, 2014: No, these patchwork cardigans featuring Olympic rings and a stars-and-stripes salad were not heinous. They were FASHIONABLE. (2014 was the height of the ugly Christmas sweater trend, if you've already wiped that detail from your memory.)
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    <strong>London, 2012: </strong>Aside from perpetuating the Olympic fetish for blazers and tight white pants, the London uniforms caused outrage because they were made in China.
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    London, 2012: Aside from perpetuating the Olympic fetish for blazers and tight white pants, the London uniforms caused outrage because they were made in China.
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    <strong>Vancouver, 2010:</strong> Puffy coats. SENSIBLE.
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Vancouver, 2010: Puffy coats. SENSIBLE.
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    <strong>Beijing, 2008:</strong> The year Team U.S.A. looked like the cast of the fanciest, most athletic production of "Newsies" ever.
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Beijing, 2008: The year Team U.S.A. looked like the cast of the fanciest, most athletic production of "Newsies" ever.
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    <strong>Turin, 2006: </strong>The white jackets, the futuristic lettering, the Kangol-style caps -- these uniforms were so European it hurt. (Appropriate since, you know, they were in Europe.)
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Turin, 2006: The white jackets, the futuristic lettering, the Kangol-style caps -- these uniforms were so European it hurt. (Appropriate since, you know, they were in Europe.)
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    <strong>Athens, 2004:</strong> The triumphant return to the birthplace of the Olympic Games deserved better than this pajama party, frankly.
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Athens, 2004: The triumphant return to the birthplace of the Olympic Games deserved better than this pajama party, frankly.
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    <strong>Salt Lake City, 2002:</strong> This year marked the end of the cowboy hat era and ushered in the Age of the Beret. (A Susan B. Anthony dollar to anyone who can explain that one.)
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Salt Lake City, 2002: This year marked the end of the cowboy hat era and ushered in the Age of the Beret. (A Susan B. Anthony dollar to anyone who can explain that one.)
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    <strong>Sydney, 2000:</strong> Did you know the American populace is actually just one very large square dancing team?
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Sydney, 2000: Did you know the American populace is actually just one very large square dancing team?
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    <strong>Nagano, 1998: </strong>These have a very "cattle rancher visiting New York City in January" vibe, and honestly, that's the America we all signed up for.
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Nagano, 1998: These have a very "cattle rancher visiting New York City in January" vibe, and honestly, that's the America we all signed up for.
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    <strong>Atlanta, 1996:</strong> The Olympics were IN the U.S. and yet we looked like MOUNTIES.
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Atlanta, 1996: The Olympics were IN the U.S. and yet we looked like MOUNTIES.
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    <strong>Lillehammer, 1994:</strong> Cowboy hat? Check. Big ol' coat? Check. Fabulously obnoxious giant scarf that should probably be available for purchase right now? Mission accomplished.
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Lillehammer, 1994: Cowboy hat? Check. Big ol' coat? Check. Fabulously obnoxious giant scarf that should probably be available for purchase right now? Mission accomplished.
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    <strong>Barcelona, 1992:</strong> MAKE AMERICA ROYAL BLUE AGAIN.
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Barcelona, 1992: MAKE AMERICA ROYAL BLUE AGAIN.
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    <strong>Albertville, 1992:</strong> "We want to look powerful, but approachable." Like a mob boss at his kid's holiday party? "Yeah! Yeah, just like a mob boss at his kid's holiday party."
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Albertville, 1992: "We want to look powerful, but approachable." Like a mob boss at his kid's holiday party? "Yeah! Yeah, just like a mob boss at his kid's holiday party."
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    <strong>Seoul, 1988:</strong> It's hard to remember a time before the structured navy-and-white prison that is our current uniform situation. But how about these baby blue, acrylic-fiber memories?
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Seoul, 1988: It's hard to remember a time before the structured navy-and-white prison that is our current uniform situation. But how about these baby blue, acrylic-fiber memories?
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    <strong>Los Angeles, 1984:</strong> Athletes? Or Domino's delivery people?
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Los Angeles, 1984: Athletes? Or Domino's delivery people?
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    <strong>Sarajevo, 1984: </strong>This is also some premium America, and is not at all SAD. (That sign is the Yugoslav designation for USA. Shoulda read FAB.)
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Sarajevo, 1984: This is also some premium America, and is not at all SAD. (That sign is the Yugoslav designation for USA. Shoulda read FAB.)
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    <strong>Montreal, 1976:</strong> It's hard to see, but your eyes do not deceive you. Behind the presidential-candidate neckties is a sea of patriotic neckerchiefs.
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Montreal, 1976: It's hard to see, but your eyes do not deceive you. Behind the presidential-candidate neckties is a sea of patriotic neckerchiefs.
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    <strong>Innsbruck, 1976:</strong> Wow, remember when we just wore normal-looking clothes?
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Innsbruck, 1976: Wow, remember when we just wore normal-looking clothes?
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    <strong>Munich, 1972: </strong>Good news, ladies! You will stay cool and sporty in white tennis skirts. Oh, the bad news? Your top half will be roasting in a blazer and scarf. Men, same thing. The Olympics is no place for comfort.
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Munich, 1972: Good news, ladies! You will stay cool and sporty in white tennis skirts. Oh, the bad news? Your top half will be roasting in a blazer and scarf. Men, same thing. The Olympics is no place for comfort.
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    <strong>Sapporo, 1972: </strong>Way before "boots with the fur" was a thing, they were, well, still a thing.
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Sapporo, 1972: Way before "boots with the fur" was a thing, they were, well, still a thing.
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    <strong>Mexico, 1968:</strong> Listen, this seriously needs to happen. There really needs to be an Olympic throwback collection, and these white dress/sweater things need to be in it. We'll pass on the men's navy turtlenecks, though.
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Mexico, 1968: Listen, this seriously needs to happen. There really needs to be an Olympic throwback collection, and these white dress/sweater things need to be in it. We'll pass on the men's navy turtlenecks, though.
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    <strong>Tokyo, 1964:</strong> The important takeaway from looking back on decades of Olympic uniforms is that white pants didn't just happen to us. We LET them happen to us, over and over again.
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Tokyo, 1964: The important takeaway from looking back on decades of Olympic uniforms is that white pants didn't just happen to us. We LET them happen to us, over and over again.
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    <strong>Rome, 1960:</strong> Our striped barbershop-quartet hat game was strong. <br />
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Rome, 1960: Our striped barbershop-quartet hat game was strong.
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    <strong>Squaw Valley, 1960:</strong> When it comes to military looks, there's fashionably military -- cocked berets, flashy epaulettes and such things -- and then there's uncomfortably military. This is the latter.
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Squaw Valley, 1960: When it comes to military looks, there's fashionably military -- cocked berets, flashy epaulettes and such things -- and then there's uncomfortably military. This is the latter.
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    <strong>Cortina d'Ampezzo, 1956:</strong> The black and white photograph really betrays this look. That fur hat was RED. And those ski pants were BLUE. It was a party! <br />
    Photos: US Olympic team uniforms: A look back...
    Cortina d'Ampezzo, 1956: The black and white photograph really betrays this look. That fur hat was RED. And those ski pants were BLUE. It was a party!
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    01 Team USA Olympic Uniforms02 Team USA Olympic Uniforms03 Team USA Olympic Uniforms04 Team USA Olympic Uniforms05 Team USA Olympic Uniforms06 Team USA Olympic Uniforms07 Team USA Olympic Uniforms08 Team USA Olympic Uniforms09 Team USA Olympic Uniforms10 Team USA Olympic Uniforms RESTRICTED11 Team USA Olympic Uniforms12 Team USA Olympic Uniforms13 Team USA Olympic Uniforms14 Team USA Olympic Uniforms15 Team USA Olympic Uniforms17 Team USA Olympic Uniforms RESTRICTED18 Team USA Olympic Uniforms21 Team USA Olympic Uniforms22 Team USA Olympic Uniforms23 Team USA Olympic Uniforms24 Team USA Olympic Uniforms25 Team USA Olympic Uniforms RESTRICTED27 Team USA Olympic Uniforms29 Team USA Olympic Uniforms30 Team USA Olympic Uniforms32 Team USA Olympic Uniforms RESTRICTED

    Story highlights

    • This year's Ralph Lauren designs have been mocked
    • Previous years' Team USA uniforms weren't all sartorial gems either

    (CNN)For the lazy, unathletic masses, sitting on the couch and judging the Opening Ceremonies is the closest we Americans will ever get to actually competing in the Olympics.

    The Games are a time to truly come together as a nation, to look upon our finest athletes and to say together as one:
      "Ew. What are they wearing?"
        Team USA Olympic uniforms receive heat on social media
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        Team USA Olympic uniforms receive heat on social media 01:30
        This hallowed tradition will no doubt continue Friday, thanks to the 2016 Olympic uniform designs by preppy standard-bearer Ralph Lauren. The uniforms display some of the classic hallmarks of Olympics past: Clean white bottoms, navy blazers, a combination of red, white and blue ... and a secret homage to the Russian flag.
        Oh.
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        Design flaws aside, it was far from the most offensive or even the most talked-about round of Olympic regalia.
            Quiz: What kind of Olympian are you?
            Click through the gallery above for a poly blend trip back in time through cowboy hats, oversized coats, slap-chopped American flag motifs and TRACK SUITS.