Every Team USA Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony Outfit Over 100 Years

Ralph Lauren has officially unveiled Team USA's opening ceremony outfit for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris on July 26—and it is quintessential RL in every way, with a navy blazer on top and classic blue jeans on the bottom. As Sarah Hirshland, the CEO of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, put it, "Ralph Lauren has once again created designs that not only capture the essence of American style, but also embody the spirit and pride of Team USA."

At the 2020 Games, which were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Team USA was dressed by longtime Olympic outfitter Ralph Lauren. Elements of the uniforms were manufactured with sustainable materials in the United States, per Today.

In keeping with tradition, Ralph Lauren once again outfitted American athletes in navy blazers. This time, the designer paired the look with white jeans and boat shoes in a patriotic palette. Vice president David Lauren told USA Today that the brand was going for "almost a Brazil resort sensibility," keeping the tropical locale in mind.

For the London Games, Ralph Lauren accessorized American Olympians in navy blazers and white bottoms with navy berets. The tailored looks were finished off with red, white, and blue scarves for female athletes and traditional red and navy ties for men.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics marked the first time Ralph Lauren designed Team USA's opening ceremony outfits. The brand said the uniforms were designed to "evoke the heritage and legacy of the 1920s and 1930s," while infusing Americana elements.

American athletes paraded into the Olympic Stadium in Athens— sporting a more casual look than in years past—in attire designed by the brand Roots. This marked the second time Roots had designed for Team USA. According to USA Today, the brand was tapped to create opening ceremony outfits for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics following complaints from athletes who reportedly preferred the casual gear other teams sported.

For several Olympics, men and women wore different color palettes. In 2000, female athletes sported red blazers and patriotic scarves, while male competitors wore blue blazers, khakis, and ties in the same print. Every member of Team USA wore a white cowboy hat to complete the look.

Team USA's uniforms for the 1996 Atlanta Games needed to live up to expectations: Not only was Team USA the hometown team, but the world was celebrating 100 years of the Summer Games. The men wore navy blazers and white pants, while women sported navy skirts topped with red blazers and patterned scarves.

A slew of American athletes wave their white hats to the crowd while marching into the Barcelona Games. The outfits for the 1992 Olympics looked remarkably similar to the opening ceremony uniforms worn in 1988, seemingly kicking off a tradition of blazers, slacks, and skirts that persisted until the 2004 Games.

In Seoul, some of the male athletes paired their Wall Street-appropriate outfits with cheeky signs. In a departure from the opening ceremony uniforms of years past, female athletes wore light blue sweaters over voluminous white skirts.

After skipping the 1980 Moscow Olympics in protest of the Soviet Union's 1979 invasion of Afghanistan (65 countries ultimately skipped the games), Team USA made a splash on their own turf in red, white, and blue tracksuits designed by Levi Strauss & Co.

Team USA paraded into the games hosted by its neighbor up north in white and navy looks designed by Halston, per People. In a fun twist, athletes were given a red shoulder bag to finish off the look—and perhaps collect an Olympic memento or two.

American athletes stood out in contrasting red-and-white looks. Women wore red blazers with pleated white skirts, while the men kicked off the games in white blazers and red chinos.

While we've seen women wearing skirts in several Olympics, the 1968 Mexico City Games marked the first—and to date, only—time they skipped the separates to sport kicky mini dresses paired with blue heels and white purses. Male athletes wore red blazers and white pants.

Although both male and female athletes wore navy blazers and white bottoms, their looks diverged when it came to accessories. The women of Team USA finished off their looks with red pumps and clutches, while the men wore white shoes and hats.

At the 1960 Games, the men took cues from the fashion seen in Roman Holiday by pairing blazers with striped straw boaters. Several athletes also added their own flair with sunglasses in silhouettes that are still in style more than 60 years later.

Although they were still considered the Summer Olympics, the 1956 Games were held in November and December to align with Australia's warmer season. At the opening ceremony, held on November 22, 1956, American women wore white blazers, navy skirts, and red handbags, while men donned grey blazers and navy pants.

Athletes at the 1952 Games, pictured here returning home in their official uniforms, wore khaki bottoms and navy blazers. This appeared to be the last time American competitors would wear blazers with an American shield logo. The logo made its Olympic debut at the 1908 Olympics held in London.

The planned 1940 and 1944 Games were canceled in the wake of World War II. For the first Summer Olympics in 12 years, Team USA wore light-colored bottoms, white tops, and blue blazers adorned with a patriotic shield.

Team USA, pictured here carrying the Olympic flag, wore all white at the 1936 Olympics. The games were not without controversy—many athletes pulled out in opposition to Adolf Hitler's regime in Germany.