Olympic Fashion: 2018 Pyeongchang

Earlier this week, I took to Facebook to share a short article about the Norwegian men's curling team and their interesting choice of competition outfit. Reading the article reminded me how much of a nerd I am when it comes to Olympic fashion. It all started with the 2012 Summer Games. Up until this point, I had been an avid watcher of the Olympics, but I never gave the athlete's looks a second thought. I don't know what lit the fire for me. Maybe it was the never-ending focus on the nail art, or perhaps it was because it was the first time I really sat down and watched the Opening Ceremonies. No matter what it was, for ever after I was hooked. I was so inspired by what I was seeing that I promptly took to my now defunct first blog and created several "inspired by" OOTDs that referenced my favorite looks from various countries. (You can still see them on my Pinterest.) These may look amateur-ish now, but for baby blogger me it was quite an undertaking. For a time, it was even my highest read post on the blog.

Okay. Now that I've more than adequately defended this obsession of mine, we can get to the real point - the best (and worst) looks of this year's Winter Olympic athletes from Opening Ceremonies and beyond. Those Fringed Gloves

- Getty Images Sport

Even before Opening Ceremonies, we got a glimpse of Team USA in the line-up. They cheered, hands in the air - wearing brown suede gloves...that were covered with FRINGE ? I couldn't decide if they were a bold fashion choice or just hideous. Then, a few minutes into the ceremony, a white tiger puppet (symbolizing one of the most powerful animals in Korean culture) was brought out onto the stage. Curiously enough, the puppet was designed with its own version of fringe.

- Getty Images Sport

Whether or not this was purposeful or not (we expect answers, Ralph Lauren), it made me reconsider the tackiness and stereotyped American flavor of those gloves.

That Game of Thrones Aesthetic

- AP

I don't know if you all caught a glimpse of the fur cape-clad New Zealand flag bearer and freestyle skier, Beau-James Wells. He it got it right. As flag bearer, he clearly stood out from the rest of his team. While everyone else was wearing simple, black ski jackets, he marched out there looking like Jon Snow. Well played, New Zealand. Well played.

Nigeria's Bobsled Team SLAYS Leading up to this year's Winter Olympics, I heard a lot about Nigeria's first ever bobsled team. Represented by Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere, and Akuoma Omeoga, these women are three of four athletes who have brought Nigeria to the Winter Olympic stage for the first time. The hype is so real that fans on Twitter were calling for a remake of the film Cool Runnings based on these three. (An idea that the women personally love.) After all this, I was looking forward to seeing them walk in the Opening Ceremonies. They did not disappoint.

- Getty Images

Their outfits, inspired by traditional dress and complete with green gele, was one of the most beautiful and representational looks out of all the countries who paraded through the stadium. If you want to rock Nigerian bobsled team merch to show your support for these ladies, you can visit their website for tees, sweatshirts, and more.

It's The Little Things

Portugal's cartographic jacket accents, Mexico's flower crowns, Bermuda's athletes wearing the shorts that bear their country's name even in the freezing weather - uniqueness does not need to go hand in hand with elaborate looks. If you look hard enough, most of the countries' winter wear has accents that are all their own. Sometimes, the subtle details are all you need to stand out in this particular parade.

- Getty Images

It's Not All About The Opening Ceremonies

Though we've only seen a few of the many sports that will eventually be held during these Winter Games, we've already gotten a glimpse of some interesting athletic wear the competitors are sporting during their events.

Mexico's Alpine ski uniforms were inspired by Día de los Muertos.

- Hubertus Von Hohenlohe

The US snowboarding team uniform that looks like vintage spacewear and has helpful phrases in Korean inside the lining.

- Burton

Then we have the look that inspired this post, the curling uniforms for the men's Norwegian team. (Which now has its own Facebook page.)

- Getty Images

A bonus mention goes out to skier Mikaela Shiffrin's Captain Marvel speed suit. This suit was developed for Team USA by uniform company Spyder, who partnered with Marvel for these uniforms.

- NBC Olympics