44 OLYMPIC REVIEW LONDON 2012 SPORTS

OLYMPIC REVIEW 61OLYMPIC FASHIONeven wore a bow tie. As the years wore on, so Olympic fashions could be seen to set trends. The striking outfits worn at the Winter Games in St Moritz in 1928, for example, became a precursor to the winter sports styles that were so fashionable throughout the 1930s. It was inevitable, perhaps, that at some point the athletes' outfits - as well as those of the masters of ceremonies and the volunteers that support the Games - should come to reflect the culture of the host nation, whether it was the dirndl at the Munich Games (1972), or a modernised version of the wonsam in Seoul (1988). Some of these homages were less successful than others; in hindsight one wonders whether the lobster red suits and sombreros sported by the West German women's team in Mexico in 1968 were entirely appropriate, especially when compared to the stylish geometric print dresses adopted by their hostesses. (And worn, despite the fashion of the time, a respectable few inches about the knee.)Of course, the Games have also provided their fair share of quirky outfits over the years as well - perhaps none more so than at the Winter Games in Vancouver in 2010. The outfits worn in the male skating events seemed to garner particular attention. As Sports Illustrated put it, "Never, outside of the Ballets Trockadero, have athletic males dressed wilder, crazier or with more operatic glitz to perform their pirouettes and feats of gold." While iconic red mittens kept spectators warm, the wardrobe of Vancouver's 25,000 volunteers also grabbed headlines. They were all decked out in bright blue jackets (earning them the affectionate nickname "the Smurfs") - outfits they will no doubt Left Hosting in style: the iconic dress from Mexico in 1968 Top right Figure skating takes a new turn in St Moritz in 1928 Far right The wonsam: traditional dress in Seoul in 1988 Right Fashion warming hearts and hands in Vancouver Below The dirndl was proudly worn by volunteers in Munich in 1972treasure for the rest of their lives. So how will you recognise the 70,000 or so "Games Makers" for London 2012? Just look for the deep purple and poppy red uniforms. Inspired by the historic Grenadier Guards, they feature buttons engraved with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.Should any further proof be needed that Olympic fashion has truly transcended the sporting arena, we need only look to the catwalks, where potential London 2012 medallists can be seen modelling Olympic-inspired clothing ranges created by world-renowned designers and high street favourites. ?