Olympic opening ceremony outfits ranked: USA gave 'dress-down day at a boarding school'

The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics offered a different type of catwalk: the Seine River. 

Paris once again found itself the center of the fashion universe Friday. Unlike the exclusive events of Paris Fashion Week, athletes from around the world participated in the traditional parade of nations loaded onto boats floating down the Seine River.

Each nation wore custom-designed outfits to showcase their nation’s culture to the world. Some nations rose to the challenge wonderfully. Others left us wondering if the fashion police had, like the rest of France, gone on strike.

Here’s a ranking of the 10 most memorable outfits from the ceremony.

1. Mongolia

Designed by power duo sisters Michel and Amazonka Choigaalaa, Team Mongolia’s opening ceremony attire went viral days before the start of Paris 2024, and with good reason. Based on a traditional Mongolian deel, Mongolia’s uniform was a perfect combination of sleek, delicate and fierce with intricately embroidered vests featuring designs that served as a beautiful ode to the country’s heritage. It’s safe to say Mongolia has already won gold before the first medal event of the Games.

2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.

2. Haiti

Designed by Haitian-Italian designer Stella Jean, the Haitian delegation meant business with their attire. The skirts and pants, based on the artwork of Haitian painter Philippe Dodard, stole the show. 

3. Mexico

Mexico demonstrated exactly how to combine cultural traditions with modern style (some of the countries later on in this list should take note). The team sported street-style white jackets decorated with black patterns and symbols to pay homage to some of Mexico’s most iconic cities. 

4. Egypt

The Egyptian delegation pulled off all-white suits made of Egyptian cotton, complete with a trim in the Egyptian flag’s colors to give a classy, elegant look.

5. The Netherlands

Similar to Mexico, the Netherlands rocked a chic white jacket embellished with orange accents that served as a welcomed break from the characteristically neon orange tracksuits we’ve become accustomed to seeing from the Dutch team (yes, there is such a thing as too much orange, even for a team nicknamed the Oranje).

6. Great Britain

Designed by Ben Sherman, Team GB wore white and navy bomber jackets with shirts adorned with a pattern of a rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock to represent the national flowers of the nations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It was a nice touch, but perhaps an ironic one for a team that couldn’t reach an agreement to attempt to qualify for the men’s soccer tournament as a unified Team GB.

Overall, the outfits weren't very bold, but (as evidenced by the rest of this list), bold does not always equal better.

7. Australia

This was an Olympic ceremony, not a golf tournament ... or tennis match ... or dance show? The classic green and gold Aussie color scheme worked well, but the pleated skirt worn by many female athletes missed the mark.

8. USA

Designed by Ralph Lauren, Team USA sported a striped blouse, navy blazer and blue jeans. The get-up could have been worse, but the outfits should have been fit for a team vying for the top spot of the medal table, not a prep contest at a dress-down day at a Connecticut boarding school. Is a navy blue blazer and jeans really the best way to showcase American culture to the world?

9. France

The host nation had the chance to make a definitive case to the onlooking world why France should be considered the fashion capital of the world. It's safe to say Milan doesn't need to sweat after the French team showed up in navy suits that closely resembled a stock photo of a flight attendant uniform.

10. The Czech Republic

If you’ve ever wondered if there’s such a thing as too much pattern, the Czech Republic’s uniform answered that question with a resounding yes. Paying homage to the Czech flag, athletes wore red, white and blue gradient polo shirts that were overshadowed by oversized trench coats with a blue splattered ink design that stunned (and not in a good way).