Cardigan Love

Ralph Lauren's new All-American uniforms for U.S. Winter Olympic team are the best looking ones ever

Olympic opening ceremony uniforms are usually pretty blah. Remember what the U.S. Olympic team wore in London two years ago? Didn't think so.

But this time could be different.

Ralph Lauren has unveiled what Team USA will wear to the opening ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia on Feb. 6 and they're the smartest, snazziest-looking uniforms ever.

These look like clothes you could actually wear. And you can.

The highlight is a red, white and blue knit cardigan with patchwork designs of stars and stripes, Olympic rings and the year 2014. The cardigan is paired with a cream cotton turtleneck sweater, white fleece athletic pants, sporty black leather boots with red laces, a cotton belt accented with jacquard tape featuring patriotic graphics, and a knit cap with the American flag.

These look like clothes you could actually wear. And you can. The cardigan, which retails for $595, is available online, with the entire purchase price donated to the U.S. Olympic Committee. All other Olympic gear is available for sale on the Lauren site or at selected Lauren stores. (A Lauren spokeswoman says that while the Galleria Lauren store won't carry the items, they can easily order whatever customers want for home delivery.)

One reason for the more accessible look: Since Sochi has a temperate climate (the high Wednesday was 54 degrees), Lauren didn't have to create such a bulky style. But in case it gets colder, Olympians can throw on a double-breasted navy peacoat emblazoned with the official logo of the U.S. Olympic team and the signature Lauren polo pony (it retails for $795).

The uniform is entirely made in the USA, as the designer utilized more than 40 American vendors to create the look. The company generated a whirlwind of controversy in 2012 when it was revealed that part of the London Olympics uniforms were made in China — and apparently learned its lesson.

The U.S. Olympic team will wear red, white and blue cardigans at the opening ceremonies of the Sochi Olympics.

Ralph Lauren Olympic opening ceremonies uniforms January 2014 athletes

Photo courtesy of © Ralph Lauren

The U.S. Olympic team will wear red, white and blue cardigans at the opening ceremonies of the Sochi Olympics.

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RODEO RUNWAY

Western glam takes over as RodeoHouston fans dress to impress

Photo by Gabi De la Rosa

Brooke Jones, Kiala Cardenas, Brittany Ruggeri, and Franschesca Jones.

Houstonians have dusted off their boots and rhinestones as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is in full swing. Already one of the largest events in Texas, the crowds are continuing to grow. In 2025, more than 2.7 million people attended RodeoHouston, and this year the event is already on track for record-breaking numbers.

Livestock competitions, carnival rides, deep-fried food, and headlining concerts are the official reasons people come to the rodeo. Unofficially, however, people watching has become a sport all its own. The crowded walkways on RodeoHouston grounds transform into a Western-themed runway, where personal style is just as much of the experience as enjoying deep-fried Oreos or a Ferris wheel ride.

A wide range of outfits is always on display. Some attendees go all in with head-to-toe sequins, fringe on everything, and dramatically decorated hats. Others keep things casual with denim, boots, and graphic t-shirts, while groups of friends will often coordinate themed outfits for concert nights.

Rodeo Fashoin 2026 Emily Duran and Brylie Wagner.Photo by Gabi De la Rosa

No matter the style, there are two must-have accessories: cowboy hats and boots. Hats serve a dual purpose for both fashion and protection from the sun during daytime events. Boots are essential to rodeo style, but sometimes come with a painful learning curve.

Many attendees walk more than a mile from the parking lot to the grounds, and after exploring, they often add more than 20,000 steps. For those who did not properly break in their boots, the end of the day can involve blisters and a slow walk to the car, boots in hand.

“Rodeo fashion is so fun. My friends and I planned out outfits together, and we made sure we broke in our boots before tonight,” Teresa Delgado tells CultureMap. “When you are from Houston, you only make that mistake once.”

Rodeo Fashion 2026 Karson Graves, Reese, Lowery, Mackenzie Lewis, Natalie Doyle, Brandi Hunger, and Jenna Faulkner.Photo by Gabi De la Rosa

Some days have them whether it's official or it's an unspoken trend. When Megan Moroney took the stage, pink was the color of the concert, inspired by Moroney's album Cloud 9. Nearly 70,000 attendees filled the stadium in everything from flouncy pink ruffled outfits to bright neon boots and hats.

“We have really been looking forward to this concert,” said Ashley Little from Cypress. “I didn't think too much about my outfit at first, but my daughter wanted to coordinate, so here we are wearing pink together.”

Between carnival rides, mutton busting, and nightly concerts, the rodeo has plenty to see, but some of the most memorable moments are stopping to notice that fashion is just another part of the show.

Photo by Gabi De la Rosa

Brooke Jones, Kiala Cardenas, Brittany Ruggeri, and Franschesca Jones.

houston rodeo fashion western style