With bold vests, tracksuits and tartan bags, it’s impossible to mistake Team Scotland for the countless countries sporting tracksuits.
The dark shirts have a touch of the Edinburgh nightclub bouncer, but the overall effect is attractive rather than intimidating.
Team Australia flag bearers Eddie Ockenden and Rachael Grinham lead their team out during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games wearing RM Williams uniforms.Credit:Getty
Australia
With other countries’ uniforms running towards athleticism and relaxed silhouettes, Australia’s jackets, ties, skirts and scarves continued our long tradition of athletes entering the stadium looking like prefects from a private school.
RM Williams boots, a first for many athletes, were worn with pride and the green of the jacket was smartly subdued, but the bright yellow ties and scarves had an air of discount airline.
The most exciting part of the uniform was the unexpected flashes of lining by Indigenous queer artist Jenna Lee.
Cameroon
Raising Prince Charles’ tailored suits is a feat that neither Princes William nor Harry have achieved, so congratulations to the Cameroon team.
Britain’s Prince Charles poses with athletes and team members from Cameroon.Credit:Getty
Dressed in traditional attire using the red, yellow and green colors of the Cameroonian flag, with some athletes transforming the flag into headscarves, the athletes looked set to celebrate rather than take part in power-lifting.
Expect influencers unaware of the pitfalls of cultural appropriation to add this to their dream board for next year’s Splendor In The Grass.
Wales
Rivaling the popularity of the character Ness from the series Gavin and Stacey, Welsh women are known for their love of music, which found its way into the marching band-style uniforms worn by the country’s athletes.
With navy suits dominated by peaked shoulders, dragons perched on jackets and Welsh gold pins, the uniforms were loaded with eye-popping symbolism.
Geraint Thomas of Team Wales leads the uniform parade from Julien Macdonald during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at Alexander StadiumCredit:without
“Overall, the design is something that is very Welsh and includes a lot of Welsh symbols and colors that represent Wales,” says designer Julien Macdonald, a favorite of Liz Hurley and Kylie Minogue. “It’s something I’ve really enjoyed doing and, of course, I’ve added a touch of Julien Macdonald glamour.”
The result is more cheer than gladiatorial, but points are scored for unisex ties. The same points are deducted for the sensitive heels given to some sportswomen.
Lesotho
The shorts and black T-shirts worn by Team Lesotho, the landlocked country surrounded by South Africa, weren’t flashy, but their accessory game was strong.
While the beads and necklaces worn by Kenya’s female athletes immediately catch the eye, it’s the inclusion of Team Lesotho’s hats that propels them up the fashion medal ladder.
Lesotho’s athletes enter the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.Credit:AP
The athletes proudly wore the national symbol mokorotlo, a conical straw hat inspired by Mount Qiloane, which elevated their uniforms in peak fashion.
Maybe it’s time for Australia to dust off Akubra.
Canada
As the birthplace of activewear, with Lululemon founded in Vancouver and a country where cannabis is legalized, Canadian athletes looked seriously relaxed in black tracksuits, red T-shirts and white sneakers.
Canadian athletes enter the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.Credit:AP
The clothes were designed by Kukri Sports North America, but some Lululemon tights or even boxer shorts from rising Canadian sportswear brand Reigning Champ would have added clout to the look. This may have been the Mounties on training day.
South Africa
There is a strong gender divide between the uniforms worn by the South African Team. In a print by young designers Sandile Sikhakhane, Mbali Zulu, Sipho Lushaba and Nompumelelo Mjadu, the male athletes resembled lost cruise ship staff in their short-sleeved shirts.
South African athletes enter the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.Credit:AP
Durban designer Nontsasa Benstwana, who used the print, had more success with the tiered maxi skirts and full white blouses of the women’s uniforms. The women of the South African team looked ready for a smart breakfast, while the men were prepared to pour endless mimosas.
New Zeland
Coco Chanel managed to build a design empire using only black and white, but with the same palette Team New Zealand’s uniforms had all the excitement of a two-day lamington.
Team New Zealand flag bearer Tom Walsh leads the team out during the opening ceremony.Credit:Getty
Men’s suits worn with plain white T-shirts can be a cry for help from a country that hasn’t figured out what to wear back to the office after closing.
Women’s uniforms would be great behind the counter at David Jones.
With such incredible designers as Karen Walker, Kate Sylvester, Wynn Hamlyn and Maggie Hewitt of Maggie Marilyn, there’s no excuse for making black this staple.
Tonga
If you can’t go naked like the Greeks in the original Olympics, we’ll have to settle for Tonga’s shirtless flag bearer in oil.
Team Tonga enters Alexander Stadium during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.Credit:without
Brad Pitt has some stiff competition here on how to make a skirt look masculine.
The rest of the team uniforms are fine, but are you really looking? We’re talking more about athleticism than objectification here.
VERDICT:
Gold: England
Silver: Tonga
Bronze: Cameroon
Get all the latest news from the Birmingham Commonwealth Games here. We will be streaming the action live from 4pm to 10am every day.
