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For Team USA, the Olympics usually mean three things: finishing near the top of the medal table, creating national celebrities seemingly out of thin air, and being decked out in Ralph Lauren.
The latter, at minimum, will be the case once again at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, the 10th consecutive Games at which the iconic American designer will outfit the US athletes. Since Lauren’s maiden voyage at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, where his threads were worn by titans of American sports like LeBron James, Michael Phelps, and Shawn Johnson, the Polo brand has been a staple of the opening ceremonies, closing ceremonies, and Olympic villages from Vancouver to Tokyo.
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The collection for Milan and Cortina is a bonanza of big, audacious, après-ski-inspired looks. On the men’s side, a fuzzy full-zip hoodie is among the standout pieces, along with a retro fleece pullover that depicts a skier soaring through the air. The assortment of womenswear is also heavy on the fleece, including a navy blue buttoned mockneck that would fit in perfectly on the slopes or at the office. While most of the garments feature some variation of red, white, and blue, there was also some room to play.
“It’s more about storytelling than it is just a jacket,” said David Lauren, son of Ralph, who serves as the fashion house’s chief branding and innovation officer. Sitting in Ralph Lauren’s cozy, Harry Potter-esque headquarters on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, he explained the line’s creation process. “We like the red, white, and blue. Every country doesn’t celebrate the colors of their flags. But it’s not a mandate at all. We have a green jacket!”
Polo Ralph Lauren has also partnered directly with several of the athletes who will be competing in February. Red Gerard, the snowboarder who brought home the gold at the 2018 slopestyle event, is part of a roster that also includes ice dancers Alex and Maia Shibutani and New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes, who headlines the American men’s hockey roster. “We want athletes that have compelling stories, athletes that can wear the clothes well, athletes that we think are going to compete beautifully and help us tell a story about America and Ralph Lauren,” the executive said. “I was just chatting with Red. He looks like Kirk Douglas!”
Lounging on a couch at Ralph HQ wearing his new Polo swag, Gerard admitted that turtlenecks and intricate knitwear aren’t regularly a part of his wardrobe—but when in Rome (or, in this case, Milan). “That’s the best part about the Olympics,” Gerard said. “It’s your excuse to wear crazy stuff sometimes.”
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As opposed to the sun-soaked Summer Olympics, the Winter Games are properly bundled up. Hence the emphasis on winter whites, designed to keep the athletes warm but also convey the air of luxury that Ralph Lauren prides itself on. “You have to be cognizant of temperature, layers, fabrications. It’s a whole other level up in price points, because you’re creating things that are more expensive,” Lauren laid out. “We gift every item to the athletes, but we also have to sell the products, because Team USA is one of the few teams not funded by a government.”
At both Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022,Gerard recalls receiving about two duffel bags of gear, including separate ensembles for the opening and closing ceremonies, plus a bevy of options to mix and match in the village. “I always say the opening ceremonies are when you realize, like, ‘Holy shit. I'm at the Olympics right now,’” the 25-year-old laughed. “We definitely outdo everyone else. Everyone knows where we’re from when Team USA walks in.”
As a teenager competing in his first Olympics, Gerard made international headlines in 2018 when he overslept the night before his gold medal run and ended up having to wear his roommate’s jacket. Heading to one of the world’s fashion capitals—Lauren called the back-to-back combination of Paris 2024 and Milan 2026 “definitely the greatest fashion show you can have”—the shredder is hoping to avoid a similar faux pas this time around. “My plan is to not have a mishap. But I haven't really picked out a jacket yet.” That memorable incident is now behind him, as is the 2022 COVID-tinged affair that he described as “such a mess,” meaning Gerard can focus on having “just a regular, normal experience” in Italy.
Not everyone walking around in Ralph will be going for gold, though. Lauren likes to don the company attire when he’s at the Olympics, too. “I have been in some of the host cities for the Olympics wearing Team USA gear, and I sign autographs as a bobsledder or a skier,” Lauren said, laughing.