The Olympic Catwalk

What a night of entertaining performances it was, with Queen Elizabeth II and Daniel Craig pulling off what could have been a scene in a James Bond movie, and Rowan Atkinson, in Mr Bean guise, fantasizing about his Olympic dream over the dramatic Chariots of Fire.

However, what caught my eye was the athletes' parade during last Friday's opening ceremony, because it showed me that sportswear CAN be chic.

Fashion's biggest names such as Armani, Prada, Ralph Lauren and Stella McCartney designed the team uniforms.

The Italians were some of the best-dressed athletes, scoring points with a monochrome kit in navy blue and white by Giorgio Armani, as well as waterproof blue designs for their sailing team by Prada.

The Americans were stylish in their preppy designs too, albeit looking like a marching contingent - clean-cut blazers, crisp white trousers, skirts and shoes, accessorised with navy berets and blue, red and white striped scarves. But they have drawn flak for its made-in-China Ralph Lauren uniforms, each costing 795 pounds, or about 1.5K SGD. (below)

Exotic bright colours are in season these Olympics, with the Jamaican athletes wearing their national colours of yellow, green and black, as well as lightning-like prints. Who would have known that these prints were designed by legendary singer Bob Marley's daughter Cedelia Marley, for Puma? Splendid. Sprinter Usain Bolt modelled the styles on a London catwalk recently.