WINTER GAMES: Cold Kits
Before a single ski leaves a track or a bobsled hurtles down the run, Milano Cortina 2026 has already crowned its fashion winners. Here's our definitive ranking of who's winning before the competition even starts.
By Glorious
Milan, one of the undisputed fashion capitals of the world, where Armani, Prada, and Dolce & Gabbana call home, meets Cortina d’Ampezzo, the pearl of the Dolomites and the Alps’ answer to glamorous ski culture since hosting the 1956 Winter Olympics.
If there was ever a stage set for Olympic fashion drama, this is it. What we’re witnessing is a radical departure from the tired old Olympic uniform playbook. Mongolia’s stopping social media with blue cashmere robes, Canada’s risking it all with a maple leaf compared leaf so oversized it resembles kitchen equipment. Norway proved that sometimes looking back seventy years is the smartest move forward and Team GB have got their knitting needles out… let the games begin…
ITALY – EA7 Emporio Armani
I mean we should probably kick off with the host nation’s 2026 uniforms. These are among the last collections Giorgio Armani designed before his death in September 2025. The designer, who had dressed Italy’s Olympic teams since 2012, left behind a final masterclass in understated elegance. Sleek, minimalist, snow-white with subtle accents. It’s exactly what you would want from a host nation that also happens to be Italy. The genius bit is the hidden detail. Inside jackets and on polo shirts are lyrics from the Italian national anthem, a private moment of national pride that’s there whether anyone claps for it or not.
The restraint aligns perfectly with Cortina’s old-money elegance. The milky white hue begs to be photographed against snow-covered mountains. This is quiet luxury at its finest, and it will age gracefully while plenty of other kits look dated in five years. It is not trying to win the internet in a single image. It is doing the long game, which is the most Italian flex of all. 8/10
JAMAICA- Spyder
If Cool Runnings taught us anything, it’s never underestimate Team Jamaica. Spyder has clearly understood that. The kit is sharp, confident, and genuinely cool, with a streamlined silhouette and colour placement that makes it look fast even when standing still, which is exactly what you want from winter sport gear.
The uniforms were unveiled on Henniyah, Helaina, and Henri IV, known as the Rivers Triplets, athletes who have been working towards this moment their entire lives. Born in Brooklyn to a Jamaican mother and introduced to snow before most kids can walk, they bring real credibility to the kit. This is serious performance wear, built for speed and control, but it still holds its own visually without tipping into gimmick.
Spyder’s technical background shows in the cut and construction, but it’s the restraint that really lands. The palette is confident, the detailing is disciplined, and nothing feels overworked. This is Jamaica presented with clarity and intent. Focused, credible, and absolutely not to be underestimated. We love it. 10/10
UNITED STATES -Ralph Lauren, Nike ACG & SKIMS
Three brands for one team. Peak American excess. Ralph Lauren handles official ceremonial uniforms for their tenth Games, leaning into heritage Americana (yes, there are the usual knitted flag jumpers). Nike ACG brings an official cold-weather collection that adds the points in a major way; it looks built for real conditions, but it also SERVES. Then SKIMS swoops in with base layers and loungewear.
It’s a brand grab. Three brands. But each plays to strengths without stepping on toes. Ralph does tradition, Nike brings tech, SKIMS covers the human moments between competition. It’s uniquely American. Excessive but somehow coherent. Is it necessary? Probably not. Does it work? Weirdly, yes. 9/10
SWEDEN – Uniqlo
Yes, it’s very yellow and blue. Yes, from certain angles it does flirt with IKEA energy. Yes, we know it’s the flag. And yes, There is also enormous SWEDEN lettering across the back of the jackets, which should help ensure absolutely no one gets lost. And yet, somehow, it works.
The kit is clean, restrained, and clearly designed to be worn properly, not just debuted once and archived forever. It’s not chasing drama. It’s here to look good, stay warm, and know when to stop. Sweden will not be the loudest delegation but itt will be one of the best dressed, because it understands the power of a calm silhouette and a confident colour choice, plus we think it’s the kind of kit that will still look good in three years, which is the real test. 7/10
BRAZIL – Moncler
Brazil at the Winter Olympics is contradiction personified, and Moncler is making sure that contradiction looks expensive. This marks the brand’s return to the Winter Games after nearly six decades, and it shows. The kit leans into Moncler’s cold-weather expertise without trying to over-explain itself, using the brand’s signature proportions and padding to give Brazil a confident presence on snow.
There’s a clarity to this pairing that works. Moncler knows how to make winter gear feel considered rather than costume, and that matters when you’re dressing athletes from a country better known for heat than frost. Brazil’s Winter presence might be small, but this partnership makes it visually sharp and memorable, which is half the battle. 8/10
GREAT BRITAIN – Ben Sherman & adidas
Ben Sherman’s back as ceremonial outfitter, and it’s fine…The mod-inspired opening and closing ceremony looks lean into the brand’s heritage. A mock neck patterned with a Union Jack motif, a dogtooth wool coat with chequered lining that screams British eccentricity, and an oversized scarf emblazoned with “Great Britain” in lettering large enough to be read from the cheap seats.
Then Tom Daley got his knitting needles out, designing hats and scarves for flagbearers, which is a fun little twist that adds some personality. adidas handles the technical line. Good, classic, chic, and presumably more importantly, warm. The geometric Union Jack on snowsuits photographs well against snow. Look, it’s not groundbreaking. It’s not innovative. But at least it’s not boring, which is more than half the countries here can claim. Without Daley’s knitting energy, this would be a shrug. With it, it’s acceptable. 6/10
NORWAY – Dale of Norway + Craft Sportswear
Norway just schooled everyone on how to do heritage right. Dale of Norway reinterpreted the Cortina 1956 sweater for Cortina 2026, and it works because the original was iconic for a reason. Nordic patterns, confident colour blocking, serious craftsmanship. Dale hasn’t tried to improve it with gimmicks or modern nonsense. The sweater itself is exactly what you want, Norwegian wool on the outside, merino wool on the inside, which is about as close to a perfect winter spec as you can get.
Alongside that, Craft Sportswear handles the performance and competition layers, quietly doing what it does best, making sure athletes are properly equipped without distracting from the look.
Norway knows cold. This is confidence that doesn’t need to shout. While everyone else is piling on graphics and digital concepts, Norway is reminding us that good design is timeless. They made it iconic in 1956. It’s still iconic. Fight us. 9/10
craftsmanship
MONGOLIA – Goyol Cashmere
Mongolia just won the internet before anyone even stepped on snow. After Paris 2024 went viral, designers Michel & Amazonka for Goyol Cashmere were under immense pressure and it’s worked. Blue cashmere robes and deels, with silk trimming and horn motifs. This is craftsmanship that makes fast fashion weep.
The cashmere choice isn’t just about luxury. It’s identity wrapped in fabric, built from a material with deep cultural roots. Social media lost its mind the moment these dropped. There’s also a more casual village line as part of the wider collection. Mongolia might not top medal predictions, but they’ve secured their place in Olympic fashion history. You don’t need the biggest budget or most famous designer. You need vision, cultural pride, and the confidence to showcase it. Mongolia brought all three. Everyone else can go home now. 10/10
CANADA – Lululemon
They are Canadian, so it would be worrying if they did not understand cold. And to be fair, this mostly works. The oversized maple leaf has taken plenty of heat online, with more than a few people pointing out it looks like a pot holder/ oven mitts, which is, honestly, a fair assessment. The centrepiece spanning nearly an entire vest is absolutely massive. There is no missing it. Subtle was not invited.
Beyond the leaf, there is more nuance than the first glance suggests. The palette shifts away from strict red and white into blues and greens, which gives the collection a bit of breathing room. The topographical patterning is one of those details that either feels thoughtful or just reads as squiggles, depending on how far away you are and how generous you’re feeling.
Where lululemon genuinely deserves applause is inclusivity. Adaptive design features are built into the range from the start, and athlete input clearly shaped the outcome. It is polarising, but at least they took risks. Love it or hate it, this one will be remembered. 8/10
FRANCE – Le Coq Sportif
Classic Coq doing classic Coq things. Multiple lines for different moments: village, interviews, ceremony, because France would never leave a look to chance. The palette is soft and winter-ready, and the whole thing feels French through sensibility rather than screaming symbols.
No Eiffel Tower nonsense. No giant flag slapped across a chest. It isn’t chasing virality. It’s making functional clothing that is quietly beautiful, which is both admirable and extremely on brand. Is it thrilling? Not really. Is the execution good? Yes. France stays in its lane, and the lane is well-lit and nicely tailored. Respectable, if not the most exciting. 7/10
dominance
NEW ZEALAND – Kathmandu
New Zealand went full Kiwi with Kathmandu, and the all-black aesthetic is working. There’s no need for complicated patterns when you’ve got the confidence to wear solid black and make it look intentional. It reads clean, minimal, and properly thought through.
The best part is that it’s not pretending to be high fashion. It’s outdoor gear with style discipline, which is exactly what you want when athletes are actually living in this stuff for weeks. New Zealand’s kit will not win “most embellished”, but it does not need to. It’s confident, understated, and thoroughly Kiwi. Sometimes the best statement is no statement at all. Just good gear, well executed. 8/10
AUSTRALIA – Sportscraft + Karbon Sports
Sportscraft takes the reins for the ceremony fashion. Expensive country club meets Winter Olympics. White cable-knit, white blazer. Better than Paris 2024, but still aggressively predictable. The lining lists every previous Australian Winter Olympian by name, and that bit is actually really quite lovely. The gold button details, designed to echo medals, are also a cute touch.. Will it look polished on camera? Yes, absolutely. Will you be running out to buy it? Probably not.
Then you get the second half of the story. Athletes have also been shown in competition wear supplied by Canadian-born performance gear designer Karbon Sports. This is where the wardrobe shifts from pristine photo call to actual winter sport reality. All the classics are here, and while it is safe, it is also solid. 5/10
ICELAND – 66°North
Iceland is turning 100, and the uniform absolutely delivers. 66°North brings decades of deep outerwear heritage into the heart of winter sport. This is gear designed by people who genuinely understand bad weather and have the self-respect to dress well anyway. You feel it immediately in the confidence of the silhouettes and the complete absence of pointless decoration.
This does not look like costume. It looks like real outerwear, because that is exactly how the brand was born, outfitting fishermen on the North Atlantic long before fashion noticed it existed. The kit is built for wind, snow, and horizontal rain, full stop. There is no overthinking here, just total assurance in what works. For a small nation, this is a massive flex. Technical, restrained, and quietly superior. Top tier work. 10/10
SPAIN – Joma
If you’re Spanish, really like red, or have a genuine fear of getting lost on the mountain, Joma have got you covered. Maybe the brand looked at the celebrity designer arms race and quietly opted out, choosing Spanish pride and solid sportswear instead, and honestly, respect for that decision.
The collection is built as a full wardrobe rather than one hero look, and the sustainability work is real, with recycled fabrics and organic cotton properly integrated. The strength here is straightforward professionalism. It’s patriotic without tipping into gaudy, and it’s not begging to go viral or dominate a group shot. It simply wants athletes to be warm, comfortable, and unmistakably Spanish, which is a sensible goal that plenty of teams still manage to miss. 5/10
HAITI – Stella Jean
Haiti may be sending just two athletes, but the uniform is doing podium-level work. Gold medal energy, honestly. Designed by Italian Haitian designer Stella Jean, this is easily one of the strongest kits at the Games, rich in colour, confidence, and cultural clarity.
The original concept featured an image of revolutionary leader Toussaint Louverture, which was later removed following an International Olympic Committee request under rules around political symbolism. What remains is no less powerful. The final design centres on a striking red horse motif, with “Haiti” set against a sky blue background that immediately holds its own among a sea of safe winter palettes.
The result is bold, expressive, and unmistakable. It proves that even in a Winter Olympics context, uniforms can carry real cultural weight while still looking exceptional. If style points counted towards the medal table, Haiti would be walking away with something shiny. 10/10
BELGIUM – Alexa Fairchild & Peak
Belgium went bespoke, and it shows. Designer Alexa Fairchild worked with partner Peak, and the collection leans into pixelated patterns inspired by snow and ice, which is either brilliant or a lot, depending on how you feel about digital motifs in real weather.
The goal here is obvious. Be distinctive and impossible to confuse with anyone else. Belgium has achieved that. It will stand out in group shots, in candid village photos, and in the kind of wide stadium angles where subtle design choices disappear. Whether people love it or question it, it will be remembered, and that’s half the game in Olympic fashion. 8/10
THE HOSTS – Salomon
The 25,000 volunteers and staff running Milano Cortina 2026 will be dressed by Salomon, and it’s a proper collaboration. Eighteen months of development, 50 experts, 17 interconnected garments, 400,000 pieces produced. The brief was clear: make it work in both city and mountain environments without looking like corporate branded merchandise. Salomon’s brought their mountain DNA to create something that’s functional, unified, and actually looks good. It’s performance gear that doubles as visual identity, which is exactly what you need when your workforce is the face of the Games. 10/10
MASCOTS – Sudents from Istituto Comprensivo of Taverna
Then there are the mascots. Tina and Milo, stoat siblings designed by students from Istituto Comprensivo of Taverna in Calabria after a nationwide competition with over 1,600 entries. Tina is the Olympic mascot with a white coat and blue-purple scarf. Milo, the Paralympic mascot, has a brown coat, green scarf, and was born without a right leg so uses his tail to walk. They’re being called the “first openly Gen Z mascots,” which feels very 2026. They wear scarves with Italian flag labels, and they’re accompanied by six snowdrop companions called the Flo. It’s wholesome, it’s inclusive, and who doesn’t love a stoat… 11/10
There you have it. Who have we missed? A lot, probably. But the fashion Olympics is just getting started, and there’s still time for surprise kits to surface before the opening ceremony.
UK viewers can catch all the action on BBC Sport. US audiences can watch via NBC and Peacock. For full schedules, results, and more information, visit the official Milano Cortina 2026 website HERE.
And as always, let us know your thoughts. Who are you loving? Hating? Rating? Over on social @glorioussport
Title Image: Goyol Cashmere for Team Mongolia
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