As the Winter Olympics get underway, there is one aspect of the 19-day competition that is certainly grabbing everyone’s attention: the outfits.

When the 92 nations strode out for the opening ceremony in Milan on Feb 6, a slew of unfortunate team uniform choices sent viewers into a tizzy with Canada in particular coming under fire for its ‘hideous, embarrassing and ugly’ kit.

Designed by Canadian brand Lululemon, the country’s Olympic kit features an oversized convertible quilted wrap vest with a red maple leaf across the front, alongside a red puffer jacket printed with outlines of the Canadian landscape.

While Lululemon is known for sleek gym gear, critics have claimed the athletes look like ‘walking tents’ or ‘oven mitts’.

However, others have argued that the German Olympic team’s outfits look ‘way worse’ than those donned by Canada, and queried why the look by Adidas included the seemingly bizarre use of ‘ponchos’ and ‘bucket hats’. 

Team GB has also sparked controversy for its unique Olympic fashion choices – with many questioning why the so-called ‘pop of pink’ is a necessary addition to the ‘truly dreadful’ and ‘simple’ outfits.

Meanwhile, the uniform donned by a typically stylish Team France’s has failed to make Vanity Fair’s ranking of the top five best dressed nations at the Milano Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony.

The unique look was designed by esteemed Stephane Ashpool, who previously worked on the nation’s uniforms for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. However, his ‘astronaut’ style look for this year’s Winter Games has divided opinion.

At this year’s Winter Olympic Games, Canada has fallen victim to a particular influx of online criticism for its ‘hideous’, ’embarrassing’ and ‘ugly’ looks, with viewers even arguing that the athletes look like ‘walking tents’ or ‘oven mitts’

Described by Lululemon, who are contracted to dress the country’s Olympic team until 2028, as the ‘statement item’, the wrap vest was listed on the fashion brand’s website at a price of $198 Canadian Dollars (£106.73) and has since sold out online

In a video posted to the Team Canada official Instagram page, athletes Trinity Ellis and Embyr Susko showcased the number of outfits on display, including the all-brown tracksuits, fit with brown jackets, alongside green trousers and black sweatshirts.

Described by Lululemon, who are contracted to dress the country’s Olympic team until 2028, as the ‘statement item’, the wrap vest was listed on the fashion brand’s website at a price of $198 Canadian Dollars (£106.73) and has since sold out online.

While it was quickly snapped up, lifestyle blogger and content creator Ryan Massel, managed to get hold of one of the notorious Opening Ceremony wrap vests and took to social media platform TikTok to share a review of the kit. 

In a viral video, which has since amassed more than 140,000 likes, Ryan said he was ‘crashing out’ over the maple wrap jacket, which Lululemon say can be either worn as a ‘vest, scarf, or packed up as a pillow’. 

‘The large maple leaf design on the front will provide instant global recognition as Team Canada proudly marches into Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium,’ the brand added on its website.

Yet Ryan appeared somewhat unimpressed with the uniform, which he noted had one pocket, and asked: ‘What is this?’

‘It makes no god damn sense, it is one piece, it is like a sleeping bag. I don’t know what this is,’ he added. 

‘The uniforms are hugely disappointing,’ commented one user on the video, while another added: ‘It’s a coffee cup sleeve but for people!! Can I order a double double please?’

‘Someone said it looks like a Tim Hortons cup and now I can’t unsee it,’ said one online critic who took to social media to express their disdain at the Olympic uniform. 

Others have argued that the German Olympic team’s outfits look ‘way worse’ than those donned by Canada, and queried why the look had included ‘ponchos’

Another added: ‘The worst dressed athletes at the Olympics are once again the Germans,’ while one social media user remarked: ‘Something this hideous has probably never existed before’

However, a few individuals came to the Canadian team outfits’ defence in the comments, with one commenter stating: ‘I don’t understand why people are mad at these! I love it!’

Another added: ‘Omg I love it!’, while one questioned: ‘I love the design, but don’t understand why it wasn’t made into a jacket?’

For the closing ceremony on February 22, the Canadian athletes are expected to don a blue-green coloured outfit that takes inspiration from the north’s ice-cold waters.

To travel to Milan for the Winter Olympic Games, the Canadian team have also been equipped with a brown ‘Team Canada’ suitcase and brown travel outfit, even fit with brown sliders and a miniature brown Luluemon bag.

In a video posted to the Team Canada official Instagram page, athletes Trinity Ellis and Embyr Susko showcased the number of outfits on display, including the all-brown tracksuits, fit with brown jackets, alongside green trousers and black sweatshirts.

While social media users took to Instagram to wish Trinity and Embyr, both competing in the luger team, ‘good luck’, their messages of well wishes were accompanied with criticism towards the outfit choices. 

Meanwhile, others have also argued that the German Olympic team’s outfits look ‘way worse’ than those donned by Canada, and queried why the look had included ‘ponchos’. 

Designed by Adidas and led by design director Jacqueline King, the 70-piece collection features an oversized waterproof poncho donned with the country’s national colours.

For this year’s Winter games, members of Team GB have showcased a kit ‘grounded in the United Kingdom’s traditional colours’, with so-called ‘pops’ of ‘energetic pink’, by British clothing brand Ben Sherman

Team France has also come under fire for its uniform, designed by Stephane Ashpool, which failed to make Vanity Fair’s top five best dressed nations at the Milano Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony

Expressing their distaste at the team’s uniforms, they added: ‘The worst dressed athletes at the Olympics are once again the Germans,’ while one social media user remarked: ‘Something this hideous has probably never existed before.’

‘After seeing the German team outfits, maybe the Canadian ones aren’t so bad?,’ quipped another user. 

But while the bucket hat in particular has sparked online criticism as a ‘bizarre choice’, Jacqueline King said of the unique look: ‘Our ambition was to create kits that not only help athletes tackle the challenges of winter sports but also capture what makes the Games so special.’

Meanwhile, for this year’s Winter games, members of Team GB have showcased a kit ‘grounded in the United Kingdom’s traditional colours’, with so-called ‘pops’ of ‘energetic pink’, by British clothing brand Ben Sherman. 

Five-time Olympic medalist Tom Daley even knitted the scarves for the team’s flagbearers, which were proudly worn by Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, during their striking appearance at the opening ceremony.

Yet while they may have the royal seal of approval, others appear to be far from impressed with Team GB’s Olympic uniform, with online commenter questioning: ‘Why are the GB team in pink coats? Looks like white coats washed in with a red sock!’

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Another branded the outfits as ‘truly dreadful’, while one commenter added: ‘Great Britain’s outfits themselves were forgettable, but I loved the giant scarves’. 

Likewise, Team France has also come under fire for its seemingly questionable uniform, designed by Stephane Ashpool, founder of influential streetwear label Pigalle. 

One social media users criticised the outfit as synonymous with an ‘astronaut’ rather than athlete, while another added they would ‘definitely wear that for Halloween’ rather than for sporting fixture. 

Dressed in Le Coq Sportif, the outfits were said to have combined ‘technical expertise and comfort’,  as the team were seen striding out in a white snowsuit look that was combined with a seemingly purple collar and gloves.

However, the audience’s attention towards the slight mishap by one of the French athletes during the Opening Ceremony. 

As the festivities kicked off for the Winter Olympic Games, cross-country skier Jules Lapierre suffered a fall to the ground before his teammates gathered around to help him up in a blunder that soon attracted global recognition.

Speaking to EuroSport after the notable incident, Jules said: ‘The plan was for me to go first and I had to act surprised, telling everyone to go ahead. But the fall wasn’t really planned.

‘I was a bit stressed, but everyone had a good laugh all the same.’