Olympic Fashions: America the Tacky?

The  United States Sochi Olympic uniforms were
just debuted in the press and I’m still shaking my head.  Did Ralph
Lauren seriously want to emulate the ugly Christmas sweater vibe or is this just
something I’m mistakenly picking up on?  After the London 2012
Olympics uniform debacle (they were made in China, oops!) I think Mr. Lauren
perhaps overcompensated with the stars and stripes and red, white and blue
forever (in your face, that is)!

  It’s a great thing to be
patriotic but must it scream tacky holiday pullover?  Ralph is
known for his classy, aristocratic, old money attitude, or at least the main
floor of his Madison Avenue Mansion and Purple Label is purporting to lean that
way.  On the upper floors one can find the more pedestrian RLX
brand of sport and workout clothing which has featured neon colors as well as
flag prints, however they are generally done in a less garish way.
Is the Olympics really the place to make this anti-fashion statement and
perhaps brand the USA as the winner of the downhill when it comes to ugly
garments?