Just in case you didn’t think the upcoming Olympic Games held any interest for fashion folk, think again; it will be worth tuning into the closing ceremony next month to see Christian Louboutin’s designs for the Cuban team in action.
The looks were designed with input from the Cuban athletes themselves, with the formalwear collection created by Louboutin and Henri Tai, a French sportsman who founded online retailer SportHenri.com.
The team will wear tailored Guayabera-inspired jackets featuring Cuban flag patches. And the shoes? Custom-made high tops, calf-leather kitten-heel sandals, loafers embellished with a five-pointed star.
The sharp uniform is a serious upgrade from the yellow blazers worn by team Cuba at the 2012 London Olympics closing ceremony.
Speaking about his inspiration, Louboutin said: “It's that elegance and fluidity of movement of someone who is so in control of their body that fascinates me.
“At the Olympics, it feels like these athletes put on performance gear and simultaneously turn into these superheroes that defy gravity, that defy time, that defy all rules of physics.
“We designed the celebratory outfit for the moment they turn back into humans, still in that glory moment, still in their light but heading back to the real world. We really want them to continue feeling amazing in their skin while looking astonishing.”
Learn more about the collaboration in the video, below.
Are you a little more excited about Rio 2016 now?
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