First, there was Chanel’s fashion show on Havana’s Paseo del Prado. Now, French designer Christian Louboutin has designed the Closing Ceremony outfits for Cuba’s Olympic Team. In partnership with Sporty Henri, the French designer known for his red-soled heels created the outfits with the star athletes in mind. “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,” said Louboutin on his website.
The athletes will be stylin’ around the Rio Olympic Arena come August, showing off both their impeccable fashion and frame. Louboutin cites the athletes and their native island as his main source of inspiration. And lately, it seems like the fashion world has been taking cues from the culture of the Caribbean island.
The Olympic outfits include a fitted jacket featuring the Cuban flag on the breast pocket. Women were styled with kitten heels and men with hi-top sneakers.“The clothes need to fit spectacular athlete bodies – they are definitely not sample size or average, neither in length of limbs, nor in proportions. It was our mission to make them look tailor-fitted and great.” said Louboutin.