From our special correspondent at bénévoleland,
We know, it’s hard to read after having reviewed for months the 1,001 worst-case scenarios, but slowly, France is starting to wake up and understand that these Olympic Games will probably be a success, especially aesthetically. Already thanks to some particularly sumptuous settings: beach volleyball under the Eiffel Tower, the cavalry at Versailles and this long-awaited opening ceremony… But if you’re going to prepare yourself mentally, we’ll tell you, the future strength of these Olympic Games is the constant of its beauty, present absolutely everywhere in Paris for two weeks. Even in the volunteers’ outfits, that’s saying something.
While most volunteer clothing is sloppy in the grand scheme of things (yes, the hideous red Euro 2016 T-shirt, we’re talking about you), the uniform of the volunteers for the Games is seriously stylish. “We often get compliments on it,” congratulates Thierry, 27, proud to parade around in it. “People even ask me where to buy it. Sorry guys, you had to be a volunteer!” He and 1,399 other friends in their beautiful uniforms had an appointment at Roland Garros for a last big explanatory mass before the start of hostilities. The opportunity to talk fashion success to this army of blue Minions.
Bob or banana, volunteers’ hearts are wavering
More than the beauty of the clothes, Jean-Baptiste insists on their practicality: “It’s super comfortable, designed for movement and with lots of storage. There are 15,000 pockets, so no need to take an extra backpack,” describes this tall 28-year-old, who intends to reuse the outfit for doing sports or doing manual work in the garden.
Noémie, a year younger, is also convinced: “The outfit is ultra-versatile, pants for the morning and shorts for the afternoon, which shows that the organizers have thought of everything.” Really everything? “The swimsuit is a little less breathable, if you really want to quibble.” Quick catch-up on the pink and green bob: “It’s great, I love it.”
Even the Italians are seduced, what more could you ask for?
Same analysis what heat at Sandrine’s, in her fifties. “The T-shirt is good but warm. I’ll keep it for my mid-day sports sessions, but it seems difficult in the afternoon. On the other hand, the pants are ultra-thin and very flexible, ideal for hiking.” She also fell in love with the fanny pack, very cute too, “which risks becoming a collector’s item,” she predicts.
It is also this multiplication of clothing – two pants, a pair of shorts, four T-shirts, a jacket, shoes, a big bag, a bucket hat or a cap, a fanny pack, which seduces Francesco, an Italian passing through Paris to also take part in the great Olympic adventure. The Latin also tells us that he loves the colors and the cut. The outfit has won over a resident of the second country of fashion and luxury after us, so we can definitely call it a success. So much hype still questions Thierry, who confesses to us that he will perhaps resell everything on Vinted depending on the market prices.
Modern, sporty and beautiful
The most bitter among you – we know you – will retort that the volunteers’ opinion is biased and necessarily positive on everything related to the Games, since we are talking about guys ready to work several days for free, and all without accommodation. To silence the haters, we therefore asked for the expertise of two specialists in order to bring more objectivity.
No matter what, Moïra Cristescu, creator of the eponymous fashion brand, also sees it as a success. More precisely, “a revisit of the style by giving it a more contemporary touch mixed with a gradient and cutouts and avoided the eternal blue/white/red of the flag. Decathlon chose to evoke its colors with shades that go better together – turquoise, blue, white with touches of pink – while remaining unisex.”
On the side of Sophie Malagola, creator and former director of collections at DIM and Etam, the volunteers’ dress code avoids the many possible fashion faux pas: “For a uniform, it looks more like a sports jersey, which makes it a relaxed and less strict outfit. The creators knew how not to fall into the Blue-white-red which does not match. Without this pitfall, the color is rather pretty, especially with blue in dominance, a very popular and versatile color.” Before whispering to us in a less glorious conclusion: “Well, the beige jacket on the other hand was dispensable.” Oh come on, we said that these games would be successful, not perfect.