Australians all let us rejoice: USA, Mexico shockers allow our Sochi uniform to stand out

AUSTRALIA'S athletes will wear icy arctic fashion with a 1970s twist at the Sochi opening ceremony.

AUSTRALIA'S athletes will show off icy arctic fashion with a 1970s twist when they parade before the world at the Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony early Saturday.

News_Image_File: Phil Bellingham in the opening ceremony gear.

Contrasting with the zany zig-zag patterned uniforms favoured by teams like Norway's curlers, Australia's winter wonders will sport bright Karbon yellow beanies and snowy white puffer jackets featuring the Southern Cross.

Forest green jeans, a belt designed by Sportscraft and adidas shoes complete Australia's "urban mountain resort feel" for what promises to be an eye-popping parade of nations in Sochi's $779 million Fisht Olympic Stadium.

Tasmania's classic Blundstone boots and a preppy pinstriped blazer are preferred for Australia's official uniform, which they'll wear Thursday night at an official team reception, where Australia's flag bearer will be announced. Melbourne mum and 2010 gold medallist Lydia Lassila is favoured to be awarded the honour.

Cross-country skiers Esther Bottomley and Phil Bellingham showed off their opening ceremony race suits in Sochi today, while short track speed skater Deanna Lockett modelled her space-age racing suit.

"It's really special to be wearing the Olympic suit," Lockett said. "Not everyone gets that, so I'm going to keep it safe for the rest of my life. I'll probably frame it."

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Some of the other nations have copped flak for pushing the design envelope too far.

The United States team will be decked out in patchwork quilt-inspired knitted cardigans designed by Ralph Lauren. They are supposed to evoke classic American heritage, but have got a shake of the head from fashionistas.

News_Image_File: Mexico skier Hubertus Von Hohenlohe wearing his Marachi speed suit. He'll soon turn 55.

Mexico's one-man ski team, Hubertus von Hohenlohe, will be flying down the slopes in a skin-tight mariachi-inspired suit, while Russia has gone for fur-trimmed coats.

News_Image_File: US ice hockey player Zach Parise in his quilt-inspired, knitted Ralph Lauren clobber.

Germans will parade multi-coloured puffer jackets, while Great Britain have again adopted the colours of the Union Jack.

One of the perks of being an Australian Olympic are the suitcases of clothes that come your way - everything from classic green and gold tracksuits to beanies, ski pants, gloves and blazers.

"It was amazing - we got to our rooms and there were four bags full of all different stuff," said debutant moguls skier, Taylah O'Neill.

"The first bag I opened was a big suitcase and there was jacket after jacket after jacket and T-shirt after T-shirt."

The official uniform jackets are emblazoned with the names of the 198 Winter Olympians to have represented Australia.

The Sochi 2014 Olympics can be seen exclusively on Network Ten

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