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Fashion Olympics

Athletic style from Beijing you can wear right here at home

BY JOSEPH V. AMODIO | Special to Newsday

August 6, 2008

Winning looks from Polo Ralph LaurenÂs Olympic Games Collection include Deontay Wilder, of the U.S. Boxing team, in a USA 08 polo with large Team USA logo on back, $125; archery hopeful Joy Fahrenkrog, in the Blue Label Olympic Games Character polo, $125; track and field hopeful Brianna Glenn, in Blue Label Olympic Games track jacket, $145; and Giuseppe Lanzone, of U.S. Rowing, in the Olympic Games polo, $125; menÂs shorts; ribbon belts, $55. (Polo Ralph Lauren)

It's not easy looking good when you're sweating up a storm. Just ask Olympic athletes. Not that fashion's the point. Still, it's always interesting to spot champions who manage to exhibit not just grace under pressure but style, too.

It's not enough to watch these athletes. We want to look like them. And feel, in some small way, like we're part of the team. This year we can - thanks to designers like Ralph Lauren, who've created gear for athletes in Beijing, plus versions for us weekend warriors back home. Here are some of the best.Lauren's looks

U.S. athletes hit the Beijing stadium Friday in tailored classics from Polo Ralph Lauren, an official outfitter of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. Fans here can join in wearing knit sweater vests, track jackets, hoodies and an array of crisp polos decorated with flag patches (USA, Great Britain, Italy), racing stripes or - our favorite - Chinese lettering (it says "Beijing"). Available in adult and children's sizes at Polo Ralph Lauren, East Hampton and Manhattan, and ralphlauren.com.

Anchor style

Pity the female sportscaster. If she's too dolled up, she gets no respect. Too plain-she looks like one of the boys. So Ports 1961 designer Tia Cibani was tapped to dress female Olympic commentators Mary Carillo, Melissa Stark and Alex Flanagan ("hosts" for NBC's coverage), and Lindsay Czarniak (an NBC sports desk reporter). Who best mixes grace + game? You decide - check out the looks on newsday.com/style

Say 'swoosh'

You'll spot the Nike "swoosh" on U.S. basketball uniforms and track and field "swift suits," with arm coverings made of dimpled fabrics that cut wind resistance. As for shoes, Nike's new "Flywire" construction appears in consumer versions of the Zoom Matumbo (worn by Kara Goucher and Bernard Lagat) and Hyperdunk (worn by Kobe Bryant), the lightest basketball shoe Nike has made. Look for basketball jackets and Hyperdunks on nike.com (but for Hyperdunk shades, try eastbay.com).

Speed racers

The world's top swimmers are ditching old gear in favor of Speedo's LZR Racer. NASA, fashion label Commes des Garcons and elite swimmers like Michael Phelps collaborated on the suit, released in February. Since then, swimmers wearing it have broken 48 records. "When I hit the water, I feel like a rocket," Phelps says. The water-repellant suit boasts less drag and a "corset-like grip. " Purchase it and other apparel in the Team Speedo USA Collection at Macy's, Manhattan; and speedousa.com.

Moments to remember

We got to thinking about past Olympians who'd medal in the Fashion Olympics. Stepping up to our honorary podium:

Bronze: Sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner, for those "one-legger" unitards and gonzo, aerodynamic nails.

Silver: Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, for all that chic, Vera Wang ice couture.

Gold: Figure skater Dorothy Hamill, for that perky, perfect 1976 Olympic haircut that swept the nation, worn by countless women and girls.