Ralph Lauren Outfits New U.S. Olympic Team With Sartorial Sensibility

By Greg Groggel, NBCOlympics.com BEIJING, China -- After making unexpected appearances at the past three Olympic Games, the United States team beret is officially retired - laid to rest between moon boots and the cummerbund in the cemetery of fashion faux pas. This follows a mutual agreement made last December by Roots Ltd. and the United States Olympic Committee to end their six-year partnership because of creative differences over designs for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team uniform. Despite past success, the USOC was hoping to move beyond the informal stylings of the Canadian manufacturer in favor of a more polished, distinctly American aesthetic. Suddenly out of a deal and with the Beijing Games on the horizon, the USOC found themselves treading the unfamiliar waters of the fashion world. Luckily, they knew just the men to call - Tom Brokaw... and Ralph Lauren. (link)