Crazy curling pants, laid-back jeans, Bermuda shorts and leather corsets. Aside from the athletic prowess of the competitors at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, some of their sports fashions have been grabbing their share of headlines, too.

Take the Canadian snowboarders’ choice of pants, for example. While the competition donned baggier jean-like bottoms traditional to the sport, our home boys slipped on snugger-fitting black snow pants. Controversy ensued, with detractors saying they were contrary to the sport's carefree nature – and they gave an aerodynamic advantage.

Or the Norwegian curling team’s eye-popping argyle pants, which made them look like jaunty jesters as they swept the ice. Or the Bermuda team’s decision to wear Bermuda shorts at the opening ceremonies, which I'm hoping was tongue-in-cheek because Canada's darn cold in the winter.

Thinner-than-thou fashion plate Victoria Beckham even weighed in on the male figure skating outfits during an appearance on The View, pouting about their feathers, sequins and leotards.

Jeanne Beker, the host of FashionTelevision and perennial fixture on the fashion circuit, is in Vancouver reporting on all things sartorial for CTV. On the line from the West Coast, she offered her take on the style headlines this year – and what’s to come before the Games close on Feb. 28.

TVGude.ca: How are you doing in Vancouver? Are you settling in?
Jeanne Beker: I’m fine! I feel a bit like a fish out of water and I should be at New York Fashion Week, of course, but whatever. [Laughs.]

TVG: I saw you tweet about trying on the Norwegian curling pants!
JB: [Laughs.] I actually had the nerve to put them on with my Christian Louboutin boots. (Norwegian curler) Chris Svae has a great flair for fashion and he thought he could have some fun with it. He ordered the pants online from Loudmouth Golf – they sell for about 90 bucks a pop.

I think it’s exactly the kind of levity that you need sometimes. It doesn’t affect anyone’s playing – if anything, you might feel empowered by wearing something that flashy if you have the confidence. One of the other teams was complaining about it. But the Canadian women players loved them. It reminds us that it’s about humans after all, and that’s a great form of self-expression.

TVG: What did you think about the snowboarding controversy, about the Canadian team not wearing jeans like everyone else?
JB: I was a bit shocked when I saw them – I thought maybe they had some stretch denim. This is something they feel comfortable snowboarding in, and that’s how they’ve always done it. And if there are no harsh regulations, then you’ve got to go for it.

I don’t know if this controversy will make the officials take a second look, and maybe there are some advantages to be gained by wearing a tighter pant, so I can see them being upset about that. But if not, then why not? Otherwise you look like a boring bunch of automatons.

TVG: The figure skaters really take advantage of self-expression …
JB: Yeah, and that’s better than any runway I can imagine. [Laughs.] Evan Lysacek’s outfit by Vera Wang was breathtakingly beautiful. His performance was spectacular, and I think that costume, the feathers on the cuffs, really enhanced it.

And Johnny Weir, he’s been so controversial. Thank God he chose not to wear fur here, because I don’t think the PETA activists would have tolerated it. The fact that he wore this little black vinyl pink-trimmed corseted thing … you go, boy! And now he’s said he wants to be a fashion designer. The Olympics are such a visual thing – why not push that to the max?

TVG: Right! Even in the opening ceremonies, the Bermuda team was wearing Bermuda shorts.
JB: I know! And for the closing ceremonies, I was talking to David Lauren, Ralph Lauren’s son, and he showed me what the Americans will wear. The guys’ outfits are based on 1932 Lake Placid, a real vintage vibe with those newsboy caps. And they’re wearing printed ties – very natty.

TVG: How has the Olympic collection by The Bay fared in Vancouver?
JB: People are spending hours trying to buy it, and they’re also trying to make it their own. Everyone’s wearing the same kind of scarf, but the way they wear it and what they wear it with is great fun.

TVG: I heard you spoke with Dan and Dean Catan of Dsquared2.
JB: It was great hanging out with Dean and Dan before they went back to Milan to do their men’s show. They’re coming back because they’ve also done some of the (Canadian) costumes for the closing ceremonies.

Nelly Furtado looked amazing (at the opening ceremonies), and so did Measha Brueggergosman. The dresses they did were a little restrained, understated, and maybe it was the Canadian in them coming out. But they were intent in giving us a glamorous eyeful, but ultimately elegant and not too wacky.

TVG: Did they mention what they were doing for the closing ceremonies?
JB: No, Dean kept trying to say something and then Dan would slap his wrists – they’ve got to be really careful. The only hint they gave was they were dressing more men. I started thinking, who’s going to be performing? Michael Bublé, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen? Dean and Dan aren’t exactly big sportsmen, but we ended up going bowling together because apparently they’re big bowlers. [Laughs.] You’ll eventually see it on TV.

TVG: Really? Who won the game?
JB: I think it was Dean. Dan admitted Dean was a better bowler, but I was on Dan’s team so that’s probably what dragged him down in the end.

TVG: Any other trends you’re seeing at the Games?
JB: These pins everyone’s wearing. I want to do a story on them. Everyone’s trading these pins and wearing them on their lapels, toques, scarves, collecting them and strutting with them. It’s just fun when you feel like you’re part of the action in some small way.

 

FashionTelevision returns with new episodes after the Winter Games, beginning Sunday, March 7, at 5:30 p.m. ET on CTV.

Thoughts? melissa@tvguide.ca or sound off below.