So after years of waiting and preparation, the Olympics in Beijing are finally here. Most would agree that the opening ceremony was unparalleled in its artistic beauty and flawless execution. So what did the representatives of each country decide to wear for such a glamorous event?

Japan

If you saw the fashion shows of nations, you probably noticed that there was a little bit of everything. Some people like Japan took the classic suit with a crisp white shirt (no tie). Seems like a statement that says “we can dress western and look good doing it!”

Marshall Island

Marshall Islands in their traditional garb, decided to show off their casual side. This was ultimately probably much smarter, as the heat in the stadium now called the “Birds Nest” was said to be SWELTERING hot on the night of 8/8/08.

Australia

Australia, as if they were almost terrified of making a fashion faux pa, decided to keep it as basic as possible. You can see Australia’s formal and sporty looks are keeping’ it as real as possible. I expected a little bit more from the wild Aussies!

Canada

on the other end of the spectrum, you have the risk-takers. As you can see, Canada pulled out all of the stops. You can’t blame them for trying, but…seriously?

Netherlands

I thought the Netherlands dressed pretty well! The team with light-color suit and bright orange neckties.

United States of America

One of my favorite fashion. The American’s chose to accent their sports coats with a Ralph Lauren knit golf cap/white-flat hats, which will surely catch on as a high-end sportswear trend this year.

China

And last, there are the lovely hostesses of the entire ceremony. It looks like they went through some pretty grueling beauty school-type training. If anyone has been on Singapore or China airlines, this picture might look pretty familiar.