RAG TEAM

Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Phillip Lim's Olympic dreams.

Haute Couture isn’t the first thing that comes to mind in a conversation about this year’s Olympics in Beijing. Until now.

A dozen of the world’s most innovative designers—Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, and 3.1 Phillip Lim, to name a few—are teaming up on The Collective: Synergy in Fashion, an exhibition curated by Hong Kong retailer Lane Crawford for Beijing’s Today Art Museum. The show will feature one-of-a-kind outfits inspired by the designers' favorite Olympic sports, and later auctioned off to benefit UNICEF’s Driving Dreams fund.

Although the designs may be beautiful and charitable, they remain far from functional. While it might be possible to do flips in Pucci’s gymnastics unitard, I’d like to see someone try to sprint in YSL’s floor-length “running gown,” which is adorned with winged sleeves and an Olympic emblem chain belt.

So, Olympic athletes beware: Unless you feel like shooting arrows in Givenchy’s archery-inspired leather bustier, I’d stick to the traditional, more breathable garb. Alas, these masterpieces are unlikely to be seen on anyone actually receiving a medal this year, but we’re giving them all gold.
ANNE-GEORGIA GREENBERG

Above sketches: Stella McCartney (left), Yves Saint Laurent (right)

This story was published on June 17, 2008.