Made in China

The London Olympics U.S. uniforms:  Made in China.  What a horrible gaffe for all the obvious reasons.  Yes, people should rightfully shake their heads in disapproval, but let's not go over the top on this, as somebody probably just used their normal sources of manufacturing without stopping to think about the meaning and consequences.  So it was a bad mistake but no lives were lost, so let's move along.  What people should be more upset about (but again, let's not go crazy) is the uniform itself.  It's ugly and expensive.  I looked up the costs out of curiosity:

• 
  Men:
  Beret - $55
  Tie - $125
  Belt - $85
  Shirt - $425
  Blazer - $795
  Trousers - $295
  Shoes - $165
  Women:
  Beret - $55
  Scarf - $58
  Belt - $85
  Shirt - $179
  Skirt - $498
  Blazer - $598
                  

The tie is OK, I guess; pretty tame and plain, but $125?  I understand the limited production run, but it looks like something you'd find at a low-end department store for 80% less.  The rest of the uniform is just embarrassing, as it looks like Skip and Buffy are heading to the yacht club (in 1982).  The double-breasted blazer would be fine if it didn't have the huge Lauren logo (I thought the Olympics frowned on corporate advertising- wasn't that a big issue with the "Dream Team" way back when?), didn't have what look to be white buttons, and didn't cost $800 (It looks like an off-the-rack blazer with buttons and logo substituted).  And really, a $425 white shirt?  Bet I could find one that was pretty much the same thing for a tenth or less of that.  Can't really see or comment on the belt, but again it looks like just a plain belt that one could buy for a fraction.  The white pants and white shoes are a matter of taste, I guess.  Skip and Buffy might like them, but probably few others.  The real atrocity is the hat.  Why always a hat?  At least it's not a cowboy hat this year, but the beret just looks ridiculous, especially on young athletes.  Similar comments for the distaff uniform.

It's ridiculous that the uniforms are made in China, but even more ridiculous that they're about $2000 each (and I don't know if this includes all of what Ralph and his people got) and make the athletes look like total geeks.