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You probably missed the best part of the Olympic opening ceremony

Team Nigeria wears winter-white and green coats with embellished geles, or headscarves. (Photo: Getty Images)
Team Nigeria wears winter-white and green coats with embellished geles, or headscarves. (Photo: Getty Images)

While most of the Western hemisphere was sleeping, the 2018 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony took place in PyeongChang, South Korea, marking the official start to this year’s games.

And while spectators likely paid much of their attention to some of the flashier Olympians (for example, Team USA’s cowboy-inspired gloves and ski hats or Tonga’s oiled-up flag bearer), there were plenty of stunning details that were easy to miss among the roughly 2,900 Olympians.

The Olympic flag is brought into the stadium during the Opening Ceremony. (Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Olympic flag is brought into the stadium during the Opening Ceremony. (Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Take, for example, the shorts Olympians from Bermuda wore (with sartorial wordplay that does not go unacknowledged.)

South Korean women presented the Olympic flag wearing traditional garb, or “hanbok,” in the customary vivid colors, including royal purple and softer, pastel tones. Presenting each team were Korean women clad in white, like poised ice princesses that could have been plucked from any winter fairytale. Alongside the marching Olympians were performers in fun panda hats (these are games after all.)

The Korean women presenting each nation’s team are called “standard bearers.” (Photo: Getty Images)
The Korean women presenting each nation’s team are called “standard bearers.” (Photo: Getty Images)
Dancers perform during the Opening Ceremony. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Dancers perform during the Opening Ceremony. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Other notable moments: the Mexican flag bearer’s sombrero, the Nigerian delegations’ green embellished geles (headscarves), and a flashy belted red pants-and-top combo from Korean performers (the real kicker being their smokey eye that would have awed Pat McGrath).

Flag bearer German Madrazo of Mexico leads the team during the Opening Ceremony wearing a traditional Mexican sombrero. (Note the panda hats in the background.) (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)
Flag bearer German Madrazo of Mexico leads the team during the Opening Ceremony wearing a traditional Mexican sombrero. (Note the panda hats in the background.) (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)

While most Olympic uniforms abide by strict regulations that the International Olympic Committee outlines, the Opening Ceremony is a time when a country’s heritage can really shine. So while the games may just be getting started, but the fashion statements are already well received.

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