A Gold Medal in Olympic Style: PRL for Milan Cortina 2026

The Winter Olympics in Milan Will Have No Shortage of Iconic American Style in 2026

While doing a check-up on the Polo site in mid-December, we were greeted with an expansive campaign showcasing the apparel for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and were promptly blown away. While we knew this was coming as Ralph is a frequent outfitter of US teams not just for the Olympics but for a myriad of sports across the calendar year, a montage on the landing page that showcased the uniforms for both the opening and closing ceremonies cemented firmly that this was a collection for the history books. Numerous Polo RL classics that feature heavy, but tasteful USA motifs make this capsule wearable during and far beyond the Olympic season.

The product page starts off extremely strong with the Opening Ceremony Toggle Coat: an icon of cold weather preppy style, and something that PRL has done very well for many years. While “Andover Cream” is not the best color for longevity, it no doubt capitalizes on style, featuring “Team USA” jacquard trim on the hood interior, a buttoned throat latch, genuine wood toggles with jute closures, and an oversized Polo horse embroidery. Made in the US of 100% wool to boot (for $1,998 it had better be). This coat actually goes a little light on USA motifs compared to the rest of the collection, with simply a flag on the left sleeve and a custom developed Olympic team logo on the right chest. The Flagbearer Toggle Coat is also available in a slightly different style if that suits you better. A proper knee length ensures that this will also serve its actual purpose of keeping you warm while you parade through a stadium with your countrymen.

The next piece that had us audibly saying “woah” was the very next item on the page, the Opening Ceremony Sweater. We all know that PRL does a great sweater, but this one combines several great motifs into one: a relaxed fit, turtleneck upper, a fully embroidered US flag, and the signature ski sweater stars make this a showstopper, even when partially hidden under the duffle coat. The further absence of synthetic fibers keeps us placated, and a surprise USA embroidery on the back completes the aforementioned heavy, but tasteful motifs.

Moving out of the ceremony uniforms and into the general collection that encompasses more than 100 items. In the realm of sweaters we see being worth triple the retail price in 20 years (not financial advice), we come to the Team USA Wool Shawl Cardigan. While this will do some spring cleaning in your wallet (it’s already sold out, so no need to worry), this stands out as the author’s favorite in the collection. This shawl cardigan runs heavy on USA motifs: 3 different flag iterations, the Polo logo, varsity-style “26” patches, and the Olympic rings on the back. However, all those details are well-balanced and by no means visually overpowering, while all being embroidered. The red and black trimming at the top and bottom help balance this garment and keep it from appearing too starkly cream-colored.

Staying with the best of the best, the Team USA Pile Fleece Pullover with a striking ski jump motif stands out in color, but blends in with PRL’s history of printed fleeces, a few specifically related to skiing come to mind from years past. This piece goes the lightest on the ‘America in all caps’ branding, but still carries strong Olympic identity with a Team USA spell out on the back. Pile fleece material will always be made of fully synthetic fibers, but the manufacturing skill level required to execute a full print like this so well more than makes up for the (already sold out again, no need to stress your wallet) $598 price tag. There is an incredible amount of detail in the trees at the bottom of this graphic, and the skier, while large and in a contrast color, doesn’t overpower the entire front of the garment, leaving plenty of space for the Polo logo, which in this case looks closer to the RLX or Polo Sport logos.

An extremely close second favorite behind the Shawl Cardigan is the Team USA Shearling Jacket. While clearly not an on-mountain garment, this jacket gets every single detail correct and is pre-aged in classic PRL fashion. All real, all shearling, all leather, all authentic. A hanging double-buckle throat latch, back adjusters, and stitched-in flags and Olympic rings round out something else we’re confident will be worth a hefty some in 10 years (again, not financial advice). The aging on the jacket is very tasteful as well, with fading in all the right places throughout the arm and around the front pockets. While the retail is 20-30% above what even top-end shearling can run, this piece captures a moment in time while remaining timeless. A favorite detail: “Team USA” is hand painted on the undercollar, which is only visible when the collar is popped and the throat latches are put up.

Do not sleep on the customizable options in this line as well. Not part of the opening or closing ceremonies, but in the general collection, there are a few garments that you can personalize to your tastes. While a heftier price for what the garment is, this creates a one-of-a-kind piece to commemorate the collection.

The accessories in the general line are also not to be slept on. Full flag embroidery always comes at a premium with PRL, and while the Olympic collection is no different, the addition of the Olympic rings offers a more reasonably priced entry into the limited collection. We at TNBC feel that this collection will go down as the best capsule for this year’s Olympics (J Crew can’t compete no matter how many ads they run but the Alps Rollneck in Wool at least shares the same styling as the rollneck we liked in our seasonal review). If you are looking for something to pass down to the next generation the accesories are a nice touch…but at least say that you were there when you retell the story in your later years.

There is, unfortunately, a low light or two within the overall collection. Anyone that has much experience in winter sports knows that base layers are absolutely essential for nearly all activities, and often go no expenses spared. PRL seems to think that you’ll follow suit and spare no expense - however, the less than 25% wool blend on many of the base layers don’t leave us confident that they can do their job. And for $150, no doubt most athletes will opt for Smartwool (they probably would have anyways). We do also see mostly printed Polo Bear motifs throughout the “Villagewear” part of the collection, but something has to keep the lights on with the youth collectors of Polo. There is a missed opportunity for a fully knit Polo Bear sweater in either the opening or closing Ceremony uniforms, which would have sold out at $598, no doubt.

While not prolific gamblers, we are betting on Team USA being the best dressed during both Ceremonies and in the village this Winter Olympics, bar none. PRL combines American motifs and classic wintertime style to win the first competition in Italy this year.