The Winter Olympic Games in Beijing started two days prior to the Opening Ceremony, but the event is the official start of the Olympics.

The biggest highlight is the “Parade of Nations” in which each country competing enters Olympic Stadium led by their nation’s flag while also donning a special outfit. However, not every Olympic outfit is created equal.

For some fashion fun, here are some superlative fashion awards from the Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.

• Honorable mention: The cute parade leaders

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  Every country in the "Parade of Nations" was led by one of these women wearing a dress that was simple, but so chic and elegant. Just lovely!

• Boldest Outfit: Haiti

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  Admittedly, there is quite a lot going on with Haiti. It seems as though they had multiple ideas for the motif of their Opening Ceremony outfit, and they just decided, "Let's just do them all!" Either way, it paid off, and Haiti for sure stood out.

• Surprisingly Boring: Japan

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  Japan had the potential of incorporating some fun cultural elements into their Opening Ceremony outfit, but they just opted to wear a read coat with white pants. Definitely a disappointment.

• Best Scarf/Hat Combo: Belarus

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  If you're reading this, then you know accessories make the outfit. At first glance, Belarus' outfit was...well...just fine. However, their fun printed hat and scarf were just the right touches to elevate the whole getup.
• Outstanding Achievement in Sweaters: Great Britain

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  Great Britain has one of the coolest flags ever, so when there wasn’t a single Union Jack visible on their Summer Games outfit in 2021 in Tokyo, it was just a letdown. Super-glad they changed their tune and donned this sweater in 2022.

• Most Shiny: American Samoa’s Nathan Crumpton

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  With Tonga's Pita Taufatofua sitting out the 2022 Winter Olympics in order to focus on relief efforts related to COVID-19 and a recent volcano eruption and tsunami in the country, someone had to step up and literally shine. Fortunately, American Samoa's Nathan Crumpton was more than game.

• Coat That Looks Most Like A Quilt Your Nana Made: Czech Republic

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  Most of us have some sort of quilt or blanket your Nana made that is equal parts kind of ugly, but you still just love it so much. That is basically the entire vibe of the Czech Republic's coat.

• Best Cape: New Zealand flag bearers

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  Now, sure...the New Zealand flag bearers were the only capes in the "Parade of Nations," but with their furry exterior, they were super cute and likely super warm.
• Most Sporty: United States

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  Ralph Lauren has long been the designer of choice for Team USA. While the country’s 2021 Summer Olympic Games gear was a preppy country club nightmare that made us want to ralph, Team USA’s 2022 Winter Olympics duds were a significant improvement and make it look like the entire country is part of the Snowboarding Team. (And we mean that in a good way.)

• Best Hat: Nigeria

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  The Winter Olympics are usually the home of toques and other beanies, but this traditional head wrap worn by Team Nigeria is just beautiful.

• Patriotism, but Make it Fashion: France

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  If you want to highlight your country’s flag tastefully, look no further than France’s 2022 Winter Olympics outfit that is somehow both bold and minimalist. C'est magnifique!

• Best Overall: Mexico

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  Team Mexico’s Opening Ceremony gear was the perfect marriage of style and culture. Their white coat was the perfect canvas for a calavera – the sugar skull best associated with the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) holiday – which is also on the country’s beanie hats. Simply put: This outfit is a head-turner.
• Worst Overall: Italy

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  Mamma mia! Where to begin with this EA7 Emporio Armani disaster? It just looks like a really hideous poncho. It’s just…so…bad! And to think it couldn’t get worse than Team Italy’s 2021 Summer Olympics outfit. (Just Google “Team Italy Pacman” if you need a reminder.)

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