By 3 News online staff
It’s like winning a gold medal before the Olympics have even begun, with the New Zealand Olympic team uniform rated as one of the best.
Time magazine’s list of the 'best, worst and just plain weird' featured the Kiwi London 2012 uniform among the best – along with the Yves Saint Lauren- and Gucci-made France and Italy uniforms.
Designed by Rodd and Gunn’s Irena Prikryll, the Kiwi uniforms are a flashback to another time with the grey, white and black threads inspired by the 1948 New Zealand Olympic team.
Time was impressed.
"The white trim on the black blazers are a nice touch, but we could do without the big bow on the busy, patterned dress," the Time website says.
When the uniforms were first displayed in New Zealand they received mixed reviews, but now sitting beside some of the world’s most renown fashion labels it’s enough to make a 'worst list' maker jealous - and that would be Australia.
Australia’s "lawn bowls" look failed to impress, as did Spain’s NASCAR-like tracksuits, and the red and white of Russia’s ensemble bombed too.
But then, all three might feel a little sorry for Chinese athletes, with their garb compared to Ronald McDonald.
Others on the best list include Jamaica, United Kingdom, Germany and South Korea while USA's Ralph Lauren outfits were positively described as "preppy".
3 News