Dedicated followers of fashion? Not Team GB.

WHEN it comes to sartorial elegance Great Britain has long catalogue of wardrobe malfunctions on the Olympic catwalk.

DRESSED UP: British team members walk out during the opening ceremony of the 2004 Olympics in Athens. No wonder they were waving their hats - they wouldn't want to wear them (Action Images)

Shell suits and silly hats have been a staple at recent Games, with designers seemingly taking inspiration from Liverpool's FA Cup final suits in 1996.

White has been theme - and all too often our aspiring heroes have looked like something that rhymes with it.

So news that Stella McCartney will be the creative inspiration behind Team GB kit  should be welcomed - although I can't see some of our boxers being that happy with modeling an eco friendly vegan manbag.

However, it's certainly an upgrade from Marks and Spencer, who were responsible for the formal wear in Sydney. 

Sir Steve Redgrave looked like he was dressed for his first job interview.

And it's definitely an improvement on Canadian firm Roots, who took over the brief four years later in Athens and were responsible for the ridiculous ‘poorboy cap'.

Such headwear looks okay on a skateboarding teenager but it's cringeworthy on a tubby and greying boxing coach in his early 60s.

Even in Vancouver this year the Great Britain team marched into the opening ceremony dressed like they were hurrying across the college campus to Glee club. Trainers, hoodies and yet more silly hats.

Back in 1948, when London last staged the Games, competitors were given a suit from Simpson's in Piccadilly and an embroidered badge that had been donated by members of the Women's Institute.

In those genuine days of post-War austerity, the make do and mend mantra remained in full force.

Some loved their uniforms, according to author Janie Hampton in her book 'The Austerity Olympics'.

"It was the smartest thing I ever owned," said long jumper Lorna Lee-Price. "I even wore it to my sister's wedding."

But even back then, there was a determination to make the best of British look as stupid as possible.

"They gave us a beret. I looked like a French onion seller," said Peter Elliot, a British diver

While oarsman Burt Bushnell added: "I think all the tailors had been short during the war. Our suits looked like they'd been cut with a knife and fork."

So an Olympian challenge ahead for Miss McCartney and Next, who have been appointed to look after formal wear.

But at least they didn't give the job to Vivienne Westwood.

Click ahead to see more of Team GB's uniforms at recent Olympic Games.

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