Ryan Lochte’s 18 Fashion Rules

He calls his personal style “rockstar swagger.” He dreams of becoming a clothing designer. His idol is Lil’ Wayne.

1. Embrace corny USA tees.

Obviously these tees aren’t optional for Olympic athletes representing the U.S., but Lochte takes the corny factor one step further with the faded sort of graphic you’d expect to see worn either:

1) Ironically with the arm holes cut to gaping proportions over neon sports bras with cut-off jorts and studded converses. Or,
2) On People of Wal-Mart.

Lochte, seen here preparing for a relay race alongside Michael Phelps, manages to make the shirt not look like a red, white, and blue popsicle wrapper, which is a feat when you’re wearing what look like biker shorts (i.e. the suburban mom’s de facto amusement park outfit).

Image by Michael Sohn / AP

2. Find unique ways to incorporate American flags into your look.

Lochte wore this semi-controversial diamond flag grill for his gold medal ceremony the other day. An official told him he wouldn’t get his medal — the U.S.’s first gold in these Games — if he wore it, so he put it on after they gave him the medal, that sassy thing. Judging by some of Lochte’s poolside fashion statements, depriving him completely of bedazzlement would be like trying to iron the wrinkles out of an elephant’s skin. Some creatures just have a look, you know?

Image by FABRICE COFFRINI / Getty Images

And really, what about this gray jacket and black pants uniform sparkles even close to the way the diamond dentures do? Nothing about it, that’s what.

Image by MARTIN BUREAU / Getty Images

3. Add bracelets.

Lochte appears to enjoy the men’s styles by jewelry brand Niyala, according to Coolspotters. Our aquatic cherub here does not swim in these things, but wears different styles, sometimes stacked. It looks like the kind of thing any average Lochte wannabe/fan could pick up at their local mall kiosk BUT…

Image by Daniel Ochoa De Olza / AP

Many of the styles are actually quite expensive (the average seems to be $400ish, the sparklier styles being costlier). The brand’s website includes a celebrity section, boasting photos of everyone from Justin Bieber to P. Diddy wearing this jewelry. Egregiously, Lochte is nowhere to be found.

Image by DAVID GRAY / Reuters

4. Get tattoos of meaningful things.

Lochte’s alligator tattoo pays homage to his alma mater, the University of Florida. In an incredibly awkward 2008 interview with Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush, he says “once a gator always a gator,” or something like that. The clip was so painful to watch I couldn’t bear to rewind it and watch it again to make sure that’s the exact transcription.

Image by MARTIN BUREAU / Getty Images

Adorning his right bicep are the Olympic rings.

Image by Mark J. Terrill / AP

5. Embrace festive swimwear.

Lochte is the most interesting to look at when he’s not competing, I’d say. During practice he unleashes his smooth, bulging thighs from the tight speed-enhancing trunks he wears for competitions, and slithers into brightly patterned swimming manties that only a true Floridian could pull off.

Image by Al Bello / Getty Images

In this photo of Lochte conversing with Australian Kenrick Monk during an Olympic training session in London, we see the impeccable fit of Our Man’s briefs. Where Kenrick’s sag and bunch in the front, Lochte’s mold perfectly to his pelvis while leaving no embarrassing muffin top.

Image by Al Bello / Getty Images

Pruning the hedges is going to be key for this look.

Image by Clive Rose / Getty Images

Image by CHRIS KEANE / Reuters

6. Experiment with bold accessories.

BEAUTY TIP: avoid matted pool hair by hiding it under a cap with a brim that won’t compete with your diamond grills, ego, etc.

Image by Michael Regan / Getty Images

7. Tie your scarf like a true northerner.

This is so… YALE of him. He’s so wonderfully versatile like that.

Image by HANDOUT / Reuters

8. Wear sparkly sneakers.

Here’s our little fish receiving his gold medal following the men’s 200 m backstroke at the Olympic trials in Nebraska. To go with his tee, which read “I [HEART] BREAST” on the front and “STROKE” on the back (probably to support breast cancer), he wore shiny green sneakers that might have been tied with ribbon laces.

Image by JEFF HAYNES / Reuters

According to the New York Times Lochte collaborated with Speedo on these shoes. You can buy a flip-flop version.

Image by Jamie Squire / Getty Images

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=arAUVGEF-cg.

In this video made by Speedo, Lochte discusses his shoe collaboration. “All the stuff that I do, like, the crazy shoes I wear — like the grills I wear on the podium, the crazy shoes all that crazy stuff — like, rock star,” he explains. “It’s just all my personality — I’m letting you know the real Ryan Lochte.” Thank goodness — I was worried we were getting the fake version.

9. Also try: winged flag sneakers.

Another look from the Nebraska trials. If anyone has the gams to pull it off, it’s this guy because this style really is a cankle risk.

Image by Jamie Squire / Getty Images

10. Don’t deprive yourself some studs.

While stretching at an Olympic trials practice session, Lochte flashed studded khaki cargo shorts. Right now, he’s probably the only man hot enough to pull off studded khaki cargo shorts (aside from maybe Bieber, but his would be the eye roll of America in about five minutes).

(Also what exactly do you think the “USER” in “USER FRIENDLY” might refer to?)

Image by Mark Humphrey / AP

As if the bright yellow color of Lochte’s backpack weren’t enough, it also came with rows of edgy metal studs. And all Michael Phelps got was the porn star ‘stache.

Image by Mark Humphrey / AP

11. Medals can double as shirts.

After winning the gold for a 200 m swim at a meet in Charlotte, North Carolina, Lochte wore his medal as his shirt, which, when you have those breasts, is kind of owed to the world.

Image by Streeter Lecka / Getty Images

12. When not at a match, wear necklaces instead of medals.

For a press conference prior to the Charlotte meet, Lochte offset his tan with a snmug white tee, and offset his tee with a flashy necklace.

Image by DAVIS TURNER / Reuters

13. Tailor your jeans.

Something Lochte — pictured here during a Today show appearance with his mom AWWW — failed to do properly. Unless he’s saving the extra pant leg for some fierce platforms he plans to wear later, or something. Let’s not put anything past this man.

Image by Paul Zimmerman / Getty Images

14. Wear a scarf with your evening wear.

It breaks up all the white so you don’t look like a big refrigerator with a bow tie.

(This photo of Lochte with his mom AWWW is from the Golden Goggle awards.)

Image by Noel Vasquez / Getty Images

15. Monogram your shoes.

If you’re looking for the proper font, Lochte, judging by his choice here, might suggest you spend a couple hours watching Kimora Lee Simmons’s Life in the Fab Lane reality show for inspiration.

Image by Noel Vasquez / Getty Images

16. Have fun with costumes.

Lochte, unhappily devoid of his usual sparkles, at a photo shoot where he posed as a British guard.

Image by Harry How / Getty Images

But he was a good sport and managed a grin, despite the woefully plain state of his footwear and this atrociously bad lighting.

Image by Harry How / Getty Images

17. Pop the collar, role the pants.

Pack a bleach pen, etc.

Image by Reed Saxon / AP

18. Don’t fear pink.

Or, well, strategically placed stars.

Image by GENEVIEVE ROSS / AP