Bedazzled Hoops and Balls...
Ukraine: Ganna Rizatdinova holds her ball while she displays her lilac and purple with nude illusion mesh and crystal costume
I am OBSESSED with Rhythmic Gymnastics. Why? It's like Figure Skating but without the ice and ice skates.I especially LOVE it because I am a big fan of ballet (my distant family member was Dame Margot Fonteyn in case you didn't know so it's sort of in my blood!) and of course, I am a big fan of bedazzled leotard costumes. Rhythmic Gymnastics is a sport that combines ballet, gymnastics and dance, and apparatus manipulation--as in a ball, hoop, rope, clubs, ribbon. The London Olympics 2012 Rhythmic Gymnastics Competition began on August 9th and ends on the 11th. So, we are just beginning to see some of the bedazzled, semi-campy costumes that will surely be Olympic Fashion Moments for years to come. The costumes are very similar to Figure Skating--in that there's a lot of crystals, nude illusion, and flirty "skirts" attached. But somehow, here in Rhythmic Gymnastics, the costumes are just well, taken up a notch. They're like Figure Skating Costumes...on Steroids!
Here were some of my Faves--and Not-So Faves from the first competitions:
Australia, Janine Murray: Lots of color, abstract designs, nude illusion, it's all good to me.
Fashion Grade: 9.0 (out of 10)
Austria, Caroline Weber: How fab is this? She's from Austria AND she's wearing a bedazzled DIRNDL! It's like GAY OKTOBERFEST! I want a beer, some sauerkraut and sausages from her...like NOW!
Fashion Grade: 9.9
Egypt, Yazmine Mohmed Rosrom: Yes, kids you read right, this lovely girl is from Egypt!! And no, she's not covered up! I really like BOTH her costumes worn for the Hoop Apparatus and Ball competitions. If I had to pick a favorite, I would say, it would be what she wore above for her Ball performance; even her nude leggings were an extension of her costume. This is taking the look to 110%.
Fashion Grade: 9.7
Belarus, Liubou Chrakashyna: Liubou is Third after the Individual All-Around Qualification Competition. Her golden yellow and black costume was a little "Firebird" and a little "toddlers and Tiaras" for me. For some reason, it did not look as expensive as some of the others worn by the Olympic Rhythmic Gymnasts.
Fashion Grade: 7.7
China, Senyue Deng: For her Hoop Apparatus, Senyue Deng of China wore this, a red and green sequined stretch lace costume/leotard. I have to be honest here: I am not a fan. It looked a bit cheap, "Happy Hands At Home" and a bit dyslexic in terms of its hap-hazard design elements. Fashion Grade: 6.0
Cyprus, Chrystalleni Trikomiti: LOVE this blue and white costume from Cyprus' Chrystalleni Trikomiti. She looks like a Mythical Creature that was somehow born from the Mediterranean and Volcanic geography of Santorini. I also love that even her nails match her costume. Yassou Chrystalleni!
Fashion Grade: 9.0
Russia, Daria Dmitrieva: Russia's Dmitrieva is currently in the lead. This costume for her "ball" apparatus routine is well, "just there". It is elegant and subdued and I do like the ribbon effect in the sleeves. Fashion Grade: 8.9
Italy, Julieta Cantaluppi: Oh huney! Or, better yet "Mamma Mia!". Things I like: the bright fuchsia and purple colors but then somehow, after that, it went all things Bedazzled Wrong. This looks like one of them costumes you find at a stand in a coliseum at a Jr. Gymnastics Competition event. Can someone call Roberto Cavalli, the Emilio Pucci or Gucci design houses? And quickly. Fashion Grade: 6.5
Kazakhstan, Anna Alyabyeva: Love the black with deep magenta and silver designs in this costume. And, I think it's interesting that, instead of a skirt, the designer chose to add tassels instead. The "built-in" sequined necklace is great. It helps that she is so pretty to begin with. Fashion Grade: 9.2
South Korea, Yeon Jae Son: This costume on Korea's Yeon Jae Son is very intricate. There's A LOT going on, but it works for me. The multicolored beading looks expensive and the over-all silhouette is RICH. Fashion Grade: 9.5
Spain, Carolina Rodriguez: Purple and lilac are popular colors for Rhythmic Gymnastics at the London 2012 Summer Olympics. Spain's costume is VERY Figure Skating 101. Maybe that's why I like it. But...I still feel that there's TOO MUCH going on: the stretch lace, the ombre dyeing, the crystals, the nude illusion...How do you say "EDIT" in Español ? Fashion Grade: 8.8
Uzbekistan, Ulyana Trofimova: This is Cirque du Soleil Perfect! Yes, you might say there is a lot going on in this costume too, but it all works for me. The bright pink roses, the ombre blue, the degrade effect of the neckline circle detail...This is so far, one of my favorite looks for the London Olympics 2012 Rhythmic Gymnastics Competition. Fashion Grade: 9.7
