Figure Skating Costume Minute: Best Figure Skating Costumes 2012: Men and Ladies

Figure Skating Costume Minute: Best Figure Skating Costumes 2012: Men and Ladies

Best of the Bedazzled Figure Skating Couture

Continuing with my end-of-the-year "Best Of" Lists, now it's time for one of my favorites subjects here on my blog: Figure Skating Costumes! As you know, I enjoy blogging about Figure Skating Costumes and I have a feeling you guys like it too! This past year/season was a very colorful, bedazzled, feathered-filled one. Here are my Top Picks for favorites of the Year...



Best Men's Costumes:

Tatsuki Machida: Japan--He skated to "The Firebird" for his Free Dance and
his costume was FABULOUS! The neckline and upper torso red and yellow
sequin detail was marvelous and went perfectly with the black illusion top. This is a PERFECT Men's Costume for that particular
music. Not every male can get away with this look (at this point we know
we'll never see Jeremy Abbott or Patrick Chan sporting this style), but
if you can carry it off--and Tatsuki can--then Go For It!

Brian Joubert: France--2007 World Champion Brian Joubert performed his Short Program to "Genesis" by Justice and "Aerodynamic" by Daft Punk.
His soundtrack was very electronica/French House and so it was
appropriate for his costume to be less "Costume Period" and more
contemporary. The top section featured black illusion and faux leather
trimmed in gold. I call his look "Manly Flashy". And I like it! So much so, his costume was one of my favorites for 2012.

Yuzuru Hanyu: Japan--For his Long Program during Season 2012-2013, Hanyu skated to "Notre-Dame de Paris". I really liked this costume. It was soooo Johnny Weir in its no-holds-barred design philosophy and embrace of feminine-like details. The
big cross, the ombre dyed ivory and red shirt, the one sleeve ruffle and
one black glove; lots of details and he was not afraid to "Go For It"!

Daisuke Takahashi: Japan--Takahashi wore this above for his 2012-2013 Season Short Program to "Roll 'n' Roll Medley", "The Stroll", "Rudy's Rock". He went "Tokyo Elvis" with his get-up and I LOVED it: t
was exuberant, music-appropriate and a big hit with all his little girl
fans and yes, one of my Top Picks of 2012 Figure Skating Costumes.

I also loved the costume he wore for his Long Program to "Pagliacci". It
had overt references to the famous operatic clown but yet
deconstructed. This was a very thought-out look and costume. Kudos to
this modern, yet still Figure Skating theatrical-perfect "Pagliacci"
costume. I've said this before, but it bears repeating, I really love
how these Japanese MALE figure skaters embrace the whole costume part of
their performance and think "outside the box".

Patrick Chan: Canada--Above is what he wore for his 2012-2013 Season Short
Program to Rachmaninoff's "Elegie in E Flat Minor". It was deep
blue-colored lightly beaded blouson long sleeve top with a plunging
neckline (Oh Patrick!) with attached convertible collar and cascade
ruffles. Since his music was Classical, I think he was trying to vibe a
classic and romantic look and he even had a lace back detail which is
A LOT of look for Patrick. I did LOVE the pants. They fit him PERFECTLY
and I liked how they had the beaded tuxedo stripe down the side,
bringing in the lightly beaded detail from the top. I appreciate the risk Patrick took with this costume and definitely thought it was one of the best of 2012.

Best Ladies Costumes:

Ashley Wagner: USA--This, hands down--was one of my favorite Figure Skating Costumes of this past year/season. American figure skater Ashley Wagner, wore this for her Free Skate to "Samson and Delilah". From the moment she stepped on the ice, I thought this was Figure Skating Costume Perfection. The bright sunburst yellow with ombré dyeing; the expertly applied sequins, the torso and neckline detail...It was very "Samson and Delilah" for sure and at the same time suggested the works of some of the better-known Lebanese Couturiers like Elie Saab and Zuhair Murad. Therefore, she was Red Carpet Fab and Figure Skating Perfection!

Agnes Zawadzki: USA--Agnes skated her Free Skate to Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" by the Boston Pops Orchestra during the 2012-2013 Season. Her Costume was designed by Pat Pearsall.
I thought this was a very well done costume. The crystal effect down
the torso, bust and wrist area was excellent. As a whole, the
design--and costume--looked very European and chic.

I also liked  her Short Program Costume to "Sex and the City". It was a baby blue costume ensemble which evoked the spirit of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates "Gulf States Princess" of the movie "Sex and the City 2". Definitely one of my Top Picks for 2012.

Akiko Suzuki: Japan--I LOVED this costume above, which she wore for her Free Skate to "O" from Cirque du Soleil. The costume was pretty
fabulous. It had a one-shoulder neckline silhouette, was turquoise blue and green
and had overt Peacock influences--notice the sequin applique and
feathers. I also liked the side draped "skirt" section. This was a very
well done costume. One of the best of this season for sure.

Mao Asada: Japan-- Mao Asada wore TWO great costumes this 2012-2013. So great, both placed on my "Best of 2012" List. The one above is what she wore to her Short Program to "I Got Rhythm" variations by George Gershwin. It was a coral and silver criss-cross draped and shirred costume that looked chic, sexy and like a Rodarte dress. Loved it!

For her 2012-2013 Season Long Program to Music from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky, Mao wore this gorgeous ivory, gray and silver costume which I also loved. The details on it were very Haute and I even liked the "shredded" skirt. My favorite part, however, were the wrist details. It was very "Black Swan", the movie. She HAD to be in this Top Costumes of 2012 list.

Alena Leonova: Russia--Bollywood Goes to Russia, through Alena Leonova's costume. She skated her Season 2012-2013 Short Program to "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Indian Hip Hop" (of course!). I
absolutely LOVED her apple green costume. It had great sequin detail in the torso. LOVED the asymmetrical bust draping, chiffon "skirt", arm and body straps
as well as the India-influenced bindi and center part hair decoration.

Gracie Gold: USA--Gracie skated her 2012-2013 Season Short Program to "Hernando's Hideaway" by various artists. Her costumes for both the Short Program and Free Skate were designed by Brad Griffies.
I think this red one above is just great! The juxtaposition of the
solid fabric vs. the small-to-large sequin detail is beautiful. The
costume fits the requirements (for me) of looking a little bit "Red
Carpet Couture" and at the same time, still being classic Figure Skating
Costume chic.

Yu-Na Kim in her Short Program to "The Kiss of the Vampire" at the
NRW trophy at Eissportzentrum on December 9, 2012 in Dortmund,
Germany.

The Return of Yu-Na Kim: Reigning Olympic champion, Yu-Na Kim (or Kim Yu-Na) of South Korea, launched her competitive comeback at the NRW Trophy in Dortmund Germany earlier this month.

For her Short Program, she skated to "The Kiss of the Vampire"
and her costume was SPECTACULAR! It was an icy blue color with very
expensive-looking crystals in silver, blue and "Vampire Blood" red. It
also had a perfectly matching nude illusion shoulder/sleeve section. The neckline had a "necklace" of sorts--highlighting all those
colors in very well placed sequins. It was one of my favorite Figure Skating Costumes of 2012--and Yu-Na Kim made it on to my list, just in time!!! Thanks Yu-Na for "bringing it" when it came to your costumes!



***Next Up: Pairs, Ice Dance and the Kookiest Figure Skating Costumes of the Year!

Figure Skating Costume Minute--NHK Trophy 2012--Costume Recap of the LADIES!

Figure Skating Costume Minute--NHK Trophy 2012--Costume Recap of the LADIES!

The Bedazzled, Feathered, and Multicolored Ladies...

Top Three Ladies: (left to right) Silver Medalist Akiko Suzuki of Japan, Gold Medalist Mao Asada of Japan
and Bronze Medalist Mirai Nagasu of the United States, ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating NHK Trophy 2012, Sekisui
Heim Super Arena in Rifu, Japan

So far this ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2012-2013 Season, I've discussed here on my blog most of these lovely ladies and their costumes--both their Short Program and Free Skate--so I will highlight here the fact that some of my TOP FAVORITE LADIES Costumes were on display at the NHK Trophy 2012 competition in Japan this past weekend--and yes, talk about some skaters I have missed--costume-wise...

Shall we begin?

Agnes Zawadzki of the USA: Agnes's costumes were on my Top Five of Best Costumes for this Grand Prix Season. For sure. I loved both her Short Program costume which she skated to Sex and the City by A. Sigman and her Free Skate costume to Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" by the Boston Pops Orchestra. I wrote about my LOVE for her Pat Pearsall-designed costumes--especially the Free Skate one HERE. Her "Sex and the City" baby blue costume (top, left) evoked the spirit of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates "Gulf States Princess" of the movie "Sex and the City 2". And her Free Skate costume (top, right) was ABSOLUTELY STUNNING. Nothing else to say. Can't change perfection.

Akiko Suzuki of Japan: Akiko's 2012-2013 Season costumes have also gone through the "Nick Critique"--which you can read HERE. I was a bit lukewarm regarding her Short Program costume (above photo) to the "Kill Bill Soundtrack" but...

I LOVED her costume in her Free Skate to "O" from Cirque du Soleil. Here's what I said: Her costume was pretty
fabulous. It had a one-shoulder neckline silhouette, was blue and green
and had overt Peacock influences--notice the sequin applique and
feathers.I also liked the side draped "skirt" section. This was a very
well done costume. One of the best of this season for sure. Speaking of my favorite costumes...

Mao Asada of Japan: Both of Mao's costumes--for her Short Program to "I Got Rhythm" variations by George Gershwin (above)...

And what she wore for her Season 2012-2013 Season Free Skate to Music from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky (above) were Figure Skating Red Carpet FABULOUS! I had nothing but effusive costume praise. You can read that HERE.

Ksenia Makarova of Russia: I discussed this sea-foam green asymmetrical modern costume that Russia's Ksenia Makarova wore for her Free Skate to "Megapolis" HERE. Here's a hint: I likeyyy.

Elene Gedevanishvili of Georgia: For some reason, the lovely Elene has escaped my Costume Critique so far this season. She wore this gray ombre-dyed costume for her Short Program to Music from the Schindler's List soundtrack by John Williams. I thought this was clean and modern. It's difficult to evoke--via your costume--the suffering and depth of what the film was about. So, I reserve costume judgement and say that this was OK. It does have a "practice costume"/Jr. figure skater element to its simplicity but I get it.

For her Free Skate costume to Music from Don Quixote by Leon Minkus, she went "Beaded Festive". I like that it was not an overt reference to Spain and all red and black and with a red rose. Good for her--and her costume advisers. The "fringed skirt of her costume is a trend for Figure Skating and she gets points for using that--and delicately--and I do like the paisley-like beading in her torso and the jeweled sequins framing her neckline and underbust. Overall: good Costume Job Elene!

Mirai Nagasu of the USA: I love me some Mirai. I really do. And yes, I have talked about her costumes for this ISU Grand Prix Season 2012-2013--and you can read that HERE. I liked it, overall, and yes, I talked about that fringe skirt--and yes kids--it's a TREND! But what I wanted to discuss here is how much I appreciate the back and how those diamantes continue and miter. She's a bit "Pageant-&-Tiaras" with this costume but my Pageant-Loving side, really likes it.

Sofia Biryukova of Russia:  For her Short Program, the petite Sofia skated to Music from the Seven Years in Tibet soundtrack by John Williams and I really liked her black illusion, sequined and chiffon "skirt" costume. I thought it was sexy, modern and had a nod to the film. I also liked the shot of red in the tassel detail.

For her Free Skate to Music from Turandot by Giacomo Puccini --another very popular theme this 2012-2013 Grand Prix Season--I liked this violet-hued costume that Sofia wore. It featured a nod to the Chinoiserie style, the curved nude illusion torso and the gold embroidery. It was simple, modern yet still costume-y.



***Up Next: Ice Dance and Pairs Costume Recap of NHK Trophy 2012 !

Figure Skating Costume Minute: 2012 Skate Canada International--LADIES Costume Recap!

Figure Skating Costume Minute: 2012 Skate Canada International--LADIES Costume Recap!

Ladies Costume Review:

Silver, Gold and Bronze: The winners of the 2012 Skate Canada International Ladies competition--(left to right) Silver
medalist Akiko Suzuki from Japan, Gold medalist Kaetlyn Osmond from
Canada and Bronze medalist Kanako Murakami from Japan--2012 Skate Canada International, ISU Grand
Prix of Figure Skating at WFCU Centre Windsor,
Canada

If you're a Figure Skating Watcher--and fan--you know that Figure Skating is BACK--and that we are now in the midst of the ISU Grand Prix Series of International Figure Skating Competitions. Last weekend was the first installment--Skate America 2012 and you can read/see my Costume Reviews of the Ladies, Men's & Pairs and Ice Dancers. And now, we've traveled a little bit up North and we are onto Skate Canada International 2012.

Let's begin my Costume Recap of the LADIES:

Ksenia Makarova of Russia: For her Free Skate, this Russian beauty skated to "Megapolis". She wore a sea-foam green costume that was modern and very contemporary. The entire costume was solid stretch fabric except for one sleeve that was in an embroidered sequined lace that looked very expensive. Her costume had asymmetrical details and a "cut-out" at the side.

I thought it was unique and definitely stood out among all the other semi-typical figure skating ladies costumes.  I almost wanted the cut out to be wider, and would have liked a teeny bit more fluttering/flare on the "skirt" portion.

The silhouette of Ksenia's costume reminded me A LOT of the bright neon costume Meryl Davis of the US Ice Dance team of David and White wore during the latter part of the last 2011-2012 Season during their Short Dance. Also, in case you forgot...

This above is what Ksenia wore last season to her "Diamond's Are a Girls Best Friend" Medley Free Skate Program. So, her contemporary sea-foam green costume is, indeed, quite a departure.

Akiko Suzuki of Japan: Akiko won the Silver Medal at this weekend's 2012 Skate Canada International. For her Short Program to the "Kill Bill Soundtrack", she wore this black and diamante costume above.

At least she didn't wear Uma Thurman's NY Taxi Cab-yellow jumpsuit!

I thought this was edgy and semi-punk-y for Akiko. I'm usually NOT a fan of those cheap-looking diamantes but in this costume, they kind-of worked (that's a lukewarm endorsement!). I liked the fingerless gloves and open back. It's not every day that you see Akiko looking well, so "out there". Therefore, I give her "Nick Figure Skating Costume Points" for going there!

For her Free Skate, Akiko skated to "O" from Cirque du Soleil. Her costume was pretty fabulous. It had a one-shoulder neckline silhouette, was blue and green and had overt Peacock influences--notice the sequin applique and feathers.I also liked the side draped "skirt" section. This was a very well done costume.

Kanako Murakami of Japan: Murakami wore this ivory and green costume for her Short Program to "Prayer for Taylor". The one-shoulder design was romantic, sweet and expected. She looked like an underwater Nymph rising from the Mediterranean. In other words: I liked. Was it "Fashion-Forward"? or Couture-looking or Directional? Nope, not so mucheey.But, it was very pretty.

For the Free Skate to the Tango-inspired "Oblivion, A Fuego Lento, Adios Nonino", she donned a red-and-black costume with red chiffon cascade ruffles and underskirt. I'm sure she was trying to "vibe" in her Latina side and reflect the Argentinian tango soundtrack of her Free Skate. But maybe, she should have gone to Buenos Aires to actually know what these women wear to dance the Tango. On a good note: the beading looked very intricate and expensive.



Oh Canada:

Kaetlyn Osmond of Canada: Kaetlyn won the Gold at the 2012 Skate Canada International this past weekend. This was a nice achievement, especially since she is considered a "newcomer" and was only assigned one event; therefore not really eligible for the Grand Prix Finals in Russia. But, I can still discuss her costumes of course! For her Short Program, she skated to Perez Prado's "Mambo No. 8" and "Gwendoline".

She was shimming and shaking in her black and crystal-filled costume. I really liked this mock-neck/long sleeve number. The fringed "car-wash" skirt section was a bit too "low-rent" for me...but I get that skaters and their designers want to come up with different ways of expressing movement in the "skirt" sections of the costumes. I liked the light-to-heavy beading in the torso portion of her costume seen above.

For her Free Skate to "Carmen Ballet Suite by Georges Bizet", she chose to wear red and black. Oh what a surprise. It's CARMEN. Hello. I wish once, someone would skate to "Carmen" in NEON GREEN! Seriously. Moving on...

 Her costume was predictable and almost "Pageant Betty" from the front...

But I liked the back--which featured four straps and and was very open (yes, it was covered in illusion of course). As a whole, however, the costume seemed dyslexic; the front didn't match the back and it looked like two costumes combined into one. The front says "I am the Third Runner Up at Miss World"--and the back says "I'm going to VEGAS!". My suggestion is to make the front design a little bit more original and directional. But still, keep within the fact that A) she's SIXTEEN, and B) that she's skating to Carmen. Not an easy task! And again: CONGRATULATIONS for getting the Gold for Canada!!



*** Next Up: The 2012 Skate Canada International Ice Dancers, Men's and Those GERMAN Pairs multi-colored unitards!!!!