ICE STYLE.....NHK Trophy 2015 Figure Skating Costumes Recap! LADIES, MEN, PAIRS

ICE STYLE.....NHK Trophy 2015 Figure Skating Costumes Recap! LADIES, MEN, PAIRS

Skating Couture: Highlights of some of the figure skating costumes seen at the NHK Trophy 2015, Nagano Japan

This past weekend was the last of six events on the 2015-2016 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competitions in advance of the Grand Prix Finals. The event was the 2015 NHK Trophy and it was held in Nagano, Japan. I've covered my Figure Skating Costumes Highlights of 2015 Skate Canada HERE, 2015 Cup of China HERE, and the 2015 Rostelecom Cup of Russia HERE, so now, of course, it's time to talk about some of the costumes from 2015 NHK Trohpy.



Let's start with the LADIES:

Top Three: (L to R) Silver medalist Courtney Hicks of USA; gold medalist Satoko Miyahara of Japan; and bronze medalist Mao Asada of Japan--2015 NHK Trophy Nagano Japan

Mao Asada Japan: I've discussed Mao Asada's Free Skate Costume HERE so I wanted to talk about her Short Program costume to Bei mir bist du schoen, a famous Yiddish song from a Yiddish musical. Her costume was a fuchsia pink number with silver diamante crystals with pink trim sewn in flower-like patterns. It also featured long sleeves and an open back. This was quite feminine and pretty. It wasn't ground breaking in its design, but the color was impacting and the high neck and open back made for a striking image.

Satoko Miyahara Japan: Gold medal winner Satoko Miyahara skated her Short Program to Firedance from "Riverdance" by Bill Whelan. She was very "Carmen"-like in this red with black netting trim costume. The design also had scrolling applique and sequins. I wasn't a fan of this. For some reason, it didn't look polished or expensive enough. I did like the hints of black contrast and the red rose in her chignon hairstyle but besides this, it was just not that interesting of a design.

Free Skate to Un Sospiro by Franz Liszt: Miyahara wore this fuchsia pink costume featuring silver and multicolored diamantes and a scroll-like front bustier design. The skirt had tiers in an ombre-like pink coloration. The look was pretty and very starting-out ballerina. Nothing spectacular about this. She looked like she was part of the Junior Skating group. I'm sure it must be difficult to make her look sophisticatedsince she is all but a mere 17-years old. But I do appreciate the beautifully tiered skirt and the fantastic skate that won her the gold!

Courtney Hicks USA: Silver medalist Courtney Hicks wore this costume for her Free Skate to Elizabeth The Golden Age (soundtrack) by Craig Armstrong and A.R. Rahman. The costume featured bright canary yellow fabrication with multicolored sequin work. There were color and style nods to the grand mustard yellow costume worn by actress Cate Blanchett in the "Elizabeth The Golden Age" film. And I did like the subtle tiara in her updo hairstyle. 

Short Program to The Feeling Begins by Peter Gabriel: I really liked this costume on Courtney. The color, the sequin work, the design. And her elegant hairstyle. She looked like a top skater wearing a chic modern costume. Well done.

Ashley Wagner USA: I've written about her Free Skate costume HERE so it was time to talk about her Short program to Hip Hip Chin Chin performed by Club des Belugas. Especially since...she changed it! Can you spot the difference between the left and the right photos above? The left is the new costume and the right is the one she wore previously at Skate Canada 2015 Grand Prix. Similar silhouettes but the new one is much more "Haute" for sure.

 Before: The previous Short Program costume was a halter neckline black number with a simple stretch chiffon skirt, featuring subtle sequin detail--and that back sequin stripe...

After: The newer Short Program costume was much more designed, more sophisticated, more FABULOUS! I loved the fringe skirt and I especially liked the degrade effect of the front torso crystals. This, kids is what a well-done, EXPENSIVE figure skating costume looks like! Very good.

Alena Leonova Russia: Alena skated her Free Skate to Summertime performed by Carmen McRae, Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley, In Other Words by April Stevens, Sing Sing Sing performed by the Andrew Sisters in this fun costume above. I liked the bias-cut plaid in the torso/midriff and how it continued onto the skirt. The rest of the costume featured a gathered top with crystals, a red rose at the waist, gloves and arm feathers. This was fun and appropriate with the music.

Short Program to Smile performed by Nat King Cole, Overture - Unveiling the Statue (City Lights soundtrack) by Carl Davis, Terry's Theme (from Limelight soundtrack) by Charlie Chaplin: I also like Leonova's Short Program costume. She always has a knack for making a statement when it comes to her costumes and this little number was no exception. The minute I saw her on the ice I thought "Charlie Chaplin", and lo and behold, that's what she was skating to. I think that's a good thing.

Anna Pogorilaya Russia: Anna skated her Short program to Bolero for Violin and Orchestra by Walter Taieb and Vanessa Mae wearing this wine-red costume. The design featured nude illusion sections with red pieces intertwined. The costume was VERY Anna and very daring. 

Mirai Nagasu USA: Mirai skated her Free Skate to The Great Gatsby (soundtrack). This was the perfect costume interpretation of that film. There were Art Deco-like sequins, flapper-like details, the 1920's headpiece. The costume itself was pretty stunning and I also loved the crystal wristbands/cuffs. 

MEN-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yuzuru Hanyu Japan: First off, Yuzuru did AMAZING!!!! His Free Skate at this past weekend's 2015 NHK Trophy was EVERYTHING! Now, back to the costumes...Yuzuru skated his Short Program to the same music he skated to last season Ballade No. 1 op. 23 in G minor by Frederic Chopin but his 2014-2015 Season costume was slightly different. See if you can spot the difference. The top photo is the newer version which he wore at the 2015 NHK Trophy. In the newer costume, his cummerbund is copper as opposed to black and the top/blouse is a more subtle ombre shading and features panels (on the midriff side and sleeves) of gold. 

PAIRS-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford Canada: Gold medal winning Pairs couple Duhamel and Radford skated their Short Program to Your Song by Elton John, performed by Ewan McGregor. I loved the bright red color and the criss-cross gathered draping in her costume's torso. I also liked that Eric's shirt and tank matched hers and especially his crystal buttons. Oh and can I add, HOW HOT does Eric look with that five o-clock shadow??!! Welcome to the beard club darling.

Free Skate to Hometown Glory by Adele: Great multi jeweled neckline piece on Meagan's costume and I loved the gathered halter neckline detail.

Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres France: James and Cipres of France skated their Short Program to Hometown Glory by Adele. Now, I love a unitard/jumpsuit. Especially a good one. And this one on Vanessa is a fabulous one. I like the heavy sequin neckline and wrist detail as well as the faux leather shoulder and high-hip accents. And yes, Morgan looks hot in his costume. All that faux leather strapping and criss-cross belting is very Leather Bar Lite. And I likey.

Figure Skating Costume Minute: Skate America 2012--The Ladies Costume Recap!

Figure Skating Costume Minute: Skate America 2012--The Ladies Costume Recap!

Color FAB Ladies...

Ladie's Medal Podium at 2012 Hilton HHonors Skate America: (Left to Right) Christina Gao (Silver Medal), Ashley Wagner (Gold Medal) and Adelina Sotnikova (Bronze Medal)

This past weekend was the 2012 Hilton HHonors Skate America, the first of six events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating senior-level invitational competitions. As you may know, I LOVE me some Figure Skating and yes, especially the costumes. On my last post, I did my recap of the Pairs and Men's Costumes and what I thought of them--some very good, some a little bit lackluster (I 'm talking to you my beloved Jeremy Abbott!). So now, it seems fitting to discuss THE LADIES:

 

Ashley Wagner skated to "Red Violin" for her Short Program--Ashley got the First Place score for this Short Program. Now, let's discuss her maroon costume. This was a perfect situation of needing to view the costume in motion and in the context of the routine. In the still photo above, the swirl crystal effect on the bodice was nice but looked a bit "I Can Find It at a Local Figure Skating Shop" look to it--the evenly spread-out sequins on the "skirt" portion also looked a little  bit ''Jr. Skater". But, when you watch the video of the short program, you understand her more simplistic approach to the costume. It had a modern, balletic appeal and I loved the back straps which looked like violin strings.

Well, Kids, for the Free Skate, Ashley gave me my "I Want More!" wish: Wagner skated to "Samson and Delilah" for her Free Skate--From the moment she stepped on the ice, I was like "Oh Ashley!". This was FIGURE SKATING COUTURE. 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:

Sofia Vergara in Zuhair Murad at the Emmys 2012 and model in Zuhair Murad Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2010

Some might argue that it may have been a bit too much but I disagree, it was just right; I LOVED it. Oh, and did you guys notice the subliminal "Gold Medal" in her neckline design? Yeah, I did. And guess what, it worked: she won the Gold. This costume is a WINNER in my Costume Book Ashley--do not change a thing!

Christina Gao skated to "Close Without Touch" for her Short Program--This was a nice costume for the 18-year old Gao. I liked the asymmetrical neckline, the deep violet color was luxe and so was the flower beaded applique. Between this and her Long Program costumes, I liked this one better. Now, speaking of her Long Program costume:

Christina skated to "Libertango" for her Free Skate--Overall, Christina got the Silver Medal at Skate America 2012, which is great, especially since Ashley Wagner got the Gold so it was a Top Two Win for the USA. My thoughts on her costume: it was OK. The color was perfect for the theme but it was odd to see such restrained elegance in her Short Program Costume and then this for her Long. The too-heavy beading on the bust section was disconcerting and well, looked cheap (sorry). I'm also not a fan of the choker detail on these costumes. It's so 1992.

16-year old Adelina Sotnikova skated to "Capriccio Espagnol" for her Short Program--Three words: Muy Bueno Señorita. I liked this costume. It was capricious (as the title of this classical piece suggests) in its applique detail and shaped motif. I liked that the crystals highlighted the edges of the torso, bodice and neckline and yes, I always love a red flower on the hair--especially if we're dealing with an España theme.  

Adelina's Free Skate to "Tough Lover" from the "Burlesque" Soundtrack sung by Christina Aguilera was a bit risque for a 16 year old, but I couldn't help but be entranced by her costume. It was very "Dancing With The Stars", but the quality and proportions were fantastic. I loved the layered nude under cobalt blue illusion top and the fun feathered skirt; and it also had a FANTASTIC back:

Adelina Sotnikova "giving you back": 2012 Hilton HHonors Skate America 

Rachael Flatt skated to "East of Eden" for her Short Program--This costume on Rachael exudes glamour, elegance and restrained Hollywood Red Carpet. The deep-V neckline is great, the heavy-to-light sequin effect at the side looks expensive and the color is especially effective against her porcelain skin color.

Rachael skated to "Firebird" for her Free Skate--I really like this costume on Rachael. If this was a Russian skater, this costume would have been "Carnival Cruise Kra-Kra-Krazee" but this was a more subdued "Firebird"--especially after what she wore at Rostelecom/Cup of Russia last year:

 Rachael Flatt's "Firebird" Costume at Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia 2011

But by the time she reached the National Championships earlier this year, she had switched to the more subdued costume (she is doing a repeat and skating to the same program as last year).  I love it. I think it is elegant, impacting and is a perfect reflection of the music. Rachael is one of those skater's that has an innate sense of style and although she doesn't always get it right (Hello: Cup of Russia!) she figures it out and adjusts to make it right. Now let's just hope she can do the same with her skating.

Viktoria Helgesson of Sweden skated to "My Funny Valentine" for her Short Program--I had "mixed" feelings with this costume. I appreciated the nicely-done sequined jeweled detail at the bust as well as the silhouette. I also liked that it was an homage (either overt or not-really-knowing) to Gianni Versace and his 1991-1992 Collection:

Gianni Versace Fall/Winter 1991-1992

But I think what perplexed me where the "car wash" flaps on the "skirt" section of Viktoria's costume. The designer should have stayed more in line with the the actual Versace sample in the above photos.

Alena Leonova skated to "Jai Ho!" for her Short Program--Alena always knows how to bring the drama and some Cra-Cra to her costumes. It was colorful, hinted at the Bollywood theme and certainly makes you take notice of her. Alena is known as a Costume Diva--lest we forget her...

 "Pirates of the Caribbean" get-up from the ISU 2012 World Championships and...

"Polka (Circus)" from the 2010/2011 Short Program

For this Skate America 2012 Short Program, the contrast of the deep purple with the golden yellow gathered and crystal'ed sash was fabulous in only a way that Alena can pull off. I love all the details--down to the Henna-like tattoos and faux diamond statement making necklace. She was a Miss India and Bollywood Actress...on Ice Skates. Over the top? Yes! But, I don't expect anything less from her. Keep it up Alena!




** Next Up: My "Skate America 2012" Ice Dancers Costume Recap!