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--Trophee Eric Bompard 2012--The Ladies!

Figure Skating Costume Minute--Trophee Eric Bompard 2012--The Ladies!

Les Femmes:

Colorful Top Three: (left to right) Silver Medalist Elizaveta Tuktamysheva of Russia, Ashley Wagner of USA with the Gold, and Bronze Medalist Julia Lipnitskaia of Russia, ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Trophee Eric Bompard, Omnisports Bercy, Paris, France

This past weekend was Trophée Eric Bompard 2012, the French-hosted arm of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating invitational international competition. I discussed the Men and their costumes HERE in my last post, but now it's time for the LADIES. As usual, the Ladies Figure Skaters looked like little Princesses in their bedazzled and colorful costumes.

Figure Skating Princesses: Princess Caroline of Hanover Hereditary Princess of Monaco and her youngest daughter Princess Alexandra, seen above at the World Figure Skating Championships in Nice in March of this year

But, speaking of Princesses, there were a couple of REAL ones in the Omnisports audience: Princess Caroline of Hanover, Hereditary Princess of Monaco and her youngest daughter Princess Alexandra--it was very cute when the cameras would pan to them and little Alexandra would be holding up signs for USA's Ashley Wagner as well as some of the French figure skaters of course.



Now let's get to the LADIES and their COSTUMES. First up (Drum Roll Please!)...A COSTUME CHANGE!

Julia Lipnitskaia of Russia: Fourteen-year old Julia (she was born in 1998!!! Ouch that really hurts!) skated her Free Skate to the iconic "Pas de Deux" from The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky wearing the above deep lilac costume at this past weekend's Trophee Eric Bompard in Paris. The costume had crystals and stretch lace with criss-cross details (a popular trend in current figure skating costumes) throughout the arms and neckline. It looks a little "Jr. Figure Skater" in the picture above but it came off prettier on TV. This was a Change of Costume from what she wore at the Cup of China 2012 earlier this month:

Julia Lipnitskaia at "Cup of China 2012" during her Free Skate to the "Pas de Deux" by Tchaikovsky. I didn't like this plain lace white costume. Back in my "Cup of China" post, I said that it looked like a cheap lace lingerie and I was alarmed by the sheerness of the lace on a 14-year old. Either someone read my blog or her "people" were thinking the same thing I was and well, voila: Costume Change! It's a good change, but part of me would still like her to look more like this:

  Sugar Plum Fairy Ballerina Costumes, "The Nutcracker"

Julia Lipnitskaia in her Short Program Costume to "Sabre Dance" (modern arrangement) by Khachaturian. Yes, it's a BODYSUIT, kiddies--which we don't see often in figure skating, especially in international competitive figure skating. I wasn't a fan of this either but I do like the fact that it's different, unexpected and stands out.

Léna Marrocco of France: I have never discussed Lena in any of my "Figure Skating Costume Minute's" so this is a first and I was excited to do so. When I saw photos of her and this costume, I prayed that she WAS NOT skating to "Les Misérables", and yes, I was right--she wore this for her Short Program to "No Hay Problema" by Pink Martini. Her bright orange and lemon-yellow fringed costume also features THE "figure skating costume" detail of the YEAR--The criss-cross laced-up detail. It's an attention-grabbing costume but somehow looks as if it belongs to one of the 1,000 samba-dancing extras at a Rio de Janeiro Carnival celebration. I also think that if she's going to "Go There", she needs to take it ALL the way; her makeup and hair need to be more finished.



 Speaking of Attention Grabbing...and someone who Takes It All The Way:

Joshi Helgesson of Sweden:  I've talked about the beautiful Joshi and this costume above which she wears for her Short Program to  "Mystere" and "Taiko" from Cirque du Soleil --you can read that HERE. In essence, this I LOVED. This is a perfect example of taking a look to the 110% level, down to her fabulous eye makeup and hair details. There's an element of "Oh No She Didn't!" but in such a good way. Léna Marrocco of France should take note.



Speaking of Oh No She Didn't:

Maé Bérénice Méité of France: Maé Bérénice, I have something to say to you: You are my new Figure Skating Costume DIVA! (someone else can translate that into francais!).  This above is the costume she wears for her Free Skate to (wait for it!) "Jessica's Theme" from the Who Framed Roger Rabbit soundtrack by Alan Silvestri and "Hey Pachuco" from the soundtrack of The Mask.  I have no idea what either "Jessica Rabbit" or "The Mask" have to do with Maé Bérénice's gold sequined "Cleopatra/SciFi"--looking costume. Maybe someone reading this can enlighten me (PLEASE!) because...

One look at Maé's Short Program costume and I couldn't help but think that she should have probably skated to an instrumental version of  Whitney Houston's "Queen of the Night" from "The Bodyguard".

UPDATE:

Well, thanks to one of my FABULOUS blog readers...I learned that in fact I did get 

Méite's music wrong. She skated to "1001 Nights". To me, either way, she still looks like a Figure Skating Costume Diva, but this now makes much more sense with the music theme! 

Here is Maé Bérénice and the bubblegum pink costume she wears to her Short Program to "Derniere lettre du Prince" by Henri Torgue. It is a WHOLE PLANET away from her Free Skate costume. A planet called "1986 Figure Skating". This is cute for an 8-year old skating at her local rink in Colorado, but not for one of the top French Ladies Figure Skaters.



Finally, I must end with what is--so far--Hands DOWN--my favorite Ladies Costume for this 2012-2013 Grand Prix of Figure Skating series...

Ashley Wagner of USA: Ashley wears this for her Free Skate to "Samson and Delilah". I talked about my utter LOVE for this costume back in my Skate America 2012 blog post HERE. This is perfection. The color, the cut, the silhouette, the intricate bead work...all of it reminds me of a Haute Couture gown from a top Lebanese or Parisian fashion designer. This, kids, is A COSTUME and one that costs a lot of money. And it is worth it! She looks like an International Gold Medalist. Oh, yes, I forgot, she is! She won the Gold at Trophee Eric Bompard this past weekend. Congrats Ashley!



***Up Next...The Pairs Costume Recap of "Trophee Eric Bompard 2012"!

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!