Figure Skating Costume Minute: 2012 Skate Canada International--The Men!

Figure Skating Costume Minute: 2012 Skate Canada International--The Men!

Charlie Chaplin, A Torredor, A Sorcerer, Blouson Shirts and Many Vests...Yes, it's THE MEN:

Costumed Boys: (left to right) Silver medalist Patrick Chan from Canada, Gold medalist Javier
Fernandez from Spain and Bronze medalist Nobunari Oda from Japan stand
on the podium after the 2012 Skate Canada International Men's Competition, ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating at WFCU
Centre Windsor, Canada.

In my last post, I discussed the LADIES and the costumes they "unveiled" at the 2012 Skate Canada International ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competition, which occurred this past weekend in Windsor Ontario Canada. So, now, it's time to talk about the MEN! Since this is the second of the Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2012 series, this is also the first time a lot of these skaters are debuting their programs for this new season--as well as their costumes.




Let's begin with Canada's Patrick Chan:

Patrick Chan came in as the Defending World Champion and Gold Medalist from Skate Canada 2011. Above is what he wore for his 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.

The top is very similar to what he wore last season at Skate Canada for his Long Program to "Concierto de Aranjuez" (Michelle Kwan's song thank you VERY MUCH!). It seems that Patrick loves a good blouson. Getting back to the current new-and-improved Short Program blouse costume: 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.



This is what he wore at last year's Skate Canada 2011 and for his Short Program to "Take Five":



Oh yes, Patrick also LOVES a good vest...so much so that for this year's Long Program, he couldn't stay away from another vest:

Chan skated his Long Program to Puccini's "La Bohème". The story of this very famous opera, involves young bohemians living in Paris in the 1840s. It was nice that he went "Period Costume"-friendly with this and I could just hear him telling his costume designer to "PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE ME A VEST...'cause I REALLY REALLY like them!". I like the colors and style of his curved neckline waistcoat (very 1840s), but the white blouse with lacing is what throws me off.  He looks more "Pirates of Penzance" as opposed to Paris 1840s Boho.

Above is what men wore in 1840s Paris and a male lead in the opera "La Bohème". 

All in all, I feel that he could have been more creative and unique with his Free Skate costume. I will never, ever be a fan of a costume that looks like you could buy it at the corner drug store. For me, he should have continued on the style of his short program costume, something not as reverential and with a bit more style.

Javier Fernández of Spain: The Gold Medal winner from 2012 Skate Canada International skated his Short Program to "The Mask of Zorro" and of course, it was a red-and-black --very Latino! But it wasn't "Period" Mask of Zorro but rather a modern interpretation-costume wise. I really like this look. It is exactly what I was talking about above and what Patrick Chan failed to do. You understand the relation to his music but it isn't so obvious.

For his Long Program to "Charlie Chaplin Medley", he wore this costume above featuring that DREADED vest (dreaded to me, because it's SO expected) those male figure skaters LOVE; wing-tip collar shirt, tie and pleated pants.

But in this case, it would be hard not to take such a direct interpretation of Charlie Chaplin. I liked the combination of baggy pants and tight waistcoat. I think he looks good. Slim and modern. It would have nice to see a very shrunken jacket to finish the entire outfit off but I get that it might have been restricting when it came time to accomplish his fab jumps! Japanese skater Nobunari Oda did a "Charlie Chaplin" look for his 2009-2010 Season Long Program, using that "shrunken jacket" suggestion of mine, and I think this worked well:

Now, speaking of Nobunari...

Nobunari Oda of Japan: Nobunari skated his Short Program "The New Moon in the Old Moon's Arms" wearing this costume. It's a GOOD mess, rather campy and so "Blades of Glory". I love that a male figure skater can sometimes just go "old school" and dress like this. It is a BIG trend among the male Japanese figure skaters and I love it!

For his Long Program to Disney's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" and "Daphne et Chloe", Oda wore this embroidered cropped lapel'ed "robe" cinched at the waist with red sequin fabric. I really liked this too.

There were kimono-like elements to the wrapping of the top and I enjoyed the pop of color (maybe an homage to Mickey and his red robe above?) and overall, it had that "Sorcerer's" whimsy to it. Good job Nobunari!

Takahito Mura of Japan: Takahito skated his Short Program to "Shogun" so naturally there were elements of  the movie's costumes as well as references to Samurai warriors. Notice the striped motif in the front part, the stiffened shoulders, and oversized sleeves. But of course, there had to be some diamante trim for a little "figure skating" bling-bling.

Takahito skated his Long Program to "Malagueña" and he went all out Spanish Bullfighter Fabulous. I LOVE the very large jeweled multicolored stones on the jacket and then at the side of his pants. The red cummerbund is the right width and the very fitted shape of the top finishes off that overall "Sleek Toreador" look. The only (semi) negative is the shirt.

I don't know why, but there is something about that shirt that looks odd--with the rest of this very luxe looking costume. The shirt says "I just bought it at the Macy's INC section" but the rest of it says "This cost me $5,000 to custom-make!". Other than that: Muy Bueno Takahito!



***Next up: More 2012 Skate Canada International Figure Skating Costume "Two Cents"--The PAIRS and Ice Dance!

Figure Skating Costumes: The World Figure Skating Championships Moscow: The Men!!

Figure Skating Costumes: The World Figure Skating Championships Moscow: The Men!!

The Dandy Men...Ruffled Collars, Brocade Vests, Sequins and Carnival Cruise Dance Troupe Colors!!!

Go Canada: Patrick Chan of Canada wins Gold at the 2011 World Figure Skating Championships

The 2011 World Figure Skating Championships just finished in Moscow at the Megasport Ice Rink in Moscow Russia. There was a time there when no one knew if the Worlds would even happen since originally, they were scheduled to take place in Tokyo Japan. Following the massive earthquake and tsunami, the International Skating Union had to come out with a statement which read: "The Japanese Skating Federation regretfully and reluctantly declines hosting the Championships."
Soon after this announcement, the ISU had received bids to stage the event from Russia (Moscow), Canada (Vancouver, British Columbia), the United States (Colorado Springs, Colorado or Lake Placid, New York), Finland (Turku), Croatia and Austria.
And Moscow won and they put on a great show (Kudos to Moscow!).

With the watchful eye of Prime Minister Putin (seen above NOT cracking a smile, as usual), the Championships took place. Well, of course, as you know I LOVE me some Figure Skating Competitions--yes, for the sport which I am a fan of, but mainly for the COSTUMES!
So, here I begin my "Nick Verreos Worlds Figure Skating Costumes Report" and I start with THE MEN (naturally!):

Patrick Chan of Canada:

Patrick Chan of Canada won a Gold for his near-perfect skating and as you can see above, he was just a "tad" bit excited. He set new records for both his Short Program and Free Skate. In terms of Costumes (which is what we REALLY care about here!), he wore the same costumes for the World Championships that he featured at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2010/2011 Cup of Russia back in November of last year. For his Free Skate to "The Phantom of the Opera" by Andrew Lloyd Webber, he wore a metallic brocade vest with fitted jacket and white bow-tied shirt underneath.

And for his Short Program to "Take Five" by Paul Desmond, he wore a black vest with contrast white piping and sequined "Argyle" diamond details in the back--finished off with sequined-studded "tuxedo" pants. He is serious and all "business" from the front, but...

A Sequined Party in the back!

And now onto the Costume Changing Boysssssss...
Daisuke Takahashi of Japan:

In contrast with Parick Chan most of the other top male skaters did change their costumes (which I was happy about but a bit strange for just the last event of the season). Japan's Daisuke Takahashi--he, of the KRAZEE coiffed and hair-sprayed hair (do Japanese girls like that??)-- changed BOTH his Short Program and Free Skate costumes. Same music, different costumes.

Last year's Free Skate Costume looked like this above: Billowing bishop sleeves in sheer black with diamantes, and a double-breasted vest in red and black. While for the 2011 World Figure Skating Championships last week, Takahashi wore this:

Notice something "kinda" similar? Same Costume, but different "Color Way" kids! So, if you want to get technical, it's really still the same costume.

Now, for his Short Program last year at Skate America 2010, he wore this colorful and very "A Night At The Copacabana" ensemble. Well darlings, I think he and his "people" didn't think it was "Latin" enough because this past week, he wore THIS:

He went from looking like the Conductor of a Band in Havana Cuba to the "sexually questionable" dancer on a Carnival Cruise to San Juan Puerto Rico! And I for one, LOVE IT! First of all: The color and prints are FAB-U-LOUS!!! And I especially love that he embraces the costumes along with the accompanying music. He doesn't do it 65%, he goes 110%!!

Nobunari Oda of Japan:

Now, onto another Japanese Skater, baby-faced Nobunari Oda--He also changed his costumes. At Skate America 2010 last year, he wore this above for his Free Skate--a white "blouse" with a "hint" of black applique and an asymmetrical ruffle collar/neckline.
But for the 2011 Worlds...

He got rid of the cascading ruffle and added more black embroidered applique, which I think was a wise decision. The shirt has much more of an impact now. I think he might be learning from his country-mate Takahashi: Take it from 65% to 110% darling! He did, in his own baby-faced way.

Takahiko Kozuka of Japan:

The other top Japanese skater, Takahiko Kozuka also did (kind of) a Costume Change, when it came to his Short Program. At last year's ISU Grand Prix Final in Beijing China, he wore a pinstriped vest and pants, along with a "retro" printed shirt.

Well, for the 2011 Worlds, he thankfully got rid of that vest as seen above. I am NOT a fan of those ubiquitous vests for Male Figure Skaters (Boys: It's getting TIRED!!!). And exposed the shirt that was hiding underneath in all its "What Thrift Store Did He Get That From?" glory.

Brian Joubert of France:

Hunk of all Figure Skating Hunks (I mean SERIOUSLY, look at THAT...Upper Leg Muscle!). Anyhow--Monsieur Joubert changed costumes for his Free Skate to Symphony No. 9 by Beethoven. Above is his new Free Skate Costume, a powder blue stretch lace (now you KNOW you are a so-called "Real Man" if you are comfortable enough with your masculinity to wear POWDER BLUE STRETCH LACE!) plunging-neck top with UBER tight blue pants. To be honest, I'm not so much a fan of this new costume. He looks like a Ballet Dancer from a third-rate ballet company in Suburbia USA, but (at least) it is an improvement from...

This (above) costume which he last wore at the ISU Figure Skating Championships in March 2010 in Torino Italy. The whole top looks like a costume reject from Mad Max-meets-Braveheart. Brown and muted mustard have NEVER been my favorite of color combinations, darlings.

And...Finally: An Honorable Costume Mention Goes to: Amodio Florent of France

A Futuristic Mexican "Mariachi" featuring a studded vest with CHAPS!!! And a Michael Jackson Tribute in Blue Sequins, suspenders, and fingerless gloves. It just doesn't get any better! Enough said. Thank you Florent. Merci.