ICE STYLE.....2017 Rostelecom Cup of Russia COSTUMES REVIEW: The MEN!

ICE STYLE.....2017 Rostelecom Cup of Russia COSTUMES REVIEW: The MEN!

A Costume Repeat? Maybe...Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan at the 2017 Rostelecom Cup of Russia Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Moscow Russia

This past weekend was the first of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Season 2017-2018 international competition events: The Rostelecom Cup of Russia. It was held at the Megasport arena in Moscow Russia. Disciplines in Ladies, Mens, Pairs as well as Ice Dance were on display and the winners of these disciplines earn points to qualify them for the 2017-18 Grand Prix Final...

GOOOO JAPAN!!! Even though the Grand Prix of Russia was held in...Russia, the Megasport Arena was PACKED with the very supportive Japanese fans. Thousands traveled to Russia to cheer on their Japanese skaters, especially Yuzury Hanyu. God bless the Japanese fans, they seem to be keeping the ISU and figure skating afloat many, many thousands of fans at a time!

Now, let's get to the IMPORTANT STUFF: THE COSTUMES!!! As you may know, I love discussing and reviewing the figure skating costumes here on my "Ice Style" blog so let's get started with my Recap of the 2017 Rostelecom Cup of Russia Costumes: MEN. I will follow with separate blogs on LADIES, PAIRS and ICE DANCE...



MEN:

Nathan Chen of USA: First of all: Nathan is a QUAD wunderkind!! What I am not so impressed with are his costumes. This all black dress shirt and pants look is what he wore as his "costume" for his Short Program to Nemesis by Benjamin Clementine. I get that the music is sweeping, jazzy, modern...so a sleek all black costume is appropriate but...THIS? Nathan looks like...

The WAITSTAFF at a party!! It's not particularly the all black that I have a problem with, if done right, it can be quite beautiful and interesting...take a look at these examples:

BETTER: (L to R) Jeremy Abbott at 2011 Cup of China, Evan Lysacek at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, Max Aaron and his "Carmen" costume at 2013 US Championships--Nathan doesn't have to look like the "hired help" at a party. Just saying.

Free Skate to Mao's Last Dancer (soundtrack) by Christopher Gordon: And kids, it didn't get any better for his Free Skate costume. An indigo blue colored dress shirt (Oh, what a shock!! Color!!). The music is this sweeping score from the film depicting a ballet life of Li Cunxin taken from his early life in rural China to end up defecting to the US. Even the "costume" in the movie's poster is more exciting:

I REALLY REALLY HOPE that these are just "in transition" looks and that his REAL COSTUMES are being made as I type this. PLEASE I hope I am right! I am in AWE of Nathan Chen's multi-quads. His "costumes" leave A LOT to be desired.

Mikhail Kolyada of Russia: Russia's Kolyada skated his Short program to Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Tango. I loved this. Now, this is something I wished Nathan would have worn. It was sleek, fit him well and had enough "costume" excitement but not too much. 

Free Skate to Steamroller Blues, Can't Help Falling In Love, Rip It Up by Elvis Presley--Mikhail did Elvis proud with an interpretation of one of his famous costume looks (seen above from his 1972 concert). I liked the details, the obvious homage to the original costume with the front torso details. This was another nice costume for the young Russian.

Denis Ten of Kazakhstan: Denis skated his Short Program Tu Sei by Vittorio Grigolo in this look above. The outfit consisted of black pants and a wrap-style white embroidered shirt. It gave hints of a classical opera tenor with a little bit of funky style. I especially liked the caviar beaded-like "thread" applique seen in the lower photo above.

Free Skate to SOS d'un terrain by Dimash Kudaibergen: Denis skated his Free Skate to his famous song done by a fellow Kazakh artist. Ten's costume was a sleek, modern look that included silver sequin embellishments as well as chiffon volants/mini-ruffles. Overall, it was a good costume for the beautiful and deep-meaning song. If there was any critique, I don't think he needed the crystal-detailed waist. Otherwise, it was just fine. 

Grant Hochstein of USA: Grant skated his Free Skate to Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber in this midnight blue costume featuring violet, blue and silver crystals highlighting his upper torso. I liked that this was not so overtly a reference to Phantom and that he didn't have any gimmicky faux mask anywhere... 

The slight peeking of white ruffles gave enough of a nod to the Phantom's blouse (seen on actor Gerard Butler above with director Joel Schumacher in the 2004 movie version ) which was nice.

Misha Ge of Uzbekistan: Misha Ge wore this lilac top and black pants costume for his Free Skate to Meditation (from "Thais") by Jules Massenet. The look was a bit "subdued" from some of Misha's past costume looks but it was lovely. The color added delicacy to his skate and I liked the ruffled sleeve cuffs. I just wish the neckline didn't have that mini panel of nude illusion (WHY??) and I would have rather seen a more plunging neckline. Maybe not Max Aaron plunging but a little more than that above. It seemed a bit "Junior Skater" to me.

Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan: Yuzuru skated his Short Program to Ballade No. 1 by Frederic Chopin. If this sounds familiar, it is because it's almost like "Groundhog's Day: The Figure Skating Edition" when it comes to Hanyu, his Short program AND his costumes. For this 2017-18 Olympic Season, Hanyu has gone back to the same Short Program Music and (almost) the same Costume that he used for the 2014-15, 2015-16 Seasons...

Costume Adjustments: MINOR adjustments to the same costume--(L to R) 2014-15, 2015-2016 and now. The "new & Improved" version includes basically the same ombre-dyed blouson top with crystals but gold beading was added to the mock-neckband. He also used the same gold cummerbund as in the previous season. I think this is kind of lazy costuming if you ask me. It's an OK costume but it would have been WONDERFUL to have seen something COMPLETELY NEW! As a Fashion Designer and costume enthusiast, I selfishly want something NEW and EXCITING!

Free Skate to Seimei (soundtrack) by Shigeru Umebayashi: For his Free Skate, Yuzuru also went back to a previous Free Skate Program from a couple of seasons ago. He also used the (almost) same costume but with minor sequin adjustments. 

Yuzuru Hanyu's costume for his 2015-2016 Season Free Skate

Once again, I liked the original (above photo), especially with the music but I am just baffled why he didn't just have a BRAND NEW design and style made??!! We all know he has the MILLIONS to get it done so why??!! Maybe he is superstitious and somehow feels that he should wear the same (or almost the same) to bring him luck??? Who knows...

I know that I probably would have rather seen him in a cute Pooh Bear Costume instead...or this fab little stretch velvet number on this darling little Russian boy!

UP NEXT: The LADIES COSTUMES REVIEW of the 2017 Rostelecom Cup of Russia!

ICE STYLE.....ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Skate Canada International 2015--Figure Skating Costumes Highlights: Men and Ladies

ICE STYLE.....ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Skate Canada International 2015--Figure Skating Costumes Highlights: Men and Ladies

I know I am a couple of weeks late on this but I've been in Europe for work (and play) and now I'm back...and I've missed some FIGURE SKATING! So...better late than never: I want to talk about one of my favorite topics here on my blog: Figure Skating Costumes. The Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2015-2016 season is well under way and I want to start with the costumes at Skate Canada International 2015 which occurred a couple of weekends ago...

Let's get started...



The Men:

Patrick Chan: For his Free Skate, Canadian Patrick Chan skated to Revolutionary Étude, Prelude, Op. 28, No. 4, Scherzo No. 1 by Frédéric
Chopin in the costume above. It included a silver-gray lace printed and lightly sequined stretch top and black "tuxedo" pants. I liked this ensemble for Chan. It was elegant, appropriate for the beautiful music and looked great on him. I especially liked the small details including the stand-up neck and faux leather outseam band and back yoke. And congrats to Patrick for his gold medal-winning skate. He was PERFECTION!

Yuzuru Hanyu: 2014 Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu skated his Free Skate to Seimei (from Onmyoji) by Shigeru Umebayashi in this costume. He is known for somewhat cray-cray costumes--or at least a little on the eccentric side. This wasn't as koo-koo as we are used to from him, but it was still lacking a bit of taste. I love Yuzuru as a skater but there's always something a little tacky and rather cheap-looking from his costumes. This top, for example could look expensive, luxe but it's just the opposite; he should look like the main actor of a Japanese period film but instead he looks like a background player.

Daisuke Murakami: Japanese skater Daisuke Murakami skated his Free Skate to Anniversary by Yoshiki in this costume. It featured a stretch velvet cropped jacket, copper colored sequined vest and black velvet pants. I liked the details--cuffs, notched collar, draped white top, the different colored sequins. This was a nice mix of traditional and enough "bling" to stand out on a Grand Prix stage.

Adam Rippon: I LOVE me some Adam Rippon. Not only is he just SOOOO cute, but THAT wavy curly hair...and now it's Kelly Osbourne purple-silver! He skated his Free Skate to The Beatles Medley. I was a bit distracted with both the color of his hair (which I love!) and the almost too garish colors of his costume top. At first--knowing that he was skating to a Beatles Medley, I didn't really get what his costume had to do with the iconic British band...until his music got to the "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" part. Even with that, it still was a bit distracting and a little too much like an employee at a Super Gay McDonald's.

Nam Nguyen: Canadian Nam Nguyen skated his Free Skate to Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor by Johann Sebastian
Bach. I liked this costume, especially his shirt. It was a very pretty shirt, featuring sequined lace applique and crystal detailed collar. It reminded me of those gorgeous Filipino Barong formal dress shirts.

Timothy Dolensky: American skater Timothy Dolensky skated his Free Skate to Orchestral Variations on Themes of Chopin by Anže Rozman in this beautiful black costume. I thought this was a hot "Tuxedo" look for Timothy; the plunging neckline, snug pants and very fitted sequined shirt. He looked like a fab orchestra conductor-meets-sexy-licious Prom Date!

Michal Brezina: Oh Michal! I do expect a little over-the-top (in terms of costumes) from you...and you truly delivered this season! The Czech skater did his Free Skate to Le Corsaire by Adolphe Adam. While I appreciate the bright colors and vibrancy of the costume, instead of a Principal Ballet Dancer doing Le Corsaire, he reminded me of a waiter at at a Disneyland Italian restaurant!

Keegan Messing: Canadian Keegan Messing skated his Free Skate to Theme form Pink Panther by Henry Mancini in this costume, which included a plum/purple shirt, bubblegum pink trimmed sequined vest, pink tie and black pants. I appreciated the "Pink Panther" homage in the color of the tie and vest piping, the whole look was a bit dated and too "A Chorus Line".

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



The Ladies:

Ashley Wagner: American skater--and Skate Canada International 2015 gold medalist Ashley Wagner skated her Free Skate to Diamonds (from "Moulin Rouge" soundtrack), One Day I'll Fly Away (from "Moulin Rouge" soundtrack), The Show Must Go On (from "Moulin Rouge" soundtrack--the same music and program from her last season's Free Skate. She didn't change her music but did change her costume. I really liked this white with gold sequin applique design. I especially adore the "necklace". The costume was more "Bollywood" Diva and less "Nicole Kidman Moulin Rouge" and I loved that.

Yuka Nagai: Japanese Yuka Nagai skated her Free Skate to August's Rhapsody (from August Rush) by Mark
Mancina in this costume. The dress featured an ombre dyed ocean blue-to-indigo blue mock turtleneck, long sleeved sequined costume. This was pretty and safe. Nothing too-fashion-y. If I were to Costume-Score this, I'd give her a very safe 7.5 (out of 10).

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva: Russian Tuktamysheva skated her Free Skate to Dance of the Sabres by Volker Barber, Peer Gynt: Solveig's
Song, In the Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg. This red and black costume is just OK. It's not as a good as what she wore last season (I really miss those chiffon blouson sleeves) but oh well. This one is slightly more "Elvira" and less FAB and the skirt is too long for my taste.

Polina Edmunds: American figure skater Polina Edmunds skated her Free Skate to Gone With The Wind by Max Steiner. First off, I'm glad her costume designer didn't go all "Scarlett O'Hara/Bob Macke/Carol Burnett" with this. I don't think there was any way one could (how do you translate a big ol' 19th Century gown for figure skating??!!). The costume silhouette was VERY Polina Edmunds; reminding me of all her other costumes. But I did like the subtle hunter green "Gone With The Wind"/Scarlett O'Hara color in the bow detail in her front neckline. Overall, however, it was a 1/3 cheesy, 1/3 too sweet and 1/3 too safe.

Kaetlyn Osmond: Canadian Kaetluyn Osmond skated her Free Skate to Ástor Piazzolla Tango Medley: Danzarin, Oblivion, Tanguera. This black lace with silver crystals costume was very Tango-licious. I did like the asymmetry of the one sleeve/glove detail. The red lips and red hair rose detail was nice, even if it was predictable.

Joshi Helgesson: Sweden's Joshi Helgesson went the Latina route with her Free Skate to Once Upon a Time in Mexico by Robert Rodriguez and
Las Bandidas by Éric Serra. I am usually a fan of her costumes (most of the time), but this one seemed a bit cheap and straight-out-of-a-figure-skating-costume-bag for me. Please step it up Joshi! I want to see Latina Couture Diva not This-Costs-$39.99!

Alena Leonova: I love me some Alena, she always "brings it" when it comes to costumes. This above is what she wore for her Free Skate to Summertime performed by Carmen McRae, Jailhouse Rock by Elvis
Presley, In Other Words performed by April Stevens Sing, Sing, Sing (With
a Swing) by Benny Goodman performed by The Andrews Sisters. Combing all those different songs --and especially different singers, is a lot. And trying to come up with a costume that marries it all, can be also difficult. I liked the plaid of the costume, I just didn't like the rest. The bust section was way too wide. The overall costume looked cheap and it was a little too "amateur hour" when it came to the design.

Congrats to the Top Three Ladies at Skate Canada International 2015 (L to R): Russia's Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (Silver), U.S.A.'s Ashley Wagner (Gold) and Japan's Yuka Nagai (Bronze).

ICE STYLE.....ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2016: Figure Skating Costumes Recap LADIES and MEN!

ICE STYLE.....ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2016: Figure Skating Costumes Recap LADIES and MEN!

Fave Costumes: 2016 ISU World Figure Skating Championships Ladies and Men

The 2016 ISU World Figure Skating Championships took place this last week.This is like the "Miss Universe" or "Miss World" of Figure Skating International Competitions (sorry for the beauty pageant analogy...it's just my nature!)....

The 2016 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, TD Garden Boston

The Worlds, as they are called by fans and followers of the sport, were held in Boston, Massachusetts USA at the TD Garden. It is the sports most important competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union, or ISU. As many of you may know, I am a big fan of figure skating and especially figure skating costumes and love to give my "Nick Two Cents" here on that latter subject.

The 2016 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, TD Garden Boston

I wanted SOOOOOO badly to be there (and I--along with my partner David--almost began the ticket purchasing and airline-and-hotel-booking process...until I realized that I was already scheduled to be part of the annual FIDM DEBUT Fashion Show in Los Angeles. Well, that does not stop me from giving my "Ice Style" fashion critique on the costumes of the 2016 World Figure Skating Championships so...Here we go!

First up: The Ladies and Men!



Ladies------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ashley Wagner of the USA Free Skate to Moulin Rouge Soundtrack: I LOVE this costume on Ashley. The white and gold detailed costume pays homage to the design worn by Nicole Kidman in the film/musical. Very similar gold applique is seen on Ashley's costume and I really love the "statement making" necklace. This is one of my favorites of the season!

Short Program to Hip Hip Chin
Chin performed by Club des Belugas: I
liked this black costume on Ashley for her Short Program. It is subtle yet
elegant and quite sexy (from the back). The halter mock-neck design isn't
necessarily exciting or innovative but it is really the back detail of the
silver and gold sequins that are the stars. Literally! I also LOVED when she
plopped her little you-know-what down on the ice after her Short Program (see
photo above!). This has nothing to do with my Costume Critique but I just love
that moment. 

Gracie Gold of the USA Free Skate to The Firebird by Igor Stravinski: I also really loved this costume worn by Gracie Gold. The red and gold look is very "Firebird" and in a not so koo-koo way; it's more Couture Firebird! The bust/torso detail is one of my favorite details but I also love...

The back: The multicolored sequin work is exquisite and reminiscent of a fabulously bedazzled spine. I also liked the same detail on the "sleeve".

Short Program to El Cochlo by Angel Villoldo: Gracie gave "Tango Chic" in this black with red costume worn for her Short program. This costume was dubbed the "Christian Louboutin" costume because of the fact that the inner part of the skirt was red (like the iconic Louboutin shoes). This was a simple look and I admit that I wish there was just a little more to this but, overall, I LIKEY!

Mao Asada of Japan Free Skate to Madame Butterfly to Puccini: I like this ombre-shaded lilac kimono-inspired costume worn by Asada for her "Madame Butterfly"  Free Skate. The chiffon look features little sequined butterflies on the top section, a gathered torso, and bell-shaped sleeves.

Short Program to Bei Mir
Bistu Shein (Bei mir bist du schoen) by Sholom Secunda, Jacob Jacobs: Asada wears this fuchsia colored costume for her Short Program which at
first seems a bit too "Junior" but with closer inspections, one
notices the haute sequin work and chiffon godets which add movement to her
skirt. It is still not one of my favorite costumes and looks a little too
bourgeoisie for someone like Mao Asada, but it's a nice choice. A 7.0 out of
ten. 

Free Skate to Sheherazade by Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov: Anna's costume for her "Sheherazade" Free Skate is very "Disney Exotic" with it's bright and bold turquoise blue color and almost excessive use of gold jewelry-like embellishment. It's a lot of costume for sure but we all know Anna loves a good over-the-top costume. And this is no exception.  While I appreciate the visual festiveness, it becomes almost kitschy and too-mucheey, as I like to say.   

Anna Pogorilaya of Russia, Short Program to Bolero for Violin and Orchestra by Walter Taieb and Vanessa Mae:I liked this red costume on Anna for her short program. It's very Versace runway couture! The costume mixes the solid strips with skin-baring illusion throughout the torso and arms. It's sexy and fashion fab! 

Evgenia Medvedeva of Russia: Gold medal winner Evgenia Medvedeva's costumes for both her Short and Free Skate are above. She skated her Short Program to Melodies of the White Nights (soundtrack) by Isaak Schwarz (left) and Free Skate to Dance For Me Wallis (from "W.E." soundtrack) by Abel Korzeniowski, Allegro by Rene Aubry, Charms (from "W.E." soundtrack) by Abel Korzeniowski (right). I liked both costumes worn by Evgenia; they were pretty, sweet and appropriate for each skate. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the blue Free Skate one, since she reminded me of a super young/super cute Wallis Simpson/Duchess of Windsor--which was the point since she skated to "W.E.", a film about Simpson and her husband, Prince Edward Duke of Windsor. 

Elena Radionova of Russia Free Skate to Titanic (soundtrack) by James Horner: Elena wore this ombre-shaded pink-to-teal dress for her Free Skate. I guess this was to represent the sweet Rose DeWitt Bukater (played by Kate Winslet). While the overall look achieved it's sweet quality, it looked almost as if she was wearing her grandma's old dress. But that wasn't my biggest style pet-peeve...I was a bit disconcerted (and alarmed) at how her skirt kept lifting up and she had a VERY VERY scooped under-panty (attached to the dress of course)...

Elena is all but 17 years old and personally, I was not comfortable with seeing soooo much of her--and if I was her mom, I would have not approved this look! There were major fit issues going on that needed to be worked out before she hit the ice.

Rika Hongo of Japan: I wanted to add Rika here in my Recap because she is a skater who always "brings it" when it comes to fun and creative costumes. Above are the designs she wore for her Free Skate to Riverdance by Bill Whelan (left) and Short  Program to Incantation by Benoit Jutras (from "Cirque du Soleil") (right). I liked both for being wonderfully expressive and representative of the music she skated to (the "Cirque du Soleil" one is SOOOOO Cirque du Soleil"!). If I had to pick a favorite, it would be that one, just for being so fun, theatrical and creative--and just a little kooky!

Mirai Nagasu of the USA Free Skate to The Great Gatsby Soundtrack: Finally, in terms of the Ladies, I wanted to give a special Costume Shout-Out to Mirai Nagasu and her Free Skate costume. I love this 1920's Flapper Chic look on Mirai. the blush color, along with the exquisite sequin work is beautiful and very Vogue Magazine fabulous.



Men--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Javier Fernandez of Spain Short Program to Malaguena performed by Paco de Lucia and Placido Domingo: This Sexy Toreador look on Javier is one of my favorite costumes in terms of the Men in the 2015-2016 Season. I loved the satin shawl collared vest with pearl and sequin embellishment and the blood-red colored shirt. But I also appreciated the bullfighter-tight black pants. The entire look was Muy Bien!

Free Skate to Guys and Dolls Preformed by Frank Sinatra: Another great look on Javier is his trousers-suspenders-and-dress shirt look for "Guys and Dolls". Javi always looks sharp in UBER masculine costume looks and it's obvious he and his people know this. I just love how music-appropriate and well put-together this ensemble was. Muy bien tambien!

Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan Short Program to Ballade No. 1 op. 23 in G minor by Frederic Chopin: Yuzuru's look is very "bedazzled Classical Music conductor" with the blue and white ombre sequined blouse, gathered gold cummerbund and black pants. When I first saw this during the season, I admit, the costume looked a little unsophisticated (and a little cheap) to me, but it grew on me through the season. I do still find the nude illusion under each arm and wrist quite odd though.

Free Skate to Seimei (Japanese movie soundtrack) by Shigeru Umebayashi: Yuzuru skated his Free Skate in an outfit that was evocative of a Japanese Period costume look. I liked the soft fluidity of the top and purple insets and sleeve hems. But, there was still something about it that looked inexpensive and (here we go again) unsophisticated. For some reason, Yuzuru (and his people) choose fabrications and designs that tend to look more Ready-to-Wear Skating Costume than Haute Couture. 

Adam Rippon of the USA Short Program to Who Wants to Live Forever by Queen: Adam wears two of my favorite looks on Men this season. Exhibit A: his Short program costume. The entire look is sleek and chic. The star here is the shirt with his see-through panels, velvet front and gorgeous sequin work. It really highlights how SUPER thin Adam is and works to emphasize his sinuous skating...

I also think this back...is EVERYTHING!

Free Skate to Because (The World is Round), Get Back, Black Bird and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles: Another Costume Stunner on Adam is this violet-blue and black look for his Free Skate; it's FAB-u-LOUS!!! That shirt should go in a Figure Skating Costume Museum ASAP! I love the geometric sequin hints of a band leader's uniform and once again, the sheerness of the top (hello Sexy Adam!) and then, those super-tight black pants...This look is a definite TEN when it comes to male figure skating costumes. 

Max Aaron of the USA: It would be a waste of my time even saying what music Max skated to, since by the looks of the costumes, he could have been skating to the sound of dripping water (!) but just to waste blog space, here we go: For his Free Skate, he skated to Black Swan (soundtrack) by Clint Mansell, Petr I. Tchaikovski (top photo) and for his Short, it was Nessun Dorma (from "Turandot") by Giacomo Puccini, performed by Luciano Pavarotti (lower photo). Both costumes were drab, uninspiring and oh-so-nothing. I get that Max wants to be the non-costume male figure skater but there are more creative ways to achieve this style other than looking as if you went through the Zara sale rack. What a fail.

Patrick Chan of Canada Short Program to Mack the Knife performed by Michael Buble: Patrick is another non-costume male figure skater. Or better said, he doesn't like to spend a lot of design time on his look. But for Patrick at least it looks as if there is still a little bit of effort and I appreciate that. This vest, shirt and pant look is a yawn but it works with the music. What I do like is the non-belt pant. I HATE seeing a tacky 90's "Ross Dress For Less" belt on these male figure skaters so if anything, I'd rather see NOTHING. Thank you Patrick!

Michal Brezina of the Czech Republic Free Skate to Le Corsaire by Adolpe Adam: I just had to add Michal because he's a male figure skater who embraces a costume WHOLEHEARTEDLY. Sometimes it works and sometimes, it can veer into too-mucheey territory. One thing you can say is that he gives you a TOTAL LOOK...from head to toe! 

Misha Ge of Uzbekistan Short Program to Piano Concerto 2 in C Minor, Op.18 by Sergei Rachmaninov: Misha is another skater who loves a costume. His look for the Short Program involves this blue ensemble with chiffon inset ombre-dyed panels and mini beads of sequins throughout. He almost looks like an underwater sea creature in this; and I say that in a good way! I'm a big fan of Misha and his total love of costumes.

Mikhail Kolyada of Russia Short Program to Nightingale Tango, John Gray by Matvei Blanter: I would have assumed that Mikhail was skating to an Irish dance but oh well. I liked the graphic quality of his short (even though it verges on a tablecloth) and I also appreciated the piping detail down the front of his pants.

Deniss Vasiljevs of Latvia Free Skate to Adagio for Tron by Daft Punk: Oh, how I love a complete jumpsuit on a man! Deniss decided to wear one for his "Tron" by Daft Punk Free Skate. I think this Robot Couture look worked on him, highlighting the theme of the music and sleekness of his skating lines.

Ivan Righini of Italy: Ivan is another male figure skater who does not shy away from costumes, and especially a sequined top...as seen from both his Short Program and Free Skate looks to You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban (left) and Shine On You Crazy Diamond and Money by Pink Floyd (right). For both, I just wished the tops were sleeker, shorter and tighter, and same for the pants! Those pants look like "Grandma" trousers. He needs to talk to Adam Rippon's costume designer and get a pair of super tight ones. Pronto!

Maxim Kovtun of Russia Short Program to I Can't Dance by Genesis: Love the guitar applique on his shirt and I especially like the "jean" skating pants; complete with the jean top-stitching!

Finally I wanted to give a male Figure Skating Costume (and Fedora) Shout Out to...Denis Ten of Kazakhstan. Denis wore this GORGEOUS ensemble for his Free Skate to Romeo and Juliet by Tchaikovsky. I am OBSESSED with the beautiful drape and twists of the top and sublime sequin detail. Oh and then there's his coach, Frank Carroll. The fedora, the tie, the suit. I wish I could ever be half the Style God he is!

Congratulations to the Top Men and Ladies of the 2016 ISU World Figure Skating Championships!

**UP NEXT: My Figure Skating Costume RECAP of the 2016 Worlds Pairs and Ice Dance!