ICE STYLE.....2013 NHK Trophy Costumes Recap Part Two: The Men and Ice Dance! Costume Changes and What Would Make Me SHAKE! Keep Reading...

Japan and Russia Costume Highlights: Male figure skater Daisuke Takahashi of Japan (left) and Ice Dance team of Elena KIlinykh and Nikita Katsalapov of Russia (right)

 Daisuke Fans: A scene at Yoyogi National Gymnasium Tokyo Japan while Japan's Daisuke Takahashi is about to skate

Wrapping up my Costumes Recap for this past weekend's ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2013 NHK Trophy, in my last post HERE I talked about the LADIES and PAIRS so now, it's time for the MEN and ICE DANCE. Once again, I've discussed some of these skaters already in some previous posts for Skate America 2013, Skate Canada 2013 or Cup of China 2013--and some I have not. Oh, and there are more Costume Changes! Let's begin...

Daisuke Takahashi Japan, Short Program: Japan Figure Skating SUPERSTAR Daisuke Takahashi skated his SP to Sonatino for Violin by Mamoru Samuragochi in this very elegant yet dark costume. I really liked this look for him. It was all black and featured a tight fitting top with long sleeves and asymmetrical hem with leather-like panels and a crystal center front.

Free Skate: For his FS to Medley of Music by The Beatles, he wore this draped jersey cowl-neck top  with black stretch velvet pants. While I love the top and it's draping, I have to say that if I was a costume designer and I knew that I would be designing a costume to go with a "Beatles Medley", I am not sure I would have created this ethereal look. It screams "Nijinski" more than The Beatles. But when you see the skate and hear that the Beatles medley was done in classical music style, it does kind of work. Kind of.

Javier Fernandez Spain, Short Program: Javier debuted his Season 2013-2014 skate at NHK Trophy 2013-This above was the costume he wore to his SP to "Satan Takes a Holiday". I wanted to know a little bit more about the music (to get a sense of where this costume came from) and I found out that it was written by bandleader Larry Clinton in 1937, and Wikipedia says that it was "originally used as background music for 'magic acts and midnight spook shows' ". Interesting. Just like his costume. The ensemble featured a striped pant and "shirt" look with an elongated vest/jacket (I think) that hugged over his...um, buttocks, in black with back panels of oversized houndstooth. Oh, and for some reason there were also accents of red and yellow (for Spain perhaps?). It was all a bit "kooky" for me. To be honest, I thought it was fun and at least, visually exciting. I just felt the top "vest" section was a bit too long. The proportions seemed a bit off and the houndstooth on his back was distracting.  Now, speaking of a bit "kooky"...Take a look at what he wore for his Exhibition skate:

Let's Get Physical: Spanish male figure skater in his "Gala Exhibition" skate entitled "Aerobic Class" (of course!) at NHK Trophy 2013. I rarely discuss these Exhibition costumes, but after seeing these pics, how could I not??!!! He looks like a character from a Pedro Almodóvar movie and I am LIVING for it!



Now, back to the actual competition costumes:

 Jeremy Abbott Free Skate Costume at NHK Trophy 2013 this past weekend

Jeremy Abbott FS Costume at Skate Canada 2013 two weeks ago

Jeremy Abbott USA, Free Skate: Jeremy skated his FS to "Exogenesis Symphony Part III (Redemption)" by Muse--the same music he skated to during the 2011-2012 Season. Now, I remembered that in my Skate Canada 2013 post, I discussed his costume but I realized "wait, he changed!". The look he wore at NHK Trophy in Japan this past weekend was different from what he wore at Skate Canada 2013 two weeks ago. Both costumes were designed by Elise Fife. I'm not sure which one I like best. I am on the fence. I do like the ease and fluidity of the new top and he finally wore a bit of color! Which one do you guys like best?

Nobunari Oda in his Free Skate costume--NHK Trohpy 2013 this past weekend

 Nobunari Oda Free Skate Costume at Skate Canada 2013 two weeks ago

Another Costume Change: Japanese male figure skater Nobunari Oda changed his costume as well for his Free Skate to "William Tell Overture" by Giacochino Rossini. The new look has a much more detailed yellow blouse/shirt and brown velvet vest. I have to say that this new costume is so "Disney Prince" Costume from a Halloween shop. And he has such a juvenile look already, this only makes him look more like a kid working at an amusement park. I think I liked the first one better. But what do you guys think? NHK or Skate Canada?

Sergei Voronov Russia, Short Program: Voronov skated his SP to "Two Guitars". I thought this was a good look for Sergei; clean, vibrant with the black and white and I really appreciated the designs/print in the jacket--are those peacocks? fish? abstract paisleys? Whatever it is, it is kind of a cool jacket--something I would see at Men's Paris Fashion Week.

Ice Dance

Elena KIlinykh and Nikita Katsalapov of Russia, Free Dance--Well I wonder what these two very good-looking Ice Dancers from Russia skated to for their Free Dance? If you answered "Swan Lake", yep, you are correct! (it's not so difficult). I thought these costumes were marvelous! She was "Classic Swan Lake" and he was "Punk Roller Disco Swan Lake". And they went together beautifully: modern, retro, classic, a little Fashion Runway. Oh and yes, it does kind of help that both of them are GORGEOUS!

Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier Canada, Free Dance: For their Free Dance to Music from the Hitchcock soundtrack by Danny Elfman and "The Rainstorm" by Bernard Hermann, they wore these costumes. First of all: I really liked this Free Dance: it was original, creative and taking Ice Dance to a more adventuresome and directional level, I was intrigued and wanted to see what more they can do. In terms of their costumes: I liked! They were dark yet glitzy; interesting and went with the Hitchcock music.

Cathy Reed and Chris Reed Japan, Free Dance: I discussed these costumes which they wore for their Free Dance to "Shogun II Total War Soundtrack" already HERE in my Hilton HHonors Skate America 2013 post.

Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani USA Free Dance: I also talked about these great costumes the Shibutani's wore for their fun Free Dance to a Michael Jackson medley HERE in my Skate America 2013 post. I loved them!

Meryl Davis and Charlie White USA, Short Dance Costumes to My Fair Lady by Frederic Loewe--NHK Trophy 2013

Meryl Davis and Charlie White USA, Free Dance Costumes to "Scheherazade" by Nikoli Rimsky-Korsakov--NHK Trophy 2013

I talked about both these SD and FD costumes HERE in my Skate America 2013 blog post--I LOVED both and thought they were exquisite. I especially like the pink bodice of Meryl's SD dress; it looks like a woven satin boned and corseted bodice of a ball gown. The fit is DIVINE. Speaking of DIVINE: their Free Dance is TIMELESS, incredible, moving...it's ALL THAT! Now, if I have one secret wish, I would SHAKE with Style Glee...if Charlie slicked back his hair for the Short Dance for the Sochi Olympics. Literally, I would SHAKE!!!! That would really do it for me! (I'm crossing my fingers!).

NHK Trophy Costumes Recap Part One

This past weekend was 2013 NHK Trophy. NHK Trophy is the fourth--out of six--event of the 2013-2014 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. It was held at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. I've already covered some of the costumes seen at Skate America, Skate Canada and Cup of China under the "Ice Style" Category here on my NICKVERREOS.COM Blog (you can find the "Categories" on the right side of the blog). Therefore, now it's time to discuss the Figure Skating Costumes at the 2013 NHK Trophy.

A Full House: Japanese figure skating fans pack the Yoyogi Gymnasium in Tokyo Japan to see their favorite figure skaters at 2013 NHK Trophy

I watched the competitions on Universal Sports and NBC and it was great seeing a PACKED house of very excited figure skating fans. During the Ladies and Men's competitions, one could see people up in the nose-bleed sections--Japan LOVES Figure Skating that is for sure! It was a big contrast to some of the already-occurred Grand Prix events which were half-empty in terms of attendance. So, Good Job Japan!!! Now, let's talk about the Costumes: some of the costumes I have already discussed in my Skate America, Skate Canada or Cup of China posts and some I haven't so, with that being said, Time for the Ladies and Pairs of 2013 NHK Trophy...

Ladies:

Mao Asada Japan, Short Program--I've talked about this SP costume she wears to "Nocturne in E flat major, Op. 9, No. 2" by Frederic Chopin HERE in my Skate America post. I loved it. Exquisite, loved the draping and Eiffel Tower-like back detail.

 Mao Asada at 2013 NHK Trophy--Free Skate Costume

Mao Asada Hilton HHonors Skate America 2013--Free Skate Costume

Costume Change: For her Free Skate to "Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor" by Sergei Rachmaninoff, Mao wore this black and royal blue costume with long sleeves, hem ruffles, a "neck-piece", "knotted/twisted" torso detail section and nude illusion sections. This was a costume change from what she wore the last time she competed at Skate America, which I also loved. At first, I thought "why would she change her costume?" especially since I LOVED the original one so much and it was GREAT! The new "2013 NHK Trophy" costume was fine but I think I liked the "Skate America" look better. I felt it was more modern and I loved the three-dimensional pieces of the top and skirt. Which costume do you guys like best?

 

Akiko Suzuki Japan, Short Program--Click HERE to read my thoughts on this Short program costume to "Hymne à l'amour", when I discussed it back in my Skate Canada Costume Recap.

 Alena Leonova at 2013 NHK Trophy--Short Program Costume

 Alena Leonova 2011 NHK Trophy--Short Program Costume

Same Old/Same Old: Alena Leonova Russia, Short Program--Alena skated to Music from the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack by Hans Zimmer and Klaus Badelt. She is not only reprising the same music she skated to in the 2011-2012 season but the same costume. I thought it was two seconds from looking like a store-bought Halloween costume then, and I still kind of think the same now.

Elena Radionova Russia, Short Program to Music from the Anna Karenina soundtrack by Two Steps From Hell--2013 NHK Trophy

Elena Radionova Russia, Free Skate to Music from the Frida soundtrack--2013 NHK Trophy--I talked about these costumes in my Skate America post HERE. To sum it up, I thought both were a bit too CRAY-CRAY for her and a little "Toddlers & Tiaras" tacky-licious looking.

Mirai Nagasu USA, Short Program--Mirai skated her SP to "The Man I Love" by George Gershwin. This blue ombre-dyed costume seemed almost unfinished and cheap. I wish I could say more but I cannot. This could have been much better.

Free Skate: Mirai wore a black costume with silver crystal neckline detail for her FS to Music from James Bond by various artists. This costume was better than her Short Program but it still suffered from needing "something more" in terms of design and creativity.

Congrats to the Top Three Ladies at 2013 NHK Trophy: (left to right) silver medalist Elena Radionova, gold medalist Mao Asada and bronze medalist Akiko Suzuki

Pairs:

Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov Russia, Short Program and Free Skate: I have discussed these costumes HERE and I LOVED them! And I have to add, they almost made me shake and CRY as I watched their performance; it was flawless. A "Master Class" in how to skate a fabulous Pairs skate. I cannot wait to see this at the Sochi Olympics.

Sui Wenjing and Han Cong China, Short Program: They skated their SP to Music from La Strada by Nino Rota and I liked both of their costumes. I liked her blue and nude illusion design with a red HEART chest detail and I especially liked the fact that his was embellished and incorporated some of her blue sequins into his vest. Although to my eye, his entire ensemble in black did not relate to her look at all. I always prefer a stronger connection between the two costumes.

Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir USA, Free Skate: For their FS to Music from the Skyfall soundtrack by various artists, I liked these costumes. Marissa wore a black sequined dress that looked expensive and elegant--like a "Bond Girl". And Simon---LOVED his super fitted pants and shirt with gun holster look. It was as if he had taken off his Tom Ford tuxedo and revealed what was underneath...The costumes are designed by Yumi Nakamura and Paul Ginandes.

Peng Cheng and Zhang Hao China, Free Skate: They skated their FS to "Yellow River Concerto".  These costumes were great. I especially loved Zhang Hao and that AMAZING blue with green and silver applique sequin of his top. Her costume was beautifully made, elegant and looked expensive! A perfect combination and connection between the two looks!



**Stay Tuned for my Next "2013 Grand Prix Costumes Recap" here on NICKVERREOS.COM !