ICE STYLE.....Figure Skating Costumes Recap/Highlights of Four Continents Championships 2014: Men & Ice Dance

Top Three Men: Gold medalist Takahito Mura (center), silver medalist Takahiko Kozura (L) of Japan and bronze medalist Nan Song of China (right)--2014 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships Taipei City, Chinese Taipei

In my last ICE STYLE blog HERE, I discussed the LADIES and PAIRS Costumes of the 2014 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, so now it's time to get to the MEN and ICE DANCE.

Let's begin with the MEN:

Adam Rippon of the US, Short Program: Adam skated his Short Program to Suite from Carmen for Strings and Drums by Georges Bizet and Rodion Shchedrin. This above is a gloriously elegant costume hinting at a toreador bolero and remaining modern yet classic at the same time. I like it!

Adam Rippon of US, Free Skate: I've discussed this costume from Adam Rippon before for his Free Skate to L'après-midi d'un faune (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun) by Claude Debussy. You can read that HERE. Let's just say that yes, I likey!

Chih-I Tsao of Taiwan, Free Skate: Chih-I Tsao is a skater I have not discussed before so I am happy to do so. He skated his Free Skate to Loreley by Naoki Sato, music to an  anime film from 2005. I actually loved this silver and black costume. It was interesting, fashionable and it really caught my attention...in a good way. I love the epaulet detail and sequined waistband. Thank goodness he is giving me SOMETHING!

David Kranjec of Australia, Short Program: David is another figure skater whose costumes I have never discussed. This one above is what he wears to his Short Program to Who Wants to Live Forever by Queen performed by David Garrett. It is a complete jumpsuit in black with accents of red, neon yellow and splashes of sequins with a nude illusion front panel. It's a little bit "Cirque du Soleil". Now speaking of Cirque...

Dong Won Lee of South Korea, Short Program: Dong Won Lee of South Korea wears this above for his Short Program to Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra by Salvador Bacarisse. Maybe it's the puke-like colors of the pants (change that PLEASE!) or the very eye-jarring neon ombre blouson top with front flaps, sequins and applique...He looks like a Parrot from South America. This would be a good thing if...his theme and music were Brazilian, Ecuadorian, Venezuelan...well...name a South American nation.

Jeremy Ten of Canada, Short Program: Jeremy wore this costume above for his Short Program to Dance For Me Wallis (from "W.E." soundtrack) by Abel Korzeniowski. I like its simplicity and color-scheme, but at the same time, I am confused at what this has to do with the film and Arianne Phillips' fabulous costumes for the movie.

Jeremy Ten of Canada, Free Skate: For his Free Skate to Variations by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jeremy wore this colorful costume above. I like this better, only for its "Costume Kitsch" factor that is very Cirque du Soleil-like...even though this was NOT a Cirque du Soleil musical skate.

Joshua Farris of US, Free Skate: I love this costume, worn by Joshua Farris for his Free Skate to Schindler's List (soundtrack) by John Williams. You can read HERE my full thoughts.

Takahiko Kozuka of Japan, Free Skate: Oh Takahiko...this blouson top-and-black pant costume just doesn't do it for me. Takahiko wore this for his Free Skate to Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso Op. 28 by Camille Saint-Saens. The deep plum-colored top with sequins is pretty but does nothing to enhance the presentation of his skate. It is as if he bought that top at a Figure Skating Costume store. He needs to do better.

Nan Song of China, Free Skate: Nan Song wore this drop-waist blouson silver/gray cardigan with black pants costume for his Free Skate to The Mission by Ennio Morricone. There is a "suggestion" of Colonial Period Costume but to me, this looks more like Chanel Haute Couture. This is both good and not-so-good. I have to admit: I kinda like it!

Takahito Mura of Japan, Free Skate: Takahito wears his costume for his Free Skate to Shogun. It could be much better. I have discussed this costume HERE. He wore this same costume two seasons ago in 2012-2103. He needs to update it.



Ice Dance Costumes Highlights:

Emi Hirai and Marien de la Asuncion of Japan, Free Dance: Hirai and Marien of Japan skated their Free Dance to Breadcrumbs (from "Skyfall" soundtrack), Silhouette (from "Skyfall" soundtrack), Golden Eye (James Bond soundtrack), James Bond Theme. Their costumes show the dark sexy theme of the film and overall this was a good Costume show.

Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada, Free Dance: I absolute LOVE these costumes worn by Canada's Gilles and Poirer for their Free Dance to End Credit (from "Hitchcock" soundtrack) by Danny Elfman, Explosion (from "Hitchcock" soundtrack) by Danny Elfman, The Premiere (from "Hitchcock" soundtrack) by Danny Elfman, The Rainstorm by Bernard Hermann. You can read HERE of what I thought of these fab costumes.

Kharis Ralph and Asher Hill of Canada, Free Dance: Two words for these Canadians--costume-wise: GO Canada! I think these costumes were fun and perfect for their very energetic Free Dance to Samba Vocalizado, Chorado by F. de Brito and Magalenha. Watching their skate and seeing these costumes made me want to book a trio to Rio, like NOW!

Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue of US, Free Dance: These costumes worn by Americans Hubbell and Donohue for their Free Dance to Nocturne Into Bohemian Rhapsody by Lucia Micarelli wee OK; I liked hers and I also liked his...however, not together. I really DISLIKE when the woman and the man DO NOT seem as if they belong together in Ice Dance--costume-wise. And well, this was the case here.

Lynn Kriengkrairut and Logan Giulietti-Schmitt of US, Free Dance: LOVE! These were great costumes worn by US Ice Dancers Kriengkrairut and Giulietti-Schmitt. They skated their Free Dance to Spartacus by Aram Khatchaturian and these costumes were perfect reflections of that.

Danielle Obrien and Gregory Merriman of Australia, Free Dance: Two words: Oh Dear! This Australian Ice Dance team wore this colorful costumes for their Free Dance to Thunder and Blazes performed by Sounds of the Circus South Shore Concert Band, Goofus performed by Sounds of the Circus South Shore Concert Band, Complainte de la Butte by Rufus Wainwright and The Southener performed by The Merle Evans Circus Band. Now, I said "Oh Dear!" but...I actually really like these; they're fun, colorful and right for the music.

ICE STYLE.....Figure Skating Costumes Recap/Highlights of Four Continents Championships 2014: Ladies and Pairs

 India vs. China Fashionistas: Ami Parekh of India , Sijun Li of China give some Costume Couture--Four Continents 2014, Taipei City Chinese Taipei, Taipei Arena

This past week was the 2014 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, held in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei. Skaters from North America, Africa, Asia and Oceania competed in the ISU sanctioned event in disciplines of Men's singles, Ladies singles, Pairs and Ice Dance.

Of note: none of last year's Four Continents Champions defended their title this year in order to prepare for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. Now, let's get to the FASHION--First up: The Ladies and Pairs Costumes Recap/Highlights:

 Top Three Ladies: (left to right) silver medalist Satoko Miyahara of Japan, gold medalist Kanako Murakami of Japan and bronze medalist Zijun Li of China pose with their medals--Four Continents 2-14 Taipei City, Chinese Taipei

Kanako Murakami of Japan, Short Program: Kanako skated her Short Program to Violin Muse by Ikuko Kawai. I love this costume and the mixing of colors and patterns. Here is what I've already said about this costume.

Kanako Murakami of Japan, Free Skate: For her Free Skate to Papa Can You Hear Me (from "Yentl" soundtrack) by Barbara Streisand, Kanako wore this blue sequined costume. I like this--it's pretty but nothing extraordinary. I do like the costume she wore before during the season--you can see that one HERE.

Mirai Nagasu of US, Free Skate: Mirai Nagasu won the Bronze at the U.S. Nationals earlier this year and even though she should have gone to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics as a result, the US Figure Skating Committee decided to send 4th place Ashley Wagner instead. She came to the "Four Continents 2014 Figure Skating Championships" with a heavy heart and tried her best but it wasn't a success. Now, back to her costume...She wore this above for her Free Skate to Music from James Bond by various artists. It is pretty, elegant and somewhat mysterious--and right for the "James Bond Girl" theme of her skate. Here is more of what I've already said about this costume.

Samantha Cesario of the US, Short Program: I LOVE Samantha Cesario's red hot costume for her Short program to "Fever" by various artists. It is perfect for the music and skate and bold in its coloring, sequins and use of fringe. This could have gone TACKY-licious quickly, and yet it did not. It was FEVER-hot!

Samantha Cesario of the US, Free Skate: Her costume for her Free Skate to "Carmen Suite" by Georges Bizet and Konstantinovich Shchedrin was also well done. It was a black/nude costume with swirly sequined detail. Any time a skater skates to "Carmen" and doesn't go the typical route of wearing a red rose in her hair and/or a toreador bolero and red/black costume...I am happy--as long as it is done well. And by the way, both costumes were designed by Samantha herself, as well as Tania Bass. Congrats Samantha! Good job.

SoYoun Park of South Korea, Free Skate: Simply beautiful. That's what I can say about this Free Skate costume of SoYoun Park's for Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The deep navy blue colored costume featured sequins throughout done wonderfully, especially the light blue colored section at the center front. I also loved the beautiful open back.

Amelie Lacoste of Canada, Free Skate: Amelie wore this rose pink costume for her Free Skate skating to the "Amelie Poulain" soundtrack by Yann Tiersen. I have to admit that I am not a fan of this costume; it looks heavy-handed and cheap. And the various design details (heavy neck edge trim, gathered bust, sequined front) just do not mesh together harmoniously.

Satoko Miyahara of Japan, Free Skate: For her Free Skate to Poeta by Vincente Amigo--a tango--Satoko wore this deep red with black costume. The costume featured one long-sleeve, nude neck covering (that was too light for her skin) and less-than-expensive looking crystal detail. In other words: I didn't like so much. This could have been better. She needs to call Mao Asada's costume designer, like ASAP.

Zijun Li of China, Free Skate: The Chinese skaters--I have said this before--have really stepped it up in terms of costumes and costume design. And this one on Zijun Li is a great example. She skated her Free Skate to Coppelia by Leo Delibes in this look. It was a black and fuchsia one-sleeve costume with leaf-like crystal detail. She also wore THE accessory of the season: gloves. I thought this costume was beautiful, looked expensive and designed quite well.

Veronik Mallet of Canada, Free Skate: Veronik skated her Free Skate to Funny Girl by Jule Styne in this fun black sequined and fringed costume with pearl necklace detail. It was cute but part of me wished she would have done something like THIS (without the baby bump of course!).

Alisson Krystle Perticheto of the Philippines, Free Skate: Alisson skated her Free Skate to Sleeping Beauty by Petr I. Tchaikovski wearing this costume above. The costume was pretty but seemed a tad bit "Sleeping Beauty: High School". I know that she is not one of the "A-List" skaters in the World so I can cut her some "costume slack". But next time: remove those arm/bicep band ruffle pieces. Please.

Ami Parekh of India, Short Program: Ami skated her Short Program to Raga-Jazz Style by Shankar Jaikishan. Although the costume itself was simple and un-fussy, I liked it. She could have gone the whole "Bollywood Couture" route and she didn't. Part of me wishes I could see that version but at the same time, this was a nice (subdued) costume.



Pairs Costumes Highlights:

Wenting Wang and Yan Zhang of China, Free Skate: You cannot really tell from this photo but her costume was FABULOUS! Once again, the Chinese are stepping it up with figure skating costumes. This Pairs team skated their Free Skate to Humanity by Tomoyasu Hotei, Parisian Walkways by Gary Moore and Malaguena by Ernesto Lecuona. The costumes--especially hers--were very well constructed, looked expensive and very chic. I LOVED the Art Deco-like sequin work of her one-shoulder costume, particularly.

Margaret Purdy and Michael Marinaro of Canada, Short Program: Purdy and Marinaro wore these costumes to their Short Program to Casablanca (soundtrack) by Max Steiner. I didn't get what these costumes had to do with "Casablanca". At all. It almost looked as if they went to a Figure Skating Costume shop and said "I want this and I want that". They could have been skating to a (name a Disney film) soundtrack.

Tarah Kayne and Daniel O'Shea of US, Free Skate: I absolute LOVED these costumes from U.S. Pairs skating team Kayne and O'Shea. They skated their Free Skate to  "Don Quixote" by Ludwig Minkus. These were unique--even for this been there/done that genre and worked very well with the music. And they looked well done and not cheap-looking (a bit of a criteria for me). These costumes--by the way--were designed by Dawn Imperatore. Very well done Dawn!

Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier of US, Free Skate: I really like these costumes from the US Pairs team of Denney and Frazier which they wore for their Free Skate to Notre Dame de Paris (soundtrack) by Richard Cocciante. You can read my thoughts HERE.

Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China, Free Skate: Sui and Han skated their Free Skate to Kalinka (Russian Folk Music) and I have discussed these costume HERE. I think these costumes are FANTASIC!



***Next Up : Costumes Recap/Highlights of "2014 Four Continents" Men and Ice Dance!