ICE STYLE.....Figure Skating Costumes Recap/Highlights of the Sochi 2014 Olympics, Ladies Free Skate Costumes!

Activewear Winning Ladies: (L to R) Bronze medalist Carolina Kostner of Italy, gold medal winner Adelina Sotnikova and silver medalist Kim Yu-Na of Republic of Korea--Medals Plaza Sochi Russia

Well, kids the Figure Skating Finals are OVER (sigh!). It was an exciting night watching the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Ladies Finals where the top ladies of figure skating skated FOR THEIR LIFE! In fabulous--and some not so-fabulous--costumes...

 The Top: (L to R) Silver medalists Yu-Na Kim of the Republic of Korea, Gold medalists Adelina Sotnikova of Russia and Bronze winner Carolina Kostner  of Italy--Iceberg Skating Palace Sochi Russia

Now, naturally it wouldn't be Figure Skating without DRAMA and after the Russian Adelina Sotnikova earned higher scores than Republic of Korea's Yu-Na Kim--who many professional figure skating commentators argued, should have actually won--many cried "Sketchy". You can read all about that HERE but now it's time to discuss the COSTUMES...It's my Sochi Olympics Ladies Figure Skating Costume Recap--The Free Skate Finals:

Let's begin with a little bit of "Oh No She Didn't":

Mae Berenice Meite of France Free Skate to Europa by Jean-Pierre Danel, We Will Rock You KCPK, La Grange by Jean-Pierre Danel: Take a look at Mae Berenice--she wanted to cause a "sensation" at the Sochi Olympics and she did...with her very original sequined-and-black Lycra jumpsuit. This costume was designed by one of the Figure Skating Costume Designer Faves, Brad Griffies of Atlanta Georgia (he designs for Gracie Gold and Princess Alexandria of Hanover, Grace Kelly's Granddaughter). It's not every day one sees a Ladies Figure Skater in an International competition--or the OLYMPICS (!) no less--wearing a costume with "pants". Trust me, this ain't the norm, as they say. But I have a feeling Meite doesn't want to be the "norm", or conform or even care. This is what she wore last season for her Free Skate to Selections from "Zarafa" and "Dead Can Dance" and Soundtrack to "Belphegor":

Cleopatra Fab: France's Mae Berenice Meite in last season's costume/free skate

I'll be honest about what she wore for her Free Skate at the Sochi Olympics: I'm not a fan, however the bead-work on the top section and those turquoise, black and silver sequins are exquisite. Secretly, I wished she would have gone back to her Cleopatra/Whitney Houston "Queen of the Night" look above.

Kooky Grade: 9.8/10

Costume Grade: 5/10

Kanako Murakami of Japan, Free Skate to Papa Can You Hear Me (from "Yentl" soundtrack) by Barbara Streisand: Correct me if I am wrong (and many of you out there on the web do!), but isn't "Yentl" about an Ashkenazi JEWISH girl who decides she wants to dress and live like a man in order to receive Orthodox Jewish education? So....why is Kanako wearing a CROSS on her costume? This is so wrong on a couple of levels that well, I should just leave it at that. But seriously: a Cross? I don't get it.

Costume Score: 4/10 (it's a very nicely made/designed costume but the cross??!!)

Anne Line Gjersem of Norway, Free Skate to Westside Story by Leonard Bernstein: How do you say "poor thang" in Norwegian? This costume is straight out of a low-level skating costume shop; the cheap stretch lace and wonky-looking crystals...I am guessing that the Norway Figure Skating Association either A) did not sponsor her or B) give her money to have a custom high-end costume but seriously, it's THE OLYMPICS! 

Costume Score: 3.5/10

And then, there's her fly-away hair:

Pony Tail Fly-Away Don't: She's a GORGEOUS girl; but again, it's THE OLYMPICS! Every other ladies figure skater had their hair slicked...done. Yet Anne Line looks as if she just left her gym after doing the tread mill for an hour.

Kaetlyn Osmond Canada, Free Skate to Mission Cleopatre (soundtrack) by Philippe Chany, Numerobis Theme (from Mission Cleopatre soundtrack) by Philippe Chany, Asterix and Obelix (from Mission Cleopatre soundtrack) by Philippe Chany, Cleopatra and Caesar by Claude-Michel Schoenberg and David Nixon: One of my favorite costumes of the season; gorgeous, well-made, glorious and perfect for the "Cleopatra" skate. The jeweled sequins are exquisite.

Costume Score: 9.8/10

So-Youn Park of Republic of Korea, Free Skate to Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Andrew Lloyd Webber: This is a beautiful costume. The black, with silver and light blue crystal front detail costume was marvelous. Well made and very good design.

Costume Score: 9/10

Polina Edmunds of the U.S., Free Skate to "Solveig's Song" and "Morning" from Peer Gynt by Edvard Grieg: I love this ice blue with silver crystals costume designed by Lilya Dukler. The neckline detail is exquisite and I like the criss-cross sequin detail at the torso as well as the yellow "teardrop" sequins in her neckline. Also, notice the skirt's hem is finished with crystals. This is a very good costume; finished. I also love that from head to toe, she is "done"--her hair crystals go perfectly with the costume.

Costume Score: 8.9/10

Valentina Marchei of Italy, Free Skate to Nyah (from "Mission Impossible" soundtrack) by Hans Zimmer: Of all the black costumes worn by the Ladies (there were a lot), this blouson sequined with side-slit style is one of my faves. I like the silhouette and unusual design. It was a "mini-me" of a gown one would see on the red carpet at an awards show.

Costume Score: 7.9/10

Mao Asada of Japan, Free Skate to "Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor" by Sergei Rachmaninoff: I've said this before--this is one of my FAVORITE costumes of the season. Simply beautiful, creative, impacting, expensive-looking. I love the colors and the three-dimensional aspect of the costume. It also screams FASHION! It's easily a design that could have been done by the Jean Paul Gaultier design team or Los Angeles-based designers Rodarte.

Costume Score: 9.7/10

Julia Lipnitskaia of Russia, Free Skate to Music from the Schindler's List soundtrack by John Williams: The Russian favorite to win the Gold (up until the Ladies Short), Julia, wore this red "coat" dress/costume evoking the little girl in the red coat  in "Schindler's List". I liked this costume. I appreciated the interpretation of it and the elegant black sequin trim. The black gloves were perfect for it as well. Well done little Julia!

Costume Score: 9.5/10

Gracie Gold of the U.S., Free Skate to Music from Sleeping Beauty by Petr I. Tchaikovski: This costume on Gracie for her Free Skate is one of the best costumes for the Ladies this season. It's outstanding, very "Ice Princess", well-made and evokes "Old Hollywood Glamour". It's not by happenstance, by the way that it looks "Old Hollywood Glamour" because that's what Gold and her legendary coach, Frank Carroll, wanted when they asked figure skating costume designer "extraordinaire" Brad Griffies to create a costume for her:

 Brad Griffies sketches of Gracie Gold's costume for her Free Skate 

Oh and yes, I give Gracie a Costume Score of  9.8/10

Ashley Wagner of the U.S., Free Skate to Samson and Delilah by Camille Saint-Saens: Ashely changed her program--and costume--for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. This was a big topic of discussion among the figure skating crowd. I loved both the program--and costume change. This canary yellow costume, designed by Jan Longmire, was exotic and more impacting than what she had been wearing for her 2012-2013 Season Free Skate to Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet"...

Costume Score: 9.3/10

US Nationals 2014: This is the costume she wore at the U.S. Nationals, January 2014 for the "Romeo and Juliet" Free Skate

Skate America: This is what Ashley wore for her Free Skate--also to Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" at Skate America 2013, October 2013

We saw Ashley skate her "Samson and Delilah" Free Skate at the ISU World Team Trophy in April 2013, as well as...

Ashley Wagner at the Trophee Eric Bombard 2012, November 2012--I admit that I like this version of the "Samson and Delilah" yellow costume better than what she wore at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Ladies Free Skate Finals, but they are both beautiful and exquisitely done.

 Jan Longmire's Sketch of Ashley Wagner's Free Skate Costume for Sochi Olympics 2014

Carolina Kostner of Italy, Free Skate to Bolero by Maurice Ravel: Carolina wore a black and sheer costume with "icicle" sequin detail costume with a curved mini, long sleeves and open back. It was beautiful, elegant and well-designed. Just like her Short Program, she continued the no-nude illusion back detail; instead there was an elastic back strap and it was actually nude.open--in her back.

 Costume Score: 8.9/10

Kim Yun-Na/Yun-Na Kim of the Republic of Kotrea, Free Skate to "Adios Nonino" by Astor Piazzolla: This music is a Tango and her costume coloring reflected that. Her costume--which featured a mock-neck long sleeved look with black and plum color blocking with front torso sequin applique...

Kim Yu-Na Costume: The costume also had a side front slit. There was a "sheer" inset panel in the front as well...

Kim Yu-Na sat the Korean Nationals: she wore (almost) the same costume except for the fact that there was a bit of a "nude" illusion inset in the costume. For the Sochi 2014 Olympics, that fabric was sheer black as opposed to nude. Slight "costume change" difference. I wasn't a huge fan of how dark the entire look was (especially with the high neck), but the beadwork and construction were perfection.

Costume Score: 9.4/10

Adelina Sotnikova of Russia, Free Skate to Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A Minor Op. 28 for Violin and Orchestra by Camille Saint-Saens: Adelina skated her gold medal-winning Olympic skate wearing this. Her costume was a deep gray with gold "Caviar" beaded paillette detail. Of note, she wore opaque gloves. I think they were trying to match her skin but well, not so mucheey. I don't think this glove detail was so much of a "fashion" statement but more for protection form bleeding and cutting herself from touching the skate's blade. Overall, it was an OK costume but not great in my eyes.

Costume Score: 7/10

Oh and there was also a Wardrobe Malfunction:

Tights Wardrobe Malfunction: During Adelina's gold medal-winning skate, her nude tights which were stretched over her skates, lifted up on one of her skates--disrupting the leg--and costume line. Hashtag #UhOh #FigureSkating #Costume

What Adelina wore at the Sochi 2014
Winter Olympics was a costume change from what I had seen her wear
before---(above) at the ISU Grand Prix Finals in Japan, December
2013

Congratulations to Adelina--and Yu-Na and Carolina!

ICE STYLE.....Yuna Kim, her Free Skate Costume at ISU 2013 Golden Spin of Zagreb + Miki Ando's Costume

Mock Neck Yuna: South Korean skater Yuna Kim skating to her Free Skate--ISU 2013 Golden Spin of Zagreb

This weekend, Olympic and world champion Yuna Kim won Gold at a minor event in Zagreb, Croatia--the ISU 2013 Golden Spin of Zagreb--with a score of 204.49 points. This total score was only beaten by one skater during the Grand Prix of Figure Skating season.

 Yuna Is Back: Yuna Kim fans--ISU 2013 Golden Spin of Zagreb

Now, let's get to the really important stuff: her costumes! I discussed Yuna Kim's Short Program Costume HERE so now, it is time to talk about what she wore for her Free Skate...

Tango Kim: Yuna skated her Free Skate to "Adios Nonino", an Argentine tango composition. Her stretch jacquard costume featured a black mock-neck, very fitted long sleeves, a slit-skirt and silver-and-gray sequin detail at the torso. It was quite classic and certainly stayed within the tango theme without using any predictable red color (except for her great red lips!). While the front was very covered...

Yuna Reveal: The back was very open as seen from the pictures above. I liked this costume but wished it had just a little more "luxe" appeal; it seemed a bit too "store bought"-looking for me. I'd love to know what YOU guys think? Did you like this costume? Yeay or Nay? Let me know below in "comments".



Now, let's discuss Japan's Miki Ando and her Free Skate Costume:

Miki Ando of Japan, Free Skate: Ando skated her Free Skate to "Firebird by Igor Stravinski" in this costume above. It was a midnight blue costume featuring a multi-paneled skirt, stretch illusion with sequined top and...

Multi-colored leaf-and-feather applique (as seen in above photo). It was quite a costume, impacting and somewhat representative of the music. It was also two seconds from being a tad bit "Carnival".

Congrats Yuna and Miki--(left to right) Silver medalist Miki Ando of Japan and Gold medalist Yuna Kim of Korea-ISU 2013 Golden Spin of Zagreb

ICE STYLE.....Yuna Kim Returns! Her Short Program Costume...aa well as other Ladies from the ISU 46th Annual Golden Spin of Zagreb

Chartreuse Queen: Yuna Kim of Korea, Short Program Costume at 2013 Golden Spin of Zagreb

Yuna Kim--or Kim Yuna--the Olympic and World Champion; skated in competition today at the 46th Annual Golden Spin of
Zagreb in Croatia. She got the HIGHEST SHORT PROGRAM SCORE for all Ladies competitor
during this 2013-2014 season. The Golden Spin of Zagreb, by the way, is a senior international figure skating competition. A lot of lower-level skaters from many countries usually show up but in this edition, the Olympic champion made an appearance much to the delight of figure skating fans.

 Yuna Kim of Korea--2013 Golden Spin of Zagreb

So far, she's only skated her Short Program so I want to discuss--naturally--her costume for that. Kim skated to “Send in the Clowns” in a chartreuse colored costume featuring stretch lace over nude illusion mesh and covered with multicolored crystal top section, long chiffon sleeves and chiffon multi-layered skirt.

Chartreuse Covered Up: From the photos above, it's obvious her costume is very well made and has a lot of intricate sequin detail. The color is a very difficult color to pull off--remember Julianne Moore in the Dior Haute Couture sat the 64th Annual Academy Awards:



 

But Yuna Kim was able to pull it off...I do like the costume and the color on her, I must admit. If I had any critique, it would be the "mumsy" aspect of the silhouette. I know that Kim is not known for anything too plunging or skin revealing but perhaps this style just seems a bit covered up and "older". I would love to know what you guys think?



Also, I must add...Yuna Kim's costume reminds me of what Nancy Kerrigan wore for her Short Program at the '92 Olympics:

Other Ladies' Short Program Costumes at the 2013 Golden Spin of Zagreb:

Miki Ando of Japan: Miki also skated at the 46th Annual Golden Spin of Zagreb. She wore this costume above for her Short Program to "My Way" by Frank Sinatra. In terms of her skate, she is in second place (Yuna Kim is in first of course). I like this light blue and dark navy chiffon and sequins costume for its "color-blocking" design and how the navy sequined panels wrap around her body in flattering ways. I just wish the skirt was shorter and there were several layers of it so I couldn't see her leotard underneath. But we must not forget, she just had a baby in APRIL!!!!

Anine Rabe of Norway, Short Program: Pretty color, pretty costume. I like the heavy-to-delicate crystal detail in the torso especially.  Her hair pulled back severely adds a touch of elegance as well.         

Ema Lipovscak of Croatia, Short Program to Tara's Theme (from "Gone With the Wind" soundtrack) by Max Steiner: First off, let's add Eva to my "Figure Skating Costume Trend: Gloves" blog posting, because, yes, kids, she's "rocking" the trend. For her Short Program here, she's wearing a black and bubblegum pink costume with gold applique front top detail and multicolored sequins. I am a bit "on the fence" in terms of whether I like it or not; it's a bit Cirque du Soleil and a bit Baroque in its styling details. I am guessing that the "corset" look is supposed to be a reference to her "Gone With The Wind" music. It seems more Mozart than Vivien Leigh.

Isabelle Pieman of Belgium, Short Program to "Crimson Wings": Isabelle's Short Program costume here is a bit "retro" to me; it seems rather late 90s in its mock-neck halter styling and sheer sleeve styling. I do think the crystals in the torso/bodice and sleeves are fine and work with the overall look.

Valentina Mikac of Croatia, Short Program to "Two Guitars by Paul Mauriat": Nude illusion, black jagged panels and thick deadlock-looking fringe...oh, and yes, it's a bodysuit with black attached leggings. 

**Stay Tuned for Yuna Kim's Free Skate Costume at the ISU 2013 Golden Spin of Zagreb!