Showing posts with label Mao Asada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mao Asada. Show all posts

Final Big International Figure Skating Competition

Monday, March 31, 2014





Diamonds and Pink Panther: USA's Ashley Wagner (Ladies) and Germany's Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy (Pairs) at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2014, Saitama Japan



Last week--and weekend (beginning on March 24 and ending yesterday) was the final big international Figure Skating competition of the season--the 2014 ISU World Figure Skating Championships. This very important event in figure skating is usually a BIG deal, were it not for the fact that, well, the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics had just occurred last month.










So, needless to say, some of the "top stars" of figure skating decided to "skip it": Including Gold and Silver Medal winning Ice Dance teams Davis and White from the U.S., and Virtue and Moir from Canada. Ladies Gold Medalist from Russia Adelina Sotnikova and Silver Medalist Patrick Chan also did not attend. But there were still a lot of A-List skaters, making it a good competition. These 2014 World Championships occurred at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan to a very fan-tastic crowd (Gotta Luv Japan!).







Costume Change--Canada's Duhamel and Radford (Pairs)



Most the costumes the skaters wore were the same costumes they have been wearing throughout the season, but there were some "Costume Changes" including Canada's Pairs Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford who wore different costumes for their Short Program and Akiko Suzuki going back to a previous SP costume as well as some others...

So here's a photo recap of some of my fave Ladies and Pairs (plus some Costume Changes) from the 2014 ISU World Figure Skating Championships:






Akiko Suzuki of Japan, Short Program: Akiko wore this purple costume to her SP to "Hymme a L'Amour" by Marguerite Monnot. I've said before that it's A LOT, and maybe in need of applique editing. It's still a nice color for her. She DID NOT wear this to the Sochi Olympics for her Short Program and instead, she opted for this red costume...







Akiko at Sochi 2014 Short Program Costume: I liked this red costume much more. The neckline sequined beading is INCREDIBLE.









Carolina
Kostner of Italy
, Short Program to "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert: The
sky blue colored costume featured a "plunging" neckline (in illusion)
with gorgeously strewn sequins throughout. It was beautiful, classic and
"Ice Princess" perfect. Her skate was almost like a religious
experience; the music, the skate, the costume...she seemed Angelic.









Mao Asada of Japan, Short Program to "Nocturne in E
flat major, Op. 9, No. 2" by Frederic Chopin
: I liked this lavender
costume from Asada; the front bust gathered drape was original and the
sweetheart neckline caviar beading looked expensive. I also appreciated the
ombre dying effect in her costume.








Julia Lipnitskaia of Russia Short Program to "You Don't Give Up on Love" by Mark Minkov: I thought this was a very nice costume for Julia and this program. I loved the deep violet blue and baby blue combination and the torso/bodice sequin work looked beautiful. My favorite detail of this costume were the back straps that were beautiful.






Gracie Gold of the U.S., Short Program to "Piano Concerto" by Edvard Grieg: The costume was designed by Gale Johnson and Denise Gold and I LOVE it! It's elegant, classic but with a sexy "red carpet" edge and also works really well with her music and program; it's like a "mini-me" gown one could see at a late 19th Century/early 20th Century Ball in Europe. The off-the-shoulder look seems very "Moulin Rouge"-like as well.







Ashley Wagner of the U.S, , Short Program to "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" by Pink Floyd: The costume featured black stretch chiffon, double-layer "skirt" and panels with silver crystal trimmed details. I really liked this costume because it really reflected the theme of her music. I especially loved the various sizes of the jeweled crystals and how the neck detail looked like a built-in diamond necklace.






Juulia Turkkila of Finland, Short Program to "Firebird" by Igor Stravinski: I don't think I've ever commented on this costume for Juulia. So, here it goes: I think it's kinda fabulous! The colors are great and "Firebird" appropriate. Is it a bit "Cirque du Soleil"? Yes, and reminiscent of something I've seen at the Olympics Synchronized Swimming? Yep, that too. But I like it.







Joshi Helgesson of Sweden, Short Program to  "Mystere" and "Taiko" from Cirque du Soleil: Joshi wore a different costume than what she wore to this program back in the 2012-2013 Season (photo on the right at Trophee Eric Bompard 2012). I liked the change! It was subtle but good. The colors are vibrant and effective and instead of the "sweetheart" neckline,m she went for a one-shoulder silhouette. She did keep the "petal" skirt but changed the hem slightly.






Netta Schreiber of Israel, Short Program to "Take Five" by Dave Brubeck: I have never discussed Netta and so I thought it was fitting to talk about her and this jumpsuit. First off: it's rare to see a jumpsuit/bodysuit. Netta wore a stretch black one with deep lilac strap accents with silver crystals. This is interesting but more fitting for a "warm up". Just saying.



Pairs Costumes Highlights:




Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany, Short Program to Henry Manicini's soundtrack to "The Pink Panther". Aliona's costume featured a blindingly bright pink color and a silver crystal stripe down the top portion. Her boots were even covered in the same Lycra pink fabrication. I've discussed these costume many, many times and I just think they are fun, colorful and very, very effective. They have now become ICONIC. Seriously. 






Savchenko and Szolkowy, Free Skate to "The Nutcracker" by Petr I. Tchaikovsky: Their costumes were visions of the "Sugar Plum Fairy" and the Nutcracker prince. They were a bit "Costume 101" in terms of their designs and execution. I would have loved something more refined and Couture-worthy. But it's hard to critique the 5 time World Champions!






Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia, Free Skate to Music from The Addams Family soundtrack by Marc Shaiman: While I appreciated the bold choices, I thought this was a confusing Pairs Costume look. Fedor looked very Gomez Adams "kooky" in his costume yet Ksenia looked as if she was skating to "Carmen". Her costume was so sleek and simple, as compared to his. For once, the MAN stood out more than the female and yet, it didn't work. And to add: there is NOTHING of Morticia Adams in her look. I did like how elegant and clean her costume looked, but it was for a different skate. 






Felicia Zhang and Nathan Bartholomay of the USA--Short Program and Free Dance: Between these two costumes, I liked the Free Dance to Music from Les Miserables by Claude-Michel Schonberg (right). The costumes designed by Dawn Imperatore and James Peterson. These costumes were very "Les Miserables" and unless you were in a COMA you would obviously recognize that. Their Short Program costumes to "Carousel Waltz" to Rodgers and Hammerstein (left) was "Ehhh". Zhang's pink "heart" applique costume looked too "Todlers & Tiaras" and his looked like what a guy would have worn in 1998 at a dance club.






Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Canada, Short Program to "Tribute" by Eric Radford. Eric wrote this music and in terms of their costumes, they changed (Thanksss Godsss!) In past competitions, they had worn the ones on the right; to begin, Eric's was a bit of a yawn but on a plus side, it fit him very snugly showing off his very athletic build. Meagan, on the other hand (and Thank Goodness) wore a softly draped cowl front, fluttery skirt and sequined torso with a very unfortunate hairstyle. All this changed for what they wore for last week's 2014 ISU World Figure Skating Championships. She wore a silver costume that showed off her very toned arms and his was an all-black look. Which one do you guys liked best?






Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres, Short Program to Minnie the Moocher by Cab Calloway, Jumpin' Jack by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy: These costumes were a Costume Change from what they had worn at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Above is the "new" costumes. James wore a red with black trim halter costume and Cipres donned a silver and black sequined plunging neckline long sleeve shirt with black pants. These costumes were a Costume Change from what they had worn at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics: 






Purple Queen and "Jazzy Vest" King...Which ones do you guys like the best?  I am definitely a fan of the new costumes worn at Worlds. Red for Vanessa and plunging for Morgan...a hard combination to beat!



**Next Up: The 2014 ISU World Figure Skating Costumes--The MEN and ICE DANCE!


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

Friday, February 21, 2014








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!

 

Total Pageviews

Popular Posts