ICE STYLE.....Costume Changes at 2013-2014 Japan Figure Skating Championships and 2014 Russian Figure Skating Championships

 Costume Change Ladies: Akiko Suzuki and Kanako Murakami and their new costumes for their Free Skate and Short Program respectively, at the 2013-2014 Japan Figure Skating Championships

This past Holiday Week was a busy week for International Figure Skating Competitions: both the 2013-2014 Japan Figure Skating Championships and 2014 Russian Figure Skating Championships took place either before Christmas or right after. After getting back from my yearly Christmas trip to visit family in San Antonio Texas, I caught up via YouTube watching them. One thing really caught my attention: there were SEVERAL costume changes for the Ladies at the Japanese Nationals and one particular of note at the Russian Nationals. Needless to say, I felt it necessary to discuss here on my "Ice Style" blog. Let's begin:

Akiko Suzuki Free Skate Costume at 2013-2014 Japan Figure Skating Championships: Akiko surprised everyone and won the Gold Medal skating her Free Skate to Music from The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber. This costume above was a new costume as opposed to what she had worn at the 2013 NHK Trophy (below). This costume above was a sweeter and more delicate "Phantom" heroine, featuring a creme colored "skirt"/fitted midriff and multicolored flowered applique sequined top section.

Free Skate Costume at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2013/2014 NHK Trophy: This is what she wore for her "Phantom" Free Skate at NHK--I liked this and thought it was quite elegant and modern. For some reason, she decided to change it. Which costume do you like best for her Free Skate? Now that she will be going to the Olympics in Sochi, she has a big decision to make!

Haruka Imai Short Program Costume at 2013-2014 Japan Figure Skating Championships: At last week's Japanese Nationals, Haruka Imai debuted this costume above to her Short Program Music of Song Without Words in D Major Op. 109 by Felix Mendelssohn. It was an EXACT duplicate of what she had been wearing in other 2013 Season Grand Prix but in a different color way. This one above was in pink, light dusty rose tones while...

This above is what she had worn before as her Short Program Costume--Photo above is from the 2013 Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia. I like them both, but if I had to choose I would pick the darker purple in the original costume. My main issue remains the nude illusion sleeves that are too big in both costumes.

Kanako Murakami Short Program Costume at 2013-2014 Japan Figure Skating Championships: Kanako is THE Costume Change Queen...At the Japanese Nationals, she debuted this gray, magenta, black and silver one shoulder costume for her Short Program to Catgroove by Parov Stelar, Libella Swing by Parov Stelar and Swing Bop. This modern looking costume was definitely a better costume choice than what we had seen her in before for the same Short Program:

Kanako Murakami Short Program Costume 2013 Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia of Figure Skating--this black and white with diamantes costume was a bore. It also look very store bought. Glad she decided to change it. And mind you, this above was a COSTUME CHANGE from this:

Short Program Costume at 2013 Lexus Cup of China--I LOVED this colorful fringed costume. It was a bit "Cirque du Soleil"-ish, yes, but I still loved it.

Now, the Costume Changes for Kanako didn't stop at her Short Program...

Kanako Murakami, Free Skate 2013-2014 Japan Figure Skating Championships: Kanako wore this above for the Japan Nationals last week for her Free Skate to Papa Can You Hear Me (from "Yentl" soundtrack) by Barbara Streisand. Now, this wasn't the first time we saw this costume. She actually debuted this costume at the 2013 Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia in November 2013. This costume, however was different from what she had worn before the 2013 Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia for her Free Skate...

Free Skate Costume Lexus Cup of China 2013--I liked this costume above and I also like her most recent Free Skate choice. If I had to chose, I'd say I like the one above more. Which one do you guys like better? Kanako is also going to the Sochi Olympics, so I will be waiting with bated breath as to what she will choose for the big event.

Miki Ando Short Program Costume at 2013-2014 Japan Figure Skating Championships: Miki Ando wore this deep lilac with an ombre yellow-green shading at the skirt sequined applique costume at the Japan Nationals to her Short Program to My Way by Frank Sinatra. This was a costume change from what she wore the last time she skated at...

Golden Spin of Zagreb 2013--Miki Ando Short Program Costume--I like both but if I had to chose I would say the lilac/ombre applique one from the Japan Nationals. While I like the navy blue sequined accents on this one above, I am not a fan of the length of the skirt and how she only has one layer of chiffon and you can see her unitard underneath.



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 Moving on, and now Russia and the 2014 Russian Figure Skating Championships...

 Iceberg Skating Palace in Sochi Russia

Alena Leonova Short Program Costume at 2014 Russian Figure Skating Championships: Alena skated her Short Program to Barynia (Russian Folk music) Kalinka (Russian Folk music)--which she also skated to for her 2009-2010 Season--wearing this colorful red and white with gold trim costume above. This was a debut of this costume for Alena. And a "debut" of sorts for this Short Program. The last time we saw her skate at a Grand Prix event earlier this season, she wore her infamous...

Pirates of the Caribbean Costume--Alena Leonova of Russia at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2013/2014 NHK Trophy in Tokyo, Japan November 2013. Alena skated her Short Program to Music from Pirates of the Caribbean (which she also skated to for her 2011-2012 Season) and wore the same costume. Glad she decided to change her costume--and music. And yes, it isn't by coincidence that she is now skating to Russian Folk Music in the lead-up to the Sochi RUSSIA Winter Olympics 2014. Hello! (Unfortunately for her, she didn't make the team).



For now, I'll leave you with Russian Male Figure Skating DIVO (who skated at the Russian Figure Skating Championships) and came in SECOND. How do say "Ouch!" in Russian?

Not Happy: Russian National 2014 Silver Medalist Evgeni Plushenko (left) and Gold Medalist Maxim Kovtun (right)

Uncomfortable: Russian National 2014 Silver Medalist Evgeni Plushenko (left) and Gold Medalist Maxim Kovtun (right)

Happy Figure Skating New Year!!!

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!