NICK APPEARANCES.....Nick Verreos on NBC.com Streaming "Olympic Ice" show Discussing Figure Skating Costumes!

Nick Verreos Skypes in on NBC.com "Olympic Ice" show, discussing Figure Skating Fashion with hosts Sarah Hughes and Russ Thaler

Last night were the Ice Dance Finals at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. If you've been keeping up on my blog here and especially anything "ICE STYLE", you know I'm a big fan of figure skating and love to talk about the costumes, especially, since fashion is my forte, as opposed to actual figure skating.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of being invited on an NBC.com online show "Olympic Ice" as part of all the NBC Olympics streaming channels, to discuss the Ice Dance costumes and some of my favorite and not-so favorite figure skating costumes so far. This is my 3rd time appearing on Olympic Ice! I have been part of the show for the Torino 2006 Olympics, Vancouver 2010 Olympics and now the Sochi 2014 Olympics! In fact, back in 2006 I actually was flown to Torino, Italy to be part of the show and it was my very first media appearance post-Project Runway. So, I definitely have a special place in my heart for the show.

This season, the show is hosted by 2002 Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hughes (Love her!) and Russ Thaler, host of NBC SportsTalk (and a sharp dresser!). The "Olympic Ice" studios are in Connecticut and I am in Los Angeles so therefore I Skyped in for my "appearance". Some of the costumes I talked about were...

2014 Olympic gold medalists Meryl David and Charlie White of the U.S., silver medalists from Canada Virtue and Moir and the "Shib Sibs" (Maia and Alex Shibutani of the U.S.)...I also discussed this boy on the right, Misha Ge of Uzbekistan (naturally!)

 You can watch the entire show HERE

 

ICE STYLE.....Figure Skating Costumes Recap/Highlights of the Sochi 2014 Olympics Ice Dance Costumes!

 USA Gold: Gold medalists (center) Meryl Davis and Charlie White waive to the crowd at the Ice Dance Finals Sochi Olympics Medal Ceremony, Iceberg Skating Palace Sochi Russia

Last night were the Ice Dance Finals at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. I had the pleasure of being invited to be part of NBC's "Olympic Ice" show on NBC.com to talk about the Ice Dance costumes with 2002 Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hughes earlier yesterday (yes, I woke up very early to watch the finals here where I live in Los Angeles). You can watch my "Nick Costume Recap" HERE. But, here on my blog it's time to discuss the highlights of the Ice Dance costumes and the running theme: Costume Changes! First off, time to congratulate Meryl Davis and Charlie White for getting the gold medal, along with silver and bronze medalists from Canada and Russia respectfully:

Raise Your Bouquets: (left to right) Silver medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada, gold medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White, and bronze medalists Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov of Russia--Iceberg Skating Palace Sochi Russia

Now, time for the Costumes-- I want to start with Davis and White, the gold winning Ice Dance pair:

Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the U.S., Free Dance to “Scheherazade” by Nikoli Rimsky-Korsakov: I LOVE these costumes. They belong together--both  Meryl and Charlie meet my criteria that the costumes must have something to do with the music/theme. Meryl looks exotic, sensual and utterly hypnotic, which is what Scheherazade should be in this draped and jeweled costume. In the past, I scoffed at Charlie's tussled messy hair and how I wished--for some of their more elegant programs--that possibly he could have at least added some gel. But I take it back; his messy surfer-boy-like hair works in ANY ice dance he is in. Period. 



Her costume was a different color from what she had worn for the Figure Skating Team Competition at the Sochi 2014 Olympics a couple of weeks back:

Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the U.S., Free Dance, Sochi 20-14 Olympics Team Competition--Her costume was the same but a different color-way as we say. This one was teal-colored while the one she wore to the finals was lilac. She had worn the lilac one to the U.S. Nationals in January:

 Meryl Davis and Charlie White at the Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships at TD Garden on January 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts 

Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the U.S., Short Dance to "My Fair Lady": This above is what they wore for their Short Dance and I liked it since it reflected more of Audrey Hepburn's character in the iconic film and the blouson sleeves/neckline were more in tune with the Period of the movie. It was designed by Randall Christensen of Randall Designs. Christensen, in case you didn't know, was the Costume Designer for ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" from Season 2-12. So, if anyone knows how to create performance, dance-heavy costumes, it is him! This pink costume on Meryl above was a change in what she had previously worn during the entire season for the same program (also designed by Randall Christensen):

 Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the U.S., Short Program costumes, before the Sochi 2014 Olympics

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada, Free Dance to Petit Adagio by Alexander Glazunov, Waltz in Concerto No. 2 by Alexander Glazunov, Allegro Moderato by Alexander Skriabin: Scott wore all black with blouson sleeves and Tessa wore a dusty rose dress with chiffon knee-length skirt and scroll-like sequin applique. Her costume was pretty and delicate, if not a bit underwhelming. But I did recognize the gorgeous and very expensive-looking crystal applique bodice work. This above was a costume change--for Tessa AND Scott--from what they wore for the same Free Dance during the Team Competition:

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada, Free Dance costumes, Sochi 2014 Figure Skating Team Competition: Tessa wore a bright red dress with heavily detailed gold trim and sequins reminiscent of a Faberge egg, while Scott's shirt had contrast red piping, insets and buttons. These costumes seemed very "Russian"--the music itself was Russian-composed. I like the more subtle dusty rose costume which she chose for the Finals. I'm not used to see Tessa costumed so "elaborately".



 Costume Change Queen (and King):

Canadian Costume Changes: For this same Free Dance program, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir have worn these other looks/costumes above. On the left is what they wore at the Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships/Canadian Nationals 2014 in January 2014 and the right photo is what they wore for ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2013/2014 on December 2013, Japan.



And then there was another Costume Change:

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada, Short Dance to Foxtrot: Dream a Little Dream by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong; Quickstep: Muskrat Ramble by Louis Armstrong; Foxtrot: Heaven by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong: Scott wore a white tuxedo shirt, black suspenders, bow tie and pants. Tessa wore a black shimmering dress with Art Deco-like neckline detail. This was a costume change for Tessa from what she wore for the Figure Skating Team Competition Short Dance program:

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada, Short Dance, Sochi 2014 Figure Skating Team Competition/Short Dance: Tessa wore a black dress with pointed "car wash" hemmed skirt and black sequin detail. I liked the black dress/costume she wore to the Finals better; the neckline detail seemed more refined, delicate and interesting.

Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov of Russia, Free Dance to "Swan Lake": I love these costumes. Simply one of the best of the Ice Dance. Elena and Nikita are the Supermodels of Sochi; both are beautiful and both looked stunning in their costumes. From the photos above (left, the Sochi 2014 Ice Dance Finals tonight and right, the Sochi 2014 Figure Skating Team Competition). I wanted to highlight if you noticed something different/missing--costume-wise. If you guessed her headdress, you are right...(and gloves!):

 Elena wore a red and silver crystal headdress/crown on her forehead for the Finals above, while she went crown-less for the Team Competition. Speaking of crowns...

Elena Ilinykh wore a silver tiara for the ISU Grand Prix NHK Trophy 2013

Ekaterina Brobova Dmitri Soloviev Brobova of Russia, Free Dance to "Man with a Harmonica" from the Once Upon a Time in the West soundtrack by Ennio Morricone: These costumes above--and program/music--were from their 2011-2012 Season. She wore a black uneven hemmed dress with plunging square-shaped neckline and Dmitry, a gray loose sweater and dark gray pants. This was modern and directional but not impacting enough for the Olympics. I am not sure why they changed their programs and went back to a previous one--as well as previous costumes--these were the SAME costumes they wore for the 2011-2012 Season. 



Previously--for the 2013 Season...

Their Free Dance was to Music from The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi and "Lacrimosa" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and they had different costumes for this program: At the Russian Nationals 2014 in late December 2013, Bobrova and Soloviev wore these ombre blue/gray and ivory costumes above...

 And before that, they wore these costume above for the 2013 ISU Grand Prix Finals in Japan in mid December 2013

And before that...they wore two of my favorite costumes of the season back in November 2013 at the ISU Grand Prix Lexus Cup of China 2013. These were spectacular bird-like costumes. They looked like Paris Runway Ravens ready to take
off into an amazing ornithological pas des deux. They thought
about everything--from her chic runway-like hairstyle to the unusual
"feathered wings" that were attached through her arms and back; simply outstanding! I wish they would have worn these to the Sochi 2014 Olympics (as well as skated to the music that corresponded with these).

Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte of Italy, Free Dance to Overture from Barber of Seville by G. Rossini: Speaking of costume change, Anna Cappellini of Italy changed her costume for this Free Dance. Previously (as seen in the photo on the right), she had worn a deep red ruched and draped costume with fringed hem. The costume she wore for the Finals was ivory, ruched and gathered at the torso and ruffled at the hem with "fan" details at the bodice. Which one do you guys like best? The new, or old one?

Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani of the U.S., Free Dance to "Michael Jackson Medley": Maia changed her costume--slightly--for this Ice Dance Final. This costume above, a black with silver crystals, neckband and arm-bands was different from...

...what she wore for the Sochi 2014 Olympics Figure Skating Team Competition (photo above). The change was very slight. The one above featured a one sleeve/shoulder silhouette and different torso styling. Even though it was subtle, it was still a different costume. Alex's costume stayed the same. One of my favorite details of their costumes is...

 Alex's red sequined lapel lining which he snaps open to display toward the end of their program

Maia and Alex Shbutani--"The Shib Sibs"--also had a Costume Change for their Short Dance:

Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani of the U.S., Short Dance to a Michael Bublé medley: Alex's costume was a bow tie-less tuxedo shirt with black buttons and black pants, while Maia wore a very pretty blue costume with nude illusion top and corseted midriff featuring gorgeous silver beading. Her costume was a change from what she had previously worn...

...at the 2014 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships/U.S. Nationals on January 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts:this time she wore a deep magenta-colored chiffon dress with a sweetheart neckline and heavily beaded bodice.

Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the U.S., Free Dance to Selections from Les Misérables by various artists: Madison designs all their costumes and this dusty rose pink dress on her was a costume change from what she had worn previously. This above was lovely and reminiscent of the "Cosette" character. It featured an ivory ruffled neckline and lightly corseted bodice and slight hi-lo hemline. It was a change from what she wore at the U.S. Nationals last month:

Madison wore this dress/costume above at the 2014 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships/U.S. Nationals in Boston, Massachusetts in January. This dress had a gathered bust more heavily sequined bodice/midriff and shredded chiffon shoulder straps. Evan--like most of the other Ice Dance male partners--stayed the same; he looked sharp, elegant and perfect as the Ice Dance Marius of "Les Mis".

Congratulations to the Top Three medalists! And especially Meryl Davis and Charlie White for winning the Gold Medal! Go USA!

ICE STYLE.....The Pink Panther RETURNS, Costume Changes + More: Sochi Olympics Figure Skating Pairs Costume Highlights!

 Pink Panther DIVA RETURNS!!!...Plus... some Costume Changes...

some Costume Changes...

  Time for my Figure Skating Costume Highlights...

Figure Skating is in FULL FORCE at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics which means one thing: Time to discuss the Costumes! The last two days were the Pairs Figure Skating Competition. There were some "Costume Highlights" and so...here we go. Let's begin with the "Pink Panther" in the room:

Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany, Short Program: Savchenko and Szolkowy skated their short program to Henry Manicini's soundtrack to "The Pink Panther" and needless to say that it was Aliona's bubblegum pink jumpsuit that stole the show. The costume featured a blindingly bright pink color and a silver crystal stripe down top portion. Her boots were even covered in the same Lycra pink fabrication. Oh, and in case you missed her--she also has a pink mini-scrunchie on her hair!

Backless: Her perfectly chiseled and toned back was exposed in a cut-out feature in the costume. She was THE SEXIEST Pink Panther EVAH! Oh...and Robin (her partner) looked, well, just OK as the "Inspector". In case you were wondering, this was a Return/Throw-back to the same costumes they wore for their 2010-2011 Season LONG program:

Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany--2010-2011 Season Long Program "Pink Panther" costumes

Now, in case you thought the "Pink Panther" costumes were A LOT, take a look at this "Costume Photo gallery" of the KRAZEE costumes they've worn before:

Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy at 2012 Skate Canada Short Program to "Kismet" by Bond--they went very
Cirque du Soleil splatter-paint/tie-dye with crystals--for their
costumes. She wore a
predominantly red multicolored unitard with a swirly illusion torso and
choker/mock-neck detail. He wore a darker unitard with the Gay Rainbow
Flag splattered on half his torso and legs.

Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy 2012 Skate Canada Long Program to "Flamenco Bolero"--Robin wore another unitard so
it's a good guess that he probably LOVES untitards--or showing off his
perfect physique via a unitard. These costumes were like a Costume Tribute to Spanish Catalan artist Joan Miró-meets-Cirque du Soleil (once again!). 

Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy at the 2013 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Canada--Same program, same music but (a little) more subdued costumes. Still Tacky-licious.



Now, let's discuss The Gold medalists from Russia:

Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia, Free Skate to Music from Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber--

I love how the bright
golden yellow color of his (very tight) pants are brought into the goldenrod color of Tatiana's gathered costume. The color really stood out on Olympics ice and made them looked perfectly matched. It's all a perfect pairing in costumes and just right for the
music. And just for good measure, I have to add: Maxim has got to be one of the SEXIEST men
in Figure Skating. JEEEE---SUS is right! Now, this is a Costume Change--on Tatiana's part--for what she had worn before for this same Free Skate:

Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia, Free Skate at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
Final 2013/2014 Fukuoka,
Japan--Her costume was the same costume but different color--an ombre white/gray version. I LOVE the golden colored one much better; it was more visually impacting and really highlighted her in the program (since when they skate, I cannot stop staring at HIM!)

Qing Pang and Jian Tong of China, Free Skate to "I Dreamed a Dream" from the Les Misérables soundtrack by Claude-Michel Schönberg--These costumes were quite fabulous I have to say. I love how the costume designer interpreted a directional--yet still Period--vision of "Les Miz". Her costume was chic, loved the multi-straps, asymmetrical neckline and mini flutter sleeve, and the bright red color was just perfect on such a world stage as the Olympics. His jacket-and-waistcoat (vest) with cravat look was sharp, elegant and well-matched to her costume. Notice how the same red of her costume was brought into his jacket lapel/notched collar. These looks were a (wise) Costume Change from what we saw them wear for this same program and music in past competitions:

Qing Pang and Jian Tong of China, Free Skate at the
Lexus Cup of China ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2013 in Beijing, China--I loved these costumes as well but definitely the Sochi Olympic designs are much more impacting and creative--design-wise.

 Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov of Russia, Free Skate to the "Polovtsian Dances" from Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin--Russian pair Bazarova and Larionov wore these costumes for the Free Skate. The music they skated to comes from an opera which recounts the campaigns of Russian prince Igor Svyatoslavich
against the Polovtsian tribes in 1185. I am guessing the costume
designer wanted to interpret a little of the Medieval-like feel into
the ensembles and play with some added "Spartacus/Spartan" touches as
well.  Not sure of this but looking at past photos of their Free Skate and costumes, it may seem as if the color of his "tunic" was changed. Above it's a plum color while...

This photo above of Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov from the ISU Rostelecom Cup of Figure Skating 2013 (November 
2013) in Moscow, Russia, looks as if his tunic is black. It  might just be the coloring of the photo and lighting...Also, right before they skated at the Rostelecom Cup at...

Trophee Eric Bompard 2013 (above photo) gorgeous Vera's costume lacked something. Can you see what she isn't wearing that now is part of her costume? Yep--her headband. Overall, I liked their looks; they were strong, sexy and good for the music. If there was a little bit of a negative, I would say they are a couple minutes away (not seconds but minutes!) from looking like store-bought Halloween costumes from a store in Hollywood Blvd.



Finally, I want to give Costume Props to the French Pair of...

Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres--For their Free Skate to Music from the Angels and Demons soundtrack by Hans Zimmer and the Requiem for a Dream soundtrack by Clint Mansell, they wore these costumes.
These were outstanding and some of my favorites of all the Pairs Figure Skaters; The curved asymmetrical style lines, the
expensive crystal work, the contrast in color between James and
Cipres--Her being the Angel and him being the Demon, I presume. It was all fabulous!

Stunning back: J'adore this elaborately beautiful back sequin-and-illusion back on Morgan Cipres' costume.

Almost Perfect Costume Pair: Overall, an outstanding job on the costumes!! If there was any little critique, I just wish her illusion color was closer to her actual skin color. But really, I can put that critique aside because everything else is magical.

***Stay tuned here on my BLOG for more Costumes Highlights of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Figure Skating Costumes!