ICE STYLE.....Costumes Recap/Highlights of 2014 ISU European Championships of Figure Skating: LADIES & MEN

 Top Three Ladies: (left to right) Adelina Sotnikova of Russia (Silver), Julia Lipnitskaia of Russia (Gold) and Carolina Kostner of Italy (Bronze)--2014 ISU European Figure Skating Championships, Syma Sports and Events Centre Budapest Hungary

This past week and weekend (January 13-19th) were the 2014 ISU European Figure Skating Championships, held at the Syma Sports and Events Centre in Budapest Hungary. NBC/NBC Sports televised the LADIES and MEN'S Free Skate today (Sunday) in the afternoon. I was happy to get some Figure Skating-watching in this weekend naturally and I, especially, was interested in the COSTUMES.

Budapest Hungary--site of the 2014 ISU European Championships of Figure Skating

 Let's begin with a couple of the MEN:

 Top Three Men: (left to right) Silver medalist Sergei Voronov of Russia, gold medalist Javier Fernandez of Spain and bronze medalist Konstantin Menshov of Russia--2014 ISU European Figure Skating Championships, Syma Sports and Events Centre Budapest Hungary

Konstantin Menshov of Russia, Free Skate: For his Free Skate to "Allegro," "Rose" and "Night Run" by Rene Aubry, I liked his black, silver gray and white costume consisting of a stretch top with super tight long sleeves in white with a front flap, silver-gray inset and silver sequins. His pants were black. It was modern and good-looking for his skate. It also featured his very athletic build.

Sergei Voronov of Russia, Free Skate: Russian figure skater Sergei Voronov wore this above for his Free Skate to "A Los Amigos" by Armando Pontier, "Por Una Cabeza" by Carlos Gardel and "Tanguera" by Mariano Mores. The music was very Tango-esque and therefore it went with the black and red...and applique lace. The costume was TACKY-LICIOUS. Although it looked expensive and well-made, it seemed two seconds away from a Cirque du Soleil show; it was rather distracting from his skate, in my eyes. Not a fan of this costume.



Ladies:

Carolina Kostner of Italy, Short Program: Carolina skated a new SP to Ave Maria by Franz Schubert. This was also a NEW COSTUME. The sky blue colored costume featured a "plunging" neckline with gorgeously strewn sequins throughout. It was beautiful, classic and "Ice Princess" perfect. The costume above was different from the last Short Program costume we had seen from her...

Carolina Kostner at the Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia 2013--This red costume was what she wore to her SP to Humoresque by Antonin Dvorak. I was not a fan. It was too "Figure Skating Amateur Hour" and those butterfly appliques were...obnoxious. Glad she changed her costume and music. Grazie Carolina!

Carolina Kostner of Italy, Free Skate: For her Free Skate, she also changed her music and costume. Carolina skated to "Bolero" by Maurice Ravel, performed by Andre Previn and the London Symphony Orchestra. This was the same music she used in last season's (2012-2013) program. Her costume consisted of a black design using solid vs. illusion fabrication and beautiful silver and black icicle-like sequin accents.

The sleeves were see-thru/solid as well as the front torso. The back was designed to be "backless"-looking but there was an annoying white elastic strap that broke the line of the silhouette (right photo). That needs to be changed. ASAP. Other than this, I thought the costume was modern, chic and a nice departure from what she had worn before for her Free Skate to...

Carolina Kostner at the Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia 2013, Free Skate to "Scheherazade" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. This was a very FASHIONISTA costume in its design, sequin accents and bold style. While I liked the sequin detail, I understand how people can see this as a bit, well, TOO MUCHEY.

 Adelina Sotnikova of Russia, Free Skate: Silver medalist Adelina Sotnikova wore this costume above for her Free Skate to "Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28" by Camille Saint-Saëns. The costume featured an ombre lilac/gray colored design with copper/gold sequined trim. I liked this. I also realized that "wait, it looks kinda familiar..."

Adelina Sotnikova, Free Skate Costume at the 2013 ISU Grand Prix Final Championships, Japan--Adelina wore a similar costume at the 2013 ISU Grand Prix Finals for her Free Skate (above photo). The gold/copper sequins were similar but the color of her costume was a darker chocolate brown color. I like the lighter one she wore at the 2014 European Championships of Figure Skating MUCH BETTER!

Julia Lipnitskaia of Russia, Short Program: Gold medalist Julia wore this blue sequined number for her SP to "You Don't Give Up on Love" by Mark Minkov. I loved the light-to-dark blue coloring but my favorite part were the three straps in the back. And yes, this girl CAN JUMP! I would bet money (if I was a betting type) that Julia will be an Olympic Medalist in Sochi!

Valentina Marchei of Italy, Free Skate: Four time Italian champion Valentina Marchei skated her Free Skate to "Nyah" from the Mission Impossible soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. I really liked this black and silver sequined costume. It had a blouson top section in "striped" solid/sheer fabrication with raw edges and paillettes throughout.

Crystal Boots: The costume had an open back save for straps (above photo). BTW, my favorite part were the Swarovski crystal-encrusted figure skating boots. These are FAB!

ICE STYLE.....ISU 2013 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals Costumes Recap: Ladies and Pairs!

 Julia Lipnitskaia of Russia--ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, Marine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan

This weekend the ISU 2013 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final took place in the city of Fukuoka, Japan at the Marine Messe Fukuoka indoor sporting arena. This is where the six highest point-earning skaters from each discipline (Ladies, Men's, Pairs, Ice Dance) from the Grand Prix season got to show their "stuff" and compete for the top Grand Prix of Figure Skating prize.

I have discussed most of the skaters' costumes this entire season (you can check my Recaps here in this blog searching under "Ice Style") so there's not much to say but, I felt I could highlight some that made it to the Final here. And to my surprise, there was still a Costume Change (!) from one of the Ladies skaters. In fact, the eventual Gold medal-winning one! Time for my Recap...

Adelina Sotnikova of Russia, Short Program: For her Short Program to "Habanera" from the "Carmen" Suite by Georges Bizet, Adelina wore a deep red costume consisting of an ombre-shaded skirt, one flutter sleeve, peek-a-boo front neck, and sequin detail. I liked this different, darker and a bit more "fashionable" take on the been there/done that "Carmen" costume.

Adelina Sotnikova of Russia, Free Skate: For her Free Skate to "Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28" by Camille Saint-Saëns, Adelina wore this costume above. It featured a chocolate-colored sheer tulle layering with delicate sequins and a golden crystal-encrusted neckline. It was delicate, modern and right for the skate. I think it is incredibly unique and daring, my only hesitation is that she is just 17 years old! I wonder if it isn't just a bit too revealing for her age.

Ashley Wagner of the US, Short Program: My thoughts on Ashley's SP costume are HERE--and yes, I like it! The costume is elegant, just the right amount of "flashy" and compliments her. And I think the high ponytail is the perfect style for this look.

Julia Lipniskaia of Russia, Short Program: This costume was a "Costume Change" which she debuted at the Rostelecom Cup /Cup of Russia 2013. You can read my review HERE. Let's just say this was a very good costume change.

Mao Asada of Japan, Short Program: For her SP to “Nocturne” by Frederic Chopin, the Japanese figure skater changed her costume! She wore this ombre-shaded burgundy and lilac colored costume featuring a multi-layered skirt, nude illusion halter neckline with built-in sequin necklace and applique torso detail. I'll be honest here: I wasn't a fan. I liked this look below better:

 Mao Asada of Japan, Short Program Costume at NHK Trophy 2013

Mao Asada of Japan, Free Skate--Her Free Skate costume to Piano Concerto No. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff, I did like and I have talked about it HERE. This costume was not the costume she wore for her first appearance in this season's Grand Prix of Figure Skating competition at Hilton HHonors Skate America:

 Mao Asada of Japan, Free Skate at Hilton HHonors Skate America 2013--Which one do YOU guys like best?

Throwing Skating Shade: (Left to right) Julia Lipnitskaia of Russia (Silver), Mao Asada of Japan (Gold), and Ashley Wagner of the USA (Bronze) pose with their medals in the Ladies Free Skating Final
victory ceremony--ISU Grand Prix of Figure
Skating Final 2013/2014 at Marine Messe Fukuoka,
Fukuoka, Japan

Pairs: I want to highlight these Pairs Costumes seen at this weekend's ISU 2013 Grand Prix Final...

Cheng Peng and Hao Zhang of China, Free Skate: For their Free Skate to "Yellow River Concerto", Peng and Zhang wore these costumes above. I really liked them--read my review HERE.

Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany, Short Program: For their Short Program to "When Winter Comes" by Andre Rieu, the German pair wore these costumes. While I liked the "watercolor"-like blue and sequins effect, there was also something I didn't necessary like. Read my full "Costume Critique" HERE .

Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia, Short Program: For their Short Program to "Masquerade Waltz" by Aram Khatchaturian...HERE are my thoughts of these great costumes.