ICE STYLE.....Figure Skating Costumes Recap/Highlights of Four Continents Championships 2014: Ladies and Pairs

 India vs. China Fashionistas: Ami Parekh of India , Sijun Li of China give some Costume Couture--Four Continents 2014, Taipei City Chinese Taipei, Taipei Arena

This past week was the 2014 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, held in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei. Skaters from North America, Africa, Asia and Oceania competed in the ISU sanctioned event in disciplines of Men's singles, Ladies singles, Pairs and Ice Dance.

Of note: none of last year's Four Continents Champions defended their title this year in order to prepare for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. Now, let's get to the FASHION--First up: The Ladies and Pairs Costumes Recap/Highlights:

 Top Three Ladies: (left to right) silver medalist Satoko Miyahara of Japan, gold medalist Kanako Murakami of Japan and bronze medalist Zijun Li of China pose with their medals--Four Continents 2-14 Taipei City, Chinese Taipei

Kanako Murakami of Japan, Short Program: Kanako skated her Short Program to Violin Muse by Ikuko Kawai. I love this costume and the mixing of colors and patterns. Here is what I've already said about this costume.

Kanako Murakami of Japan, Free Skate: For her Free Skate to Papa Can You Hear Me (from "Yentl" soundtrack) by Barbara Streisand, Kanako wore this blue sequined costume. I like this--it's pretty but nothing extraordinary. I do like the costume she wore before during the season--you can see that one HERE.

Mirai Nagasu of US, Free Skate: Mirai Nagasu won the Bronze at the U.S. Nationals earlier this year and even though she should have gone to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics as a result, the US Figure Skating Committee decided to send 4th place Ashley Wagner instead. She came to the "Four Continents 2014 Figure Skating Championships" with a heavy heart and tried her best but it wasn't a success. Now, back to her costume...She wore this above for her Free Skate to Music from James Bond by various artists. It is pretty, elegant and somewhat mysterious--and right for the "James Bond Girl" theme of her skate. Here is more of what I've already said about this costume.

Samantha Cesario of the US, Short Program: I LOVE Samantha Cesario's red hot costume for her Short program to "Fever" by various artists. It is perfect for the music and skate and bold in its coloring, sequins and use of fringe. This could have gone TACKY-licious quickly, and yet it did not. It was FEVER-hot!

Samantha Cesario of the US, Free Skate: Her costume for her Free Skate to "Carmen Suite" by Georges Bizet and Konstantinovich Shchedrin was also well done. It was a black/nude costume with swirly sequined detail. Any time a skater skates to "Carmen" and doesn't go the typical route of wearing a red rose in her hair and/or a toreador bolero and red/black costume...I am happy--as long as it is done well. And by the way, both costumes were designed by Samantha herself, as well as Tania Bass. Congrats Samantha! Good job.

SoYoun Park of South Korea, Free Skate: Simply beautiful. That's what I can say about this Free Skate costume of SoYoun Park's for Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The deep navy blue colored costume featured sequins throughout done wonderfully, especially the light blue colored section at the center front. I also loved the beautiful open back.

Amelie Lacoste of Canada, Free Skate: Amelie wore this rose pink costume for her Free Skate skating to the "Amelie Poulain" soundtrack by Yann Tiersen. I have to admit that I am not a fan of this costume; it looks heavy-handed and cheap. And the various design details (heavy neck edge trim, gathered bust, sequined front) just do not mesh together harmoniously.

Satoko Miyahara of Japan, Free Skate: For her Free Skate to Poeta by Vincente Amigo--a tango--Satoko wore this deep red with black costume. The costume featured one long-sleeve, nude neck covering (that was too light for her skin) and less-than-expensive looking crystal detail. In other words: I didn't like so much. This could have been better. She needs to call Mao Asada's costume designer, like ASAP.

Zijun Li of China, Free Skate: The Chinese skaters--I have said this before--have really stepped it up in terms of costumes and costume design. And this one on Zijun Li is a great example. She skated her Free Skate to Coppelia by Leo Delibes in this look. It was a black and fuchsia one-sleeve costume with leaf-like crystal detail. She also wore THE accessory of the season: gloves. I thought this costume was beautiful, looked expensive and designed quite well.

Veronik Mallet of Canada, Free Skate: Veronik skated her Free Skate to Funny Girl by Jule Styne in this fun black sequined and fringed costume with pearl necklace detail. It was cute but part of me wished she would have done something like THIS (without the baby bump of course!).

Alisson Krystle Perticheto of the Philippines, Free Skate: Alisson skated her Free Skate to Sleeping Beauty by Petr I. Tchaikovski wearing this costume above. The costume was pretty but seemed a tad bit "Sleeping Beauty: High School". I know that she is not one of the "A-List" skaters in the World so I can cut her some "costume slack". But next time: remove those arm/bicep band ruffle pieces. Please.

Ami Parekh of India, Short Program: Ami skated her Short Program to Raga-Jazz Style by Shankar Jaikishan. Although the costume itself was simple and un-fussy, I liked it. She could have gone the whole "Bollywood Couture" route and she didn't. Part of me wishes I could see that version but at the same time, this was a nice (subdued) costume.



Pairs Costumes Highlights:

Wenting Wang and Yan Zhang of China, Free Skate: You cannot really tell from this photo but her costume was FABULOUS! Once again, the Chinese are stepping it up with figure skating costumes. This Pairs team skated their Free Skate to Humanity by Tomoyasu Hotei, Parisian Walkways by Gary Moore and Malaguena by Ernesto Lecuona. The costumes--especially hers--were very well constructed, looked expensive and very chic. I LOVED the Art Deco-like sequin work of her one-shoulder costume, particularly.

Margaret Purdy and Michael Marinaro of Canada, Short Program: Purdy and Marinaro wore these costumes to their Short Program to Casablanca (soundtrack) by Max Steiner. I didn't get what these costumes had to do with "Casablanca". At all. It almost looked as if they went to a Figure Skating Costume shop and said "I want this and I want that". They could have been skating to a (name a Disney film) soundtrack.

Tarah Kayne and Daniel O'Shea of US, Free Skate: I absolute LOVED these costumes from U.S. Pairs skating team Kayne and O'Shea. They skated their Free Skate to  "Don Quixote" by Ludwig Minkus. These were unique--even for this been there/done that genre and worked very well with the music. And they looked well done and not cheap-looking (a bit of a criteria for me). These costumes--by the way--were designed by Dawn Imperatore. Very well done Dawn!

Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier of US, Free Skate: I really like these costumes from the US Pairs team of Denney and Frazier which they wore for their Free Skate to Notre Dame de Paris (soundtrack) by Richard Cocciante. You can read my thoughts HERE.

Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China, Free Skate: Sui and Han skated their Free Skate to Kalinka (Russian Folk Music) and I have discussed these costume HERE. I think these costumes are FANTASIC!



***Next Up : Costumes Recap/Highlights of "2014 Four Continents" Men and Ice Dance!

ICE STYLE.....2014 U.S. Prudential Figure Skating Championships Costumes Recap: Ladies & Pairs Free Program Costumes

Golden Girl: Gracie Gold with coaches Scott Brown and Frank Carroll--2014 U.S. Prudential Figure Skating Championships, TD Garden Boston Massachusetts 

In Part Three of my Costumes Recap of  the 2014 U.S. Prudential Figure Skating Championships, it's time to discuss the Costume Highlights of the LADIES and PAIRS Free Skate/Long Program. The all-important ladies competition finished and the favorite to win gold--Ashley Wager--came in fourth. Luckily for Ashley, winning a medal at the National Championships does not determine if you will be chosen for the Olympic Team heading to Sochi next month. And  Just today, it was announced that 4th place Ashley Wagner was given a spot to go to the Olympics, therefore leaving actual third place medalist and 2010 Olympian Mirai Nagasu out. She, sadly, will not not be skating at the Olympics.

 Don't Worry, I'm Going: (left to right) Mirai Nagasu and Ashley Wagner, during the Medals Ceremony--2014 U.S. Prudential Figure Skating Championships TD Garden Boston Massachusetts

 Mirai Nagasu--Medals Ceremony--2014 U.S. Prudential Figure Skating Championships TD Garden Boston Massachusetts

Time for the Costumes:

Mirai Nagasu Free Skate: Mirai skated her FS to Music from James Bond by various artists, and I don't know why this didn't come to my Costume Commentin' attention before but...her costume is so similar to Ashley Wagner's Short Program costume (photo, right). It's black with sheer panels and features silver encrusted sequins at the torso and neckline mimicking a necklace. It is pretty, elegant and somewhat mysterious--and right for the "James Bond Girl" theme of her skate.

Ashley Wagner Free Skate: Speaking of Ashley, this is the costume she wore for her Free Skate to Music from Romeo and Juliet by Sergei Prokofiev. The costume is designed by Jan Longmire. I've discussed this costume before and you can read my thoughts HERE.

Ashley Cain, Free Skate: Ashley skated her FS to "Ave Maria" by William Joseph wearing this beautiful costume designed by Denyse Frey and Darlene Cain. The white costume featured asymmetrical lines at the torso with silver crystals throughout, a sheer upper chest and pointed neckline and sleeve hem. She looked very much like an "Ice Princess", and in a good costume-way.

 

Barbie Long Free Skate: I actually really liked this costume that Barbie wore for her FS to "Warsaw Concerto" by Richard Addinsell. The costume was designed by Marilyn Mathiney and Susan Liss and incidentally, 5-time U.S, champion and Olympic silver medalist Tanith Belbin (and a Twitter Buddy of mine!) is her choreographer.  

I liked this silver/gray costume featuring A WHOLE LOT OF silver crystals. The design is very "Retro" and and reminded me very much of Nancy Kerrigan's Lillehammer Olympic Free Skate Costume....

Christina Gao, Free Skate: Christina skated her FS to Music from the Angels and Demons soundtrack by Hans Zimmer and Joshua Bell. Her costume was designed by Yumi Barnett-Nakamura. I thought the torso, which featured a sheer illusion backdrop with solid ivory with silver crystal panels, was quite unique and fab.

Hannah Miller, Free Skate: Hannah skated her FS to "Primavera" by Ludovico Einaudi. Her costume was designed by Elena Pollack. While I liked the color and juxtaposition of the nude illusion with solid with sequins...it's A LOT. The costume does pay homage to the music but it looks a bit sophomoric in its overall design and execution.

Polina Edmunds, Free Skate: Polina wore this ivory costume for her Free Skate to "Solveig's Song" and "Morning" from Peer Gynt by Edvard Grieg. The costume was designed by Lilya Dukler and I thought it was modern, chic and correct, for Polina and that music.

Gracie Gold, Free Skate: Gold Medalist Gracie Gold skated her FS to Music from Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky. Her costume was designed by Gale Johnson and Denise Gold. I really liked this lilac colored costume which featured long sleeves, and uneven "skirt" and silver crystal neck, bust and  sleeve accents. If I had any criticism, it would be...

A TOO WIDE collar band. I just feel that it should have been 1/2"-3/4" thinner.Other than that: good (Costume) job. By the way, this is a COSTUME CHANGE and below, is what she wore...

At the NHK Trophy 2013, which I deemed one of the BEST Figure Skating Costumes of 2013.I am not quite sure why they decided to change the costume as I prefer the original design.



Pairs Free Skate Costume Highlights:

Caydee Denney and John Coughlin, Free Skate: Denney and Coughlin skated their Free Skate to Selections from The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Their costumes were right on with the Musical. He looked sharp in his very fitted costume. Caydee--who can look two seconds away from a "Toddlers & Tiaras" grown-up cast member--looked good in her ivory sequined lace and chiffon number.

Gretchen Donlan and Andrew Speroff, Free Skate: Donlan and Speroff wore these costumes for their FS to "Pas de Deux" from The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky.  The costumes were designed by Yumi Barnett-Nakamura and I thought they were VERY "The Nutcracker". I just wish that there was another way of designing a more modern/directional looking interpretation.

Felicia Zhang and Nathan Bartholomay, Free Skate: Zhang and Bartholomay skated their FS to Music from Les Miserables by Claude-Michel Schonberg. 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. I liked his more than hers. Nathan looked hot, musical-appropriate while Felicia looked as if it was a (costume) after-thought.

Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir, Free Skate: Castelli and Shnapir skated their FS to Music from the Skyfall soundtrack by various artists. Part of me wanted Simon to actually look like James Bond--a Tom Ford-looking fitted suit, etc. But I get that it might be rather restricting when it comes to the skating. So, what costume designers Yumi Nakamura and Paul Ginandes came up with instead seems like a good idea. Marissa's black lace applique costume--by the way--does give a nod to the "Bond Girls" that one may see at a casino scene. Overall, this is a 7.5 out of 10 in my book.



***Next Up: The Free Skate/Free Dance Costume Highlights/Recap of the MEN and ICE DANCE of the 2014 U.S. Figure Skating Championships

Rostelecom Cup / Cup of Russia

 Carolina Kostner Debuts Her New Short Program Costume--Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia 2013 Moscow Russia

This weekend was the Rostelecom Cup (or Cup of Russia) 2013--the final of six international competitions of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating for Season 2013-2014 all leading up to the Grand Prix Final. Rostelecom Cup was held at the Small Sports Arena of Luzhniki in Moscow Russia. I've discussed a lot of the costumes for the previous Grand Prix of this season and you can find those under the "Categories" section on the right side of this blog entitled "Ice Style". So, for now, it's time to discuss the Costumes Recap of the Rostelecom Cup 2013 and the Ladies and Pairs...



Ladies:

Haruka Imai Japan, Short Program: Haruka skated her SP to "Song Without Words" by Felix Mendelssohn. It was an ombre dyed lilac costume with a nude illusion top section and silver/multi-colored jeweled neckline and bust/torso. It was pretty on her and I especially liked the delicate sleeve hem details and hair accessory as well.

Free Skate: For her FS to Piano Concerto by Saint-Preux, I thought this was an impressive costume. It had a teal and light blue multi-layered handkerchief-hemmed skirt, nude illusion top and one-shoulder sequined applique. Loved the colors and I really liked the jeweled/sequin detail. Two for two, as they say, for Haruka Imai and her 2013/2014 Season costumes.

Kanako Murakami Japan Short Program: Kanako wore this black and white costume for her SP to "Catgroove," "Libella Swing" and "Swing Bop". The costume looked a bit too "Jr. Skater" for me. The diamante vertical detail on the torso seemed cheap and the style uncreative. But, she is on trend with the gloves; LOTS of the Ladies Figure Skaters are donning gloves this season.

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva Russia, Short Program: Speaking of gloves...Russian Ladies Figure Skater Elizaveta Tuktamysheva skated her SP to a Latin Medley wearing this glove-accessorized look: it was a one-shoulder black costume with silver sparkle crystals and nude illusion neck and sleeve section. Once again, I felt this could have been more; it just did not scream "Olympic Costume" but more (yet again!), "Jr. Figure Skater". And, need I add, the messy hair didn't help. It looked as if she just got up and pulled a pony-tail as she was getting ready to head to her nearest Starbucks! Try again darling.

Julia Lipnitskaia Russia, Short Program Costume Change: Little Julia Lipnitskaia skated her SP to "You Don't Give Up on Love" by Mark Minkov at Rostelecom Cup 2013 and she wore a different costume than what she had worn previously at Skate Canada 2013...and I loved it! This was a great costume change! This costume--which was a navy and light blue costume with midnight blue stretch illusion and sequins--was so much more refined and elegant than her "young and cute" look here:

The costume she wore at her last Grand Prix appearance at Skate Canada 2013

Mirai Nagasu USA, Short Program Costume Change--Another skater who had a costume change was USA's Mirai Nagasu. On the left is what she wore to this past weekend's Rostelcom Cup/Cup of Russia 2013 and on the right, is what she last wore at NHK Trophy 2013 during her SP to "The Man I Love" by George Gershwin. There were subtle changes but, generally, it was a nice improvement. I still feel her costume needs to have a little more interesting style; sorry to be so blunt but both look slightly "store bought".

Carolina Kostner Italy, Free Skate Costume Change: There was a rumour (someone on my Twitter told me) that Italian Ladies Figure Skater Carolina Kostner's Free Skate costume that she wore at Cup of China 2013 to "Scheherazade" by Nikoli Rimsky-Korsakov (seen above on the right) wasn't her "real" one. Cut to this past weekend's Rostelecom Cup 2013 and she "debuted" a new look (left photo).  I like this new one much better; it didn't look like a "Russian Folk Song" costume (the one on the right did) and reflected much more the music and theme.I appreciated the intricacy of the beadwork in the upper torso and how it stood out against a skin-colored illusion background. With that being said....IT WAS A LOT OF LOOK! It all could be toned down just a bit and I am definitely not so sure about the beaded crotch section!!!



Carolina Kostner, Short Program Costume Addition:

Carolina Kostner also added two beaded straps to the back of her Short Program costume (seen above) which she didn't have at her last Grand Prix appearance here:

Without the straps: Carolina Kostner at Cup of China 2013

Pairs:

Julia Antipova and Nodari Maisuradze Russia, Short Program: Russian Figure Skating Pair Antipova and Maisuradze skated their Short Program to "Beethoven's 5 Secrets" by The Piano Guys in these costumes above. I liked these costumes for several reasons: the contrast between the male and the female, in colors. Also, I appreciated that the male's costume details almost mirrored hers, but with additional details. Many times, in Pairs, you're dealing with the guy in a black basic costume and the female in a super-sequined, colored look that has NOTHING to do with his black top and pants. So, I am happy that, at least, these two look as if they belong together!

Free Skate: For their FS to "Money" and "The Great Gig in the Sky" by Pink Floyd, I loved that they went "Period Rocker". She looked delicate, feminine and pretty in her pink cowl neck costume but "toughened" it up with a black diamante studded "harness" vest. And Nodari looked like a 80's Euro Rock Star (in a FAB way!) in his black Lycra with silver studs and sequined look.

Lindsay Davis and Rockne Brubaker USA, Short Program: These costumes above are what US Pairs skaters Davis and Brubaker wore for their SP to "Le Petite Fleur" and "Skokia" by Louis Armstrong. Frankly, I was bored. Lindsay looked like a saloon waitress in the old Wild West. And Rockne, well...it's a black dress shirt, black pants with a "pop" of deep lavender. Not so much to discuss. On a positive note: at least they matched--color-wise. Other than this, these were not creative.

Kristen Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch Canada, Short Program: When I saw this Pairs team's costumes, I thought "Oh, these look familiar!". And I was right. The Canadian Pairs team of Moore-Towers and Moscovitch repeated their Season 2012-2013 Short Program to "A Motley Crew" from the Mic Macs soundtrack by Raphael Beau and Max Steiner for this season. They also did a repeat for their costumes. Here is what I said then about these costumes.

Narumi Takahashi and Ryuichi Kihara Japan, Short Program: Takahashi and Kihara skated their SP to Music from Samson and Delilah by Camille Saint-Saens in these costumes above and I really liked them. I loved the red and black contrast and the fact that they didn't go the predictable Near East costume route. I also loved the "car wash"-like skirt which really looked great as Narumi was tossed and did her jumps/turns.

Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov Russia, Free Skate: Stolbova and Klimov wore these bright, graphic costumes for their FS 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.

Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov Russia, Free Skate: For their FS costumes at the Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia 2013 skating to "Polovetsian Dances" from Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin, which I have discussed previously HERE --which I liked!), Vera added something that wasn't present at their previous appearance: the headband with red accent. Here's how she looked without it at 2013 Trophée Eric Bompard:

 Do you guys like her better with--or without? Let me know--I'm thinking without.

***NEXT UP: Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia 2013 Costumes Recap: The MEN and ICE DANCE!!