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Tania Bass

Designer Outfits Four Olympians

February 17, 2006
Photo © Tania Bass

American costume designer Tania Bass will be dressing figure skaters Emily Hughes, Irina Slutskaya, and the ice dancing team of Jamie Silverstein and Ryan O'Meara for the 2006 Torino Olympics.

Based in New York City's theater district, Bass has been dressing actors, dancers, skaters, famous singers and dignitaries for over 25 years.

This will be Bass' third consecutive Olympics in which major competitors have worn her designs. Michael Weiss, Sarah Hughes, and the ice dancing duo Beata Handra and Charles Sinek wore Bass designs at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. The 1998 Nagano Olympics featured Bass designs worn by pairs team Kyoko Ina and Jason Dungjen.

When Emily Hughes was called upon to represent the United States in Torino due to the sudden withdrawal of Michelle Kwan, this presented a unique challenge for the Bass. Design work for Hughes' costumes (originally slated to be worn in March at the Worlds Championships) needed to be prepared immediately for Torino. These include dresses in optical white, burgundy, as well as basic black, all of which feature extensive hand beading. Hughes will also be bringing the costumes she wore at the recent US National Figure Skating Championships.

Slutskaya and Bass have been collaborating since May 2005 when they were introduced by Jo-Jo Starbuck. Thus far, four competition unitards, three flamenco dresses, and several undisclosed designs have been created and tested. The two-time and reigning World champion sported two of these costumes at both the 2005 Cup of Russia and 2005 NHK Trophy Grand Prix events.

Ice dancing team Jamie Silverstein and Ryan O'Meara have been wearing Bass designs for their Original and Free dances since August 2005. The competitors and the designer began working together after the ice dancers saw Sandra Goodwin and Chris Obzansky wearing Bass designs at the 2005 Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships.

Bass draws her inspiration from the dedication, ambition, focus and grace that each of these athletes possess - whether it be a child taking her first step on ice or an international-level skater.

"The artistic execution of the design is really only one of the several critical areas in which a design needs to be judged," explained Bass when asked what constitutes a great costume. "Equally important, are the functional aspects of the design: a perfect fit, the skater's comfort, and the specific construction techniques utilized so that the skater can have complete confidence in the garment during competition."