Ladies - White or Tan Boots?

blue dog · Dec 16, 2010

One of Mathman's responses in the MK Headlines Singaporean Rink thread had me wondering--which is more aesthetically pleasing (to you)-- white boots on ladies, or tan boots?

It seemed like for a while, very few skaters wore tan boots. Some would wear their tights over their skates to create a longer leg line, or use boot covers (and Surya would break the mold by NOT wearing tights, and wearing two different boots!). The tan boots were mostly worn by professional women (Katarina, Caryn), again, to elongate the leg line.

Recently, there have been more women who are using the tan boots over the white boots (a lot in ice dance, and in singles, there are Alenka Leonova and Mao Asada). Some fans, and even Judy Blumberg have stated that they prefer white boots over tan. Some, like me, wish there were more colour options (and now I come to find out Elena Gedevanishvili has a pair of pink SP Teri's, and of course, who can forget Pasha Grishuk's lavander Harlicks from 1998?).

dorispulaski · Dec 16, 2010

I can't help it. I love the white boots! Shoot me; I'm old school.

I detest the knobbly, untidy look of the over the boot tights. It amuses the heck out of me that ladies wear them thinking to elongate their leg line and look better, when in fact, it messes up their leg line by making it bumpy, and makes it more obvious by making the line longer and bumpier.

The tan boots, I can live with but I don't love them as much as the white boots.

mycelticblessing · Dec 16, 2010

It is strange, but when I first started watching skating, back in 2006, I thought tan boots looked horrid! I remember really liking Shizuka Arakawa and the way she looked with her white boots, and disliking the tan boots that Cohen and Slutskaya wore. Looking back at old Kwan videos, I think she really rocked white boots! :love:

Now four years later, it seems that I have somehow developed a preference towards tan boots. It really helps lengthen the leg line and the white boots somehow seem to chop up the line (especially in spirals):sheesh:

Strangely enough, my preference for tan boots is only in watching the ladies. I'm ok with either white or tan boots in other disciplines.

Ituriel · Dec 16, 2010

I like white CLEAN boots

iluvtodd · Dec 16, 2010

I don't hate tan boots, but I prefer clean white ones for the ladies.

Olympia · Dec 16, 2010

I like tan boots because I tend to prefer things with color in them. Also tan boots call to mind pink ballet shoes. But crisply white boots are beautiful and are a symbol of skating.

janetfan · Dec 16, 2010

Olympia said:
But crisply white boots are beautiful and are a symbol of skating.

You mean like this :love:

http://renovomedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/MichelleKwan.jpg

mycelticblessing · Dec 16, 2010

^I always loved that picture. She's so beautiful!

sigrid · Dec 16, 2010

I like tan boots a lot, they suit almost every costume colour, I prefer them if the costume is black:
http://www4.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/ISU+World+Figure+Skating+Championships+Day+RTC7sXaKhyPl.jpg
http://www.life.com/image/97002672

But into the tan boots I prefer the bright ones:
http://davecskatingphoto.com/photos/2010SkateAmerica/pairs/jse_IMG_6112a.jpg
http://photo.fsonline.ru/main.php?g2_itemId=29942

If the costume is white, white boots are clearly better:
http://davecskatingphoto.com/photos/2010TEB/ladies/jse_IMG_8720a.jpg

Bluebonnet · Dec 16, 2010

I definitely prefer white boots. Tan boots without tights look dirty. I agree with Doris. Tights over the boots look untidy.

dwiggin3 · Dec 16, 2010

dorispulaski said:
i can't help it. I love the white boots! Shoot me; i'm old school.

I detest the knobbly, untidy look of the over the boot tights. It amuses the heck out of me that ladies wear them thinking to elongate their leg line and look better, when in fact, it messes up their leg line by making it bumpy, and makes it more obvious by making the line longer and bumpier.

The tan boots, i can live with but i don't love them as much as the white boots.

amen!

Mathman · Dec 16, 2010

The main thing is, your boots should match your hat.

Madge Syers, 1906 and 1907 world champion

Lily Kronberger, 1909, 1910 and 1911 world champion

Meray Horvath. 1912, 1923 and 1914 world champion

Herma Szabo, 1822, 1923, 1924, 1925 and 1926 world champion

Sonia Henie

lavender · Dec 16, 2010

Clean white boots is it. I'm so glad Alissa is wearing them now.

The only one that I can stand wearing those tights is Sasha and even still I prefer her in white boots (when she cleans them).

blue dog · Dec 16, 2010

lavender said:
Clean white boots is it. I'm so glad Alissa is wearing them now.

The only one that I can stand wearing those tights is Sasha and even still I prefer her in white boots (when she cleans them).

I'm in agreement with those who prefer the white boots (clean) over the tan boots. Perhaps if boots weren't so thick, tan might be better, as it would give an even better illusion of a longer leg line. Then again, I think most skaters have legs in phenomenal shape, that there is no need to elongate the leg line.

A little bit of trivia--It was Sonja Henie who first began the white boot trend. Before her, everyone, male or female, skated in black skates.

Antilles · Dec 16, 2010

I like both. It depends on the skater and what they are wearing. I agree white looks better with white, and tan goes best with black. I don't even mind tights over the boots. It does look ridiculous up close when the skaters aren't moving, but ti somehow works during a performance.

ivy · Dec 16, 2010

If you have good turn out and toe point then white boots, otherwise tan. I'm especially thinking of foot position on laybacks and spirals.

I am surprised we don't see black boots on ladies these days - relates more directly to fashion in the real world.

JohnnyFan · Dec 16, 2010

I prefer white boots. I think tan boots look better if they are a light shade--the dark tan reminds me of rentals because there is a rink by where I used to live in which the rentals were a very dark shade of tan. If you want your boots to appear tan, all you have to do is buy some over the boot tights!

Olympia · Dec 16, 2010

blue dog said:
I'm in agreement with those who prefer the white boots (clean) over the tan boots. Perhaps if boots weren't so thick, tan might be better, as it would give an even better illusion of a longer leg line. Then again, I think most skaters have legs in phenomenal shape, that there is no need to elongate the leg line.

A little bit of trivia--It was Sonja Henie who first began the white boot trend. Before her, everyone, male or female, skated in black skates.

I didn't know that! Isn't it amazing how many important elements of skating go back to Sonja Henie.

stevlin · Dec 16, 2010

I think tan colored boots are ugly, does nothing to make the legs look longer or shapley. White boots [clean of course] somehow make the legs look better. My sister says that tan boots look like "dog feet". Tan boots make one look like they have chubby ankles. White doesn't because of the separation of the leg and boot. Plus tan boots look like rentals.

chillyfranz · Dec 16, 2010

Tan boots might make line longer but not better. The skater who uses tan boot to get better line doesn't work (make it look ugly) espacially if her ankle/foot bends at odd angle or have bad toe point (no pointed feet), you can still see it and judges can too.

Ladies - White or Tan Boots?

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