Costumes-best and worst?

skatedreamer · Apr 23, 2014

There's another "costumes" thread started a few weeks ago; maybe Mods can combine?

http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?50308-Costumes-best-and-worst

Sam-Skwantch · Apr 23, 2014

Where I was reminded of the "One Banana" skate by Yagudin :bang:

skatedreamer · Apr 23, 2014

Posted in the earlier thread, but Alexei Urmanov just came to mind so here I go again! He was never one of my faves but I actually think his costumes had something to do with it -- most seemed fussy and distracting to me, sometimes downright silly.

BallroomSparkle · Apr 23, 2014

skatedreamer said:
Posted in the earlier thread, but Alexei Urmanov just came to mind so here I go again! He was never one of my faves but I actually think his costumes had something to do with it -- most seemed fussy and distracting to me, sometimes downright silly.

His costumes seem somewhat theatrical, something that maybe belongs on the stage rather than on ice. That is the feeling I get from his costumes.

BallroomSparkle · Apr 23, 2014

I've been also wondering - is there such thing as fashion trends in ice skating? I've been mostly dealing with ballroom dancing world and there are definitely such thing as fashion trends there. Even though any dancer is looking to get something unique and special there are certain styles that usually followed. Skating as well as gymnastics is very much built around the specific performance, it's much more individualistic. So its very likely that any costume would work as long as it is working with the dance. But can you say, looking at the costume, that it looks outdated?

skatedreamer · Apr 23, 2014

BallroomSparkle said:
His costumes seem somewhat theatrical, something that maybe belongs on the stage rather than on ice. That is the feeling I get from his costumes.

Aha...could they have been inspired by ballet? The one from the '94 Olympics would have made more sense in a romantic ballet context, IMO.

Apropos of dance, some of my favorites from this past season were P/B's costumes for "The Little Prince." The pastel colors just blew me away the first time I saw them!

skatedreamer · Apr 23, 2014

Sam-Skwantch said:
Where I was reminded of the "One Banana" skate by Yagudin

Well, everybody needs to go a little bananas at some time or another, right? :biggrin:

But seriously, what the bleep was the guy thinking????

Bonnie F · Apr 23, 2014

BallroomSparkle said:
I've been also wondering - is there such thing as fashion trends in ice skating? I've been mostly dealing with ballroom dancing world and there are definitely such thing as fashion trends there. Even though any dancer is looking to get something unique and special there are certain styles that usually followed. Skating as well as gymnastics is very much built around the specific performance, it's much more individualistic. So its very likely that any costume would work as long as it is working with the dance. But can you say, looking at the costume, that it looks outdated?

I think there are definitely trends. If you look at Youtube videos from years past you will see a big difference in styling over the years. For example in the 80s i remember lots of one piece dark colored suits for the men. In the 80s and early 90s there were lots of long sleeved (sometimes puffed sleeved) sequinned dresses for women. In the later 90s -2000s I think there has been more a trend toward sleeveless dresses, less ruffled skirts and more rhinestones rather than sequins. I think for men there are more darker colored pants and lighter colored shirts now but for some men flamboyant costumes seem to have become more acceptable than ever. I also remember different times when natural/tan colored skates or pulling the hose over the skates was more popular with women and when wearing gloves was more popular for men.

desertskates · Apr 24, 2014

Here is one that took my breath away:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/179721841352899907/

Silvia451 · Apr 24, 2014

I answered in the other similar threads, but I totally forgot about this one :love:

silverfoxes · Apr 24, 2014

Kevin Van Der Perren's costumes were some of the worst imo. Of course, Yagudin's "One Banana" is in a (no) class of its own. The Skatingfugly Tumblr page has some gems:

http://skatingfugly.tumblr.com/post/20857271419/i-hope-this-number-is-from-lady-gagas-secret

http://skatingfugly.tumblr.com/post/21441774004/aww-shes-wrapped-like-a-christmas-present-too

http://skatingfugly.tumblr.com/post/21784917366/figureskatingcostumes-woah-this-is-awful

As for the best? I think the Japanese ladies generally tend to dress well - I even like most of Miki Ando's costumes, but I might be alone on that. Mao's "Scherezade" and her LP dress this year were two of my favorites. I liked most of Sasha Cohen's costumes as well. For the men, Daisuke's LP costume from 2010 was very stylish imo.

noskates · Apr 24, 2014

You might be alone on Ando's costumes. I thought they were generally pretty bad. Also didn't like anything Kaetlyn Osmond wore this year - mostly because the panties were too small and I got tired of looking at her bare butt (Kostner usually had the same problem as well) I also never much cared for anything Arakawa wore.....

skatedreamer · Apr 24, 2014

noskates said:
You might be alone on Ando's costumes. I thought they were generally pretty bad. Also didn't like anything Kaetlyn Osmond wore this year - mostly because the panties were too small and I got tired of looking at her bare butt (Kostner usually had the same problem as well) I also never much cared for anything Arakawa wore.....

Bare butts just aren't a good look for anyone, no matter how shapely the tush. :eek:

2 of my other pet peeves are (a) flesh-colored tights that cover skates and (b) beige skate boots.

Skatingfugly is a hoot and a half -- thanks, gallavich! :rofl:

Naya · Apr 24, 2014

Scott Hamilton's Power Ranger costume in 1984: http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-144449/US-figure-skater-Scott-Hamilton-competes-at-the-1984-Winter. To be fair, many costumes from the 80's look just terrible nowadays.

thom · Apr 24, 2014

Many, many of the costumes worn by Kwan suited my aesthetic perfectly. The worst costumes were the ice dance ones from 1985-1992…

Sam-Skwantch · Apr 24, 2014

I love the tights going over the boot. Skates tend to get beat up and sometimes require a tape job just to hold up. It is not uncommon at my rink. No need to show off beat up boots IMO. Takes away from the presentation when people start to wonder what you've BEEN doing in your skates and not what you ARE doing in them :laugh:

Agree about Osmond's butt :laugh:

I am bigger fan of an eclipse than a full moon. :slink:

Everyone seems to enjoy an eclipse while a full moon tends to bring out the worst in some folks.

I can't believe I'm the only one to have brought up Elena Leonova. That FS dress she wore this season just puts me in a mood I care not to share.

Mathman · Apr 24, 2014

Welcome, Thom. Thanks for joining us. Post often, post long!

Post 16 above, I don't know, there is something kind of cool about Cynthia Phaneuf's candy-stripe green gunny sack. :yes:

Miki, Miki, you're so fine!

http://jto.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/sp20090719ita.jpg

silverfoxes · Apr 24, 2014

Well, I can't deny Miki had a few duds (the spider dress, the blinged-out tiger), but here are a few that I liked:

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/a7/81/b3/a781b3ebe0b54bf809c14afcc2e44d53.jpg

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/19/cf/f6/19cff682e39d6b0d8a8dc450e3e87a72.jpg

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/60/2c/01/602c015c97944cd47358f89f16c1fab4.jpg

As well as the infamous Cleopatra dress. Tacky, maybe, but I still thought it was cool. She was never boring, that's why I like her.

Some others popped up while I was searching Google for her costumes...now these are tragic!

http://www.blogut.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/4-Jana-Sergei.jpg :disapp:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2681/4378220218_11c2f58349.jpg

skatedreamer · Apr 24, 2014

Ah....so that's what the over-the-boot tights are about. Makes sense even though the white skate look will always be my preference.

Maybe the beat-up skates were kicking some full-moon butt? (Sorry, couldn't resist. Didn't try very hard, though. :biggrin:

)

On a more decorous note, another welcome to Thom. Your aesthetic works for me! I still think Michelle's 1998 "Lyra Angelica" costume is one of the prettiest ever b/c of its simplicity and beautiful color.

Ohlordhavemercy, some of those '80s ice dance costumes were downright scary -- remember the Duchesnays @ the 1988 Olys?

Sam-Skwantch · Apr 24, 2014

Some others popped up while I was searching Google for her costumes...now these are tragic!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2681/4378220218_11c2f58349.jpg

That is a rather generous description. The boot covers he added in the second photo would better compliment a rain slickers outfitt. I guess he is skating on a frozen puddle but still. I just can't

Edit- You know what...that second isn't as bad as I originally thought. It just grabbed my attention in a similar way that Gracie Gold's skate guards for the SI cover did, if anyone remembers that.

Rain Slicker Boots---:no:
OTT Floral arrangement---:meh:

Costumes-best and worst?

skatedreamer

Sam-Skwantch

“I solemnly swear I’m up to no good”

skatedreamer

BallroomSparkle

BallroomSparkle

skatedreamer

skatedreamer

Bonnie F

desertskates

Silvia451

silverfoxes

noskates

skatedreamer

Naya

thom

Sam-Skwantch

“I solemnly swear I’m up to no good”

Mathman

silverfoxes

skatedreamer

Sam-Skwantch

“I solemnly swear I’m up to no good”

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