Figure skating costumes: Behind the glitter and sequins

[StitchMonkey]

Awesome thread! I've also wondered about these things...

I was wondering, for those past figure skaters (or anyone who knows ) Is it possible to have "short shorts" instead of the v-cut style under the skirt of a figure skating dress? Kind of like this, but hidden under the skirt material:
http://www.mondor.com/fantasy-on-ice-tunic.html

I always thought that the dresses were very beautiful, but the cut of some dresses, kind of distracting. I would also like to test one day, and I wanted to specially order that shorts-style covering. Any opinions / info would be great

I have no idea if it is allowed but I am a big fan of the style. Ashley Wagner wore something more like that style of bottom in one of her exhibitions. I find the short shorts style to be much more flattering/attractive on most women as well as looking more comfortable. Im not sure why it is not more popular.

 

[IcyEdges]

I have no idea if it is allowed but I am a big fan of the style. Ashley Wagner wore something more like that style of bottom in one of her exhibitions. I find the short shorts style to be much more flattering/attractive on most women as well as looking more comfortable. Im not sure why it is not more popular.

I myself loved wearing bottoms like that, but you have to be careful and use double sided tape on them so they don't ride up and expose you.

 

[StitchMonkey]

I myself loved wearing bottoms like that, but you have to be careful and use double sided tape on them so they don't ride up and expose you.

See I find the longer boy short style stuff rides up on me far less than more traditionally cut stuff. It seems that if it is long enough to sorta cup beneath the cheek it stays put better than if it rides on the cheek. I would think hairspray (seen beauty queen use it for this purpose) and duck tape are likely normal and used no matter what.

 

[IcyEdges]

See I find the longer boy short style stuff rides up on me far less than more traditionally cut stuff. It seems that if it is long enough to sorta cup beneath the cheek it stays put better than if it rides on the cheek. I would think hairspray (seen beauty queen use it for this purpose) and duck tape are likely normal and used no matter what.

It depends on how "tight" the boyshort part is made. It has to stretch and move to a point, even Ashley Wagner's boyshort bodysuit from her "Sweet Dreams" program cited above was double sided taped to her tights/legs. I have pictures that show it.

 

[Tutto]

That wasn’t exactly a case of wardrobe malfunction but still – Sasha Cohen realizing a few minutes before a warm-up at SLC free skate that she had no tights in her bag – was close enough. Fumie Suguri lent her hers and a disaster was averted but I always was wondering how that affected her performance, besides, someone else’s tights is not really something you want to wear…

Another one comes to mind is Shizuka Arakawa’s dress revealing too much of her bottom during her lp at 2004 Worlds. As great as that skate was the problem with her dress totally ruined it for me I could not concentrate and just kept thinking oh she is a poor thing, going to watch the videos of herself like this till the rest of her life! Well I suppose the gold medal was a good consolation

And lastly, Adelina’s tights always going up revealing the boot/s, most memorably in Sochi’s lp. Desperation really, could anyone talk to the girl? Well I suppose that when the whole outfits are wardrobe malfunction full stop, small things do not matter. Sorry don’t want to be disrespectful to Adelina but really her ‘attention to detail’ and taste in costumes drive me maaad. A pretty girl what a pity

 

[Meoima]

That wasn’t exactly a case of wardrobe malfunction but still – Sasha Cohen realizing a few minutes before a warm-up at SLC free skate that she had no tights in her bag – was close enough. Fumie Suguri lent her hers and a disaster was averted but I always was wondering how that affected her performance, besides, someone else’s tights is not really something you want to wear…

Ah poor Sasha...

Another one comes to mind is Shizuka Arakawa’s dress revealing too much of her bottom during her lp at 2004 Worlds. As great as that skate was the problem with her dress totally ruined it for me I could not concentrate and just kept thinking oh she is a poor thing, going to watch the videos of herself like this till the rest of her life! Well I suppose the gold medal was a good consolation

maybe, your comment make me

And lastly, Adelina’s tights always going up revealing the boot/s, most memorably in Sochi’s lp. Desperation really, could anyone talk to the girl? Well I suppose that when the whole outfits are wardrobe malfunction full stop, small things do not matter. Sorry don’t want to be disrespectful to Adelina but really her ‘attention to detail’ and taste in costumes drive me maaad. A pretty girl what a pity

Whoever has dress her until now... that person must have some hatred towards her or anything, the way they dress her is atrocity.

 

[ioanablabla]

I didn't like Adelina's costumes till this point. However, I think I understand why they are a mess- I think she's trying to go for more modern, not classical approach but can't find a balance to it. Hopefully from now on her team will pay more attention to this aspect.

 

[skatedreamer]

That wasn’t exactly a case of wardrobe malfunction but still – Sasha Cohen realizing a few minutes before a warm-up at SLC free skate that she had no tights in her bag – was close enough. Fumie Suguri lent her hers and a disaster was averted but I always was wondering how that affected her performance, besides, someone else’s tights is not really something you want to wear…

Sort of gives a new meaning to the concept of "walking a mile in someone else's shoes."

The mention of Sasha's tights (or lack thereof) reminded me of Surya Bonaly. IIRC, she never wore tights and skated bare-legged, which must have felt pretty uncomfortable in any unplanned encounters w/ the ice...

 

[Krunchii]

Actaully here's a huge difference.
In Yulia's case everybody can clearly see a wedgie, crotch and bums, now we don't see anythying like that in Hwi Choi's costume do we.That's because it is covered up.
It's too obvious Yulia's outfit is far more distracting, speaking of which, didn't Kaetlyn's outfit cause so much attention compared to Hwi Choi's?
If Kaetlyn didn't wear skin-color tights nobody would even care.hwell:
Anyways i was just saying which one caused a lot of attention and which did not.

The black masks it and it's still there, the same amount of skin is covered up, the only difference is colour. You can argue abut immodesty all you want but the fact is, Yulia is covered up and as long as she is, immodesty is the least of her worries when she's going home with the medals.

 

[MoonlightSkater]

The mention of Sasha's tights (or lack thereof) reminded me of Surya Bonaly. IIRC, she never wore tights and skated bare-legged, which must have felt pretty uncomfortable in any unplanned encounters w/ the ice...

I wonder if Surya had trouble finding the right color of tights. Still, that is a rather alarming choice to make.

I remember at regionals about a decade ago an ice dance team skated with a costume that was only 95% complete- the missing part was the bottom! The girl basically skated in a thong over tights and it was quite shocking, especially when they went for a split lift. They got deductions for that ill-advised decision. Spanks only cost about $15 and can be found at any dance store....

I sometimes competed in two pairs of tights, especially if I was wearing over-the-boot tights. The extra underlayer made me feel more protected from wardrobe malfunctions (and it was warmer). Spray glue can be your friend, as can double sided tape and hairspray.

 

[skatedreamer]

I wonder if Surya had trouble finding the right color of tights. Still, that is a rather alarming choice to make.

Thanks, your point re: the color of the tights makes a lot of sense. :yes: I always assumed the no-tights thing was just part of her "rebel" persona but can understand how it could have been an issue.

 

[noskates]

I think all of Kaetlyn Osmond's costumes show too much butt. I don't know if its intentional or just poor fitting but they all ride up. I find it distracting and in poor taste. I hope that this year whoever sews her costumes finds bottoms that fit her. It also calls to mind Mishkutunick's ill-fitting bottoms ( I know I have that spelling wrong) I realize that in pair skating sometimes it just happens but her's started out too small and we had to look at her butt the entire program.

 

[AnnaTheMusician]

Do you remember Rubleva-Shefer from Helsinki EC in 2009? Some invisible lace got broken and her nipple was seen a few times. Quite embarrasing to her, I wonder why they made the dress so fragile.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rwAgMg09v8

Approximately in 1:50.

You can imagine all the headlines next day in yellow press in Finland...

 

[MalAssada]

Do you remember Rubleva-Shefer from Helsinki EC in 2009? Some invisible lace got broken and her nipple was seen a few times. Quite embarrasing to her, I wonder why they made the dress so fragile.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rwAgMg09v8

Approximately in 1:50.

You can imagine all the headlines next day in yellow press in Finland...

I was wondering the same thing, the dress only covered the absolute necessary, so when the lace broke... At least she was quick to hide it!

 

[erasona]

I forgot about Ashley's costume, that's what I was thinking about + a skirt over it. I guess it must be okay then...? Thanks for the reply

 

[karne]

I wonder if Surya had trouble finding the right color of tights.

I remember reading an interview where she said that was the reason. Me, I have the reverse problem. My skin is so pale that I always look funny in tights.

I remember at regionals about a decade ago an ice dance team skated with a costume that was only 95% complete- the missing part was the bottom! The girl basically skated in a thong over tights and it was quite shocking, especially when they went for a split lift. They got deductions for that ill-advised decision. Spanks only cost about $15 and can be found at any dance store....

Having a little experience with sewing skating dresses, I'm extremely confused as to how they got to the point where the dress was wearable without the panties added in? I thought most of the time they were basically attached to the skirt/bodice at the waist.

I could never compete in two pairs of tights. I wore a nude leo under my dress at my last competition (white lyrca is unforgivably see-through sometimes) and I overheated like crazy. But each to their own.

 

[karne]

Skin-color tights are mandatory which is why you see a little too much skin and crotches, yuck.
Come to think of it, i used to wear black tights after i found out skin-color tights made me look half naked, i didn't care what anyone said though.Then all of a sudden i started to recieve 3 or 2 points deduction even when i skated my best so i just quit.

There is so much wrong with this post that I'll just sum it up briefly in two short points.

1. No, they're not mandatory.

2. That must be news to Elizaveta Tuktamysheva.

 

[Alain]

Now this is an immodest costume.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/10/figure-skater-julia-lipnitskaia-photos_n_4763183.html

I doubt Yulia looks great now huh?

Not great. But some older and more mature skaters had it worse: D/W http://pictrends.in/wp-content/uplo...s-and-charlie-white-in-action-ice-dancing.jpg , S/K http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2014/0208/day1_russia_1948x1280.jpg
For example V/T always manage to wear the right tights http://sp.ria.ru/images/15922/61/159226179.jpg
Caro a few times had too embarrasing moments. A few ladies had dresses revealing their upper part body where it wasn't supposed to be revealed. Such pictures never disappear from the Net and keep embarrasing the vistims of costumes' designers. :disapp:

 

[noskates]

Caro is another one whose panties never fit and always seem to be too small.

I think there was more to Surya than not finding the right color of tights. I remember a controversy where she was told she had to wear tights and she had them bunched around her skates or something. Wish I could remember details - someone else might!

 

[ice coverage]

Interesting thread!

This is not about costumes but about makeup, but I've always wondered if it is possible to wear fake eyelashes. Do they stay during jumps and all those spinning? Does anyone know?

If the eyelashes are professionally put on with the right glue, you can get them to stay on for a very long time. I did a quick Google search and the fake eyelashes that are individually attached to regular eyelashes can last as much as 60 days.

Anecdote re dripping eyelash glue (and copious amounts of hairspray), from Thursday's installment of Holly Moore's blog from JGP Slovenia, where the rink humidity is extreme:

Although the rink and the ice are excellent, the precipitation from the ceiling has proven to be an unexpected obstacle. The humidity in the rink has a mind of its own, and despite valiant efforts by the organizers to control it, it seems we will just have to cope with the fact that we will be doing our short dance through a bit of a drizzle. We knew the humidity was bad when even the ice dancers were having issues with their hair doubling in size -- and that's with each of us using at least half a bottle of hairspray. It was especially fun when my eyelash glue started to drip. I had to warn my partner, Daniel, "If you end up wearing my eyelash at the end of our run-through, don't be alarmed!"
http://www.icenetwork.com/news/2014/08/27/91690942/hollys-follies-moore-checks-in-from-slovenia​