Figure skating costumes: Behind the glitter and sequins | Page 5 | Golden Skate

Figure skating costumes: Behind the glitter and sequins

Costuming...whether it's been "lack thereof" or just jaw dropping (in both good and bad senses), IMO has been one of the reasons people watch skating. Arakowa's skirts and panties were so skimpy they left nothing to the imagination. And of course, Phillipe C was a looker from the getgo. Used to be that dance costuming was elegant - think that Meryl Davis and Barbara Fusapoli most recently cornered that market. I know I am dating myself badly, but I am still remembering how stunning Punsalen and Swallow looked in their waltz costuming - she in the beautiful flowing white and he in the white tie and tails. I do think that IJS scoring has helped in the costuming area with mandatory deductions for "costume failure" - especially when a hairpiece or accessory comes flying off - spilling crystals everywhere.
 
Enforcement of costume rules is obviously inconsistent. In dance for instance, there is the requirement for covering at least 50% of the body in any view, and for a skirt to encompass the circumference of the waist line but this is not consistent adhered to, depending on which country/what skater you are to risk a penalty.
 
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.

You'r right, the black masks it and yes it's still there, but can you honestly tell me you see bums sticking out of a wedgie creeping up her but? :eek:
I think you know what i mean:)
 
I don't get what was immodest about Yulia's spins. I mean u don't see anything. Yes her crotch is wide open, but that is what happens when u are flexible like that... :scratch: even if she had black tights it's wide open.

Not really, unless the black tights would be very see-through which is up to them.
I myself would go for non see-through.
 
Those pictures you posted are stills from her spins. Spins which are usually so fast no one can see 'those areas' very clearly.
Modesty or immodesty is a matter of personal taste though. ranging from the full-body covering for fundamentalist Muslims, to only a grass skirt and nothing else for the tribes of Papua Newguinea.
For me actually, I thought Julia's costumes quite appropriate for her age as well as stylish. There are other costumes I've seen that I think are much more revealing. For spirals, there is NO WAY it's going to look modest so just do it with confidence and flair I say!
What disturbs me more (and of course as with anything else it is a personal opinion applicable only to me) is when young boys and girls on the junior circuit try to be 'sexy' in their dance moves. Like hip-thrusting/wiggling. It just makes me cringe. We all have our hangups I guess.
 
Those pictures you posted are stills from her spins. Spins which are usually so fast no one can see 'those areas' very clearly.
Modesty or immodesty is a matter of personal taste though. ranging from the full-body covering for fundamentalist Muslims, to only a grass skirt and nothing else for the tribes of Papua Newguinea.
For me actually, I thought Julia's costumes quite appropriate for her age as well as stylish. There are other costumes I've seen that I think are much more revealing. For spirals, there is NO WAY it's going to look modest so just do it with confidence and flair I say!
What disturbs me more (and of course as with anything else it is a personal opinion applicable only to me) is when young boys and girls on the junior circuit try to be 'sexy' in their dance moves. Like hip-thrusting/wiggling. It just makes me cringe. We all have our hangups I guess.

I think it is worth pointing out, and at least tossing it out for discussion, that we don't really live in that world anymore. Many people consume media on their computers. We have instant replayable/recordable high definition access to frame by frame shots if we really really want it for just about anything. In this day and age I am not sure the "no one is really going to see that" argument is a good one. Even if just looking for something like this discussion, or just randomly pausing a video, more things are seen now.

That is not of course to say a skater should have to change, or there is anything somehow more wrong with it now. I just think we need to look at things from the current reality that things are much more visible.

As for being sexy too young, that has been around forever and will be around forever. Personally, I feel like if you are going to start adding sexy to your performance, you damn well better have every other i dotted and t crossed. If you really have outgrown your age in terms of ability, fine move on, start learning the next step. But if there are things to work on, do that before you start sexy.
 
There's another thing that's bothering me.

Look at Anna's firebird http://ffkm.ru/images/gallery/2014-08-21_Tests_d2/C2187.jpg

Now take a look at this one http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Tatsuki+Machida/Skate+America+Day+2/IwGiW43VaCk

In the first image all you see is a naked body on fire, in the second one you just see a firebird without all the skin-tone on the torso.It truly brings out the firebird look.

I have always wondered why in heaven's sake skaters always have been so obsessed with skin-tone when it has nothing to do with skating on the ice, one of the reasons why i stopped wearing these horrendous skin-color tights myself.
 
There's another thing that's bothering me.
Look at Anna's firebird http://ffkm.ru/images/gallery/2014-08-21_Tests_d2/C2187.jpg
Now take a look at this one http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Tatsuki+Machida/Skate+America+Day+2/IwGiW43VaCk
In the first image all you see is a naked body on fire, in the second one you just see a firebird without all the skin-tone on the torso.It truly brings out the firebird look.
I have always wondered why in heaven's sake skaters always have been so obsessed with skin-tone when it has nothing to do with skating on the ice, one of the reasons why i stopped wearing these horrendous skin-color tights myself.
I think both costumes need some...adjustments. And frankly a beautiful lady is always more pleasing to the eye than a guy. Especially when it's Anna. I don't think skin tone is that bad.
 
I think both costumes need some...adjustment now and then. And frankly a beautiful lady is always more pleasing to the eye than a guy. Especially when it's Anna. I don't think skin tone is that bad.

Totally True.
And I like Annas costume better than Machida. Bot both aren't bad.
 
There's another thing that's bothering me.

Look at Anna's firebird http://ffkm.ru/images/gallery/2014-08-21_Tests_d2/C2187.jpg

Now take a look at this one http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Tatsuki+Machida/Skate+America+Day+2/IwGiW43VaCk

In the first image all you see is a naked body on fire, in the second one you just see a firebird without all the skin-tone on the torso.It truly brings out the firebird look.

I have always wondered why in heaven's sake skaters always have been so obsessed with skin-tone when it has nothing to do with skating on the ice, one of the reasons why i stopped wearing these horrendous skin-color tights myself.

I think I read somewhere in the forum that skin-color tights are mandatory... Or at least they used to be. I am probably wrong, though.
 
I have always wondered why in heaven's sake skaters always have been so obsessed with skin-tone when it has nothing to do with skating on the ice, one of the reasons why i stopped wearing these horrendous skin-color tights myself.


Because a lot of the costumes with colored tights are hideous?? See below:

http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m18yerkWC71qklgayo1_500.jpg


I would assume several reasons:
Skin colored tights
- (at least for skaters that can wear a neutral/nude tone) are easy to find and thus probably cheap
- can be used for multiple costumes; if skaters are using colored tights and change costumes mid-season then they will most likely have to get different tights

Colored tights:
- what color are you going to go for? something that is the same color as your dress or something clashing?
- Are the tights potentially going to be custom made (to get the right color)
 
When I hear "sexy pirate" I immediately think Javier...why didn't they use him instead? :confused:
I agree that Javier owns the sexy pirate! It's The Wire's piece so usually it's for the laugh. Even Oda had 2. Seriously? Oda is cute definitely but sexy? :think:
 
Colored tights also have the unfortunate effect of breaking up the body into color blocks, making the skater look shorter, wider, and less aesthetic. Unless they go with a catsuit, which not everyone can pull off.
 
If the rules concerning costumes was enforced, few would pass muster and many would receive deductions.
 
I think I read somewhere in the forum that skin-color tights are mandatory... Or at least they used to be. I am probably wrong, though.

And as I said the last time that stupid suggestion was made, I'll bet that's news to Elizaveta Tuktamysheva.
 
Who was responsible for designing Miki Ando's costumes? That designer needs to be fired. Those were some of the most gaudy and inappropriate skating costumes I've seen on a lady. That Cleopatra costume looked like it was a Mardi Gras leftover.
 
You'r right, the black masks it and yes it's still there, but can you honestly tell me you see bums sticking out of a wedgie creeping up her but? :eek:
I think you know what i mean:)
Same amount of skin is still covered up. Yulia is very flexible so it is inevitable that her costume will be moving around while she gets her positions, it may be tight but nothing inappropriate is being exposed, the marks she is given is for hitting those positions and spinning fast, not looking at her frame by frame. Plus I'm not looking at her butt when she skates, I'm looking at the overall presentation and the quality of her skating, if her crotch area is all people can focus on while she's skating then they are missing out.
 
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