ICE STYLE.....2013-2014 Japan and Russian Figure Skating Championships

 Costume Change Ladies: Akiko Suzuki and Kanako Murakami and their new costumes for their Free Skate and Short Program respectively, at the 2013-2014 Japan Figure Skating Championships

This past Holiday Week was a busy week for International Figure Skating Competitions: both the 2013-2014 Japan Figure Skating Championships and 2014 Russian Figure Skating Championships took place either before Christmas or right after. After getting back from my yearly Christmas trip to visit family in San Antonio Texas, I caught up via YouTube watching them. One thing really caught my attention: there were SEVERAL costume changes for the Ladies at the Japanese Nationals and one particular of note at the Russian Nationals. Needless to say, I felt it necessary to discuss here on my "Ice Style" blog. Let's begin:

Akiko Suzuki Free Skate Costume at 2013-2014 Japan Figure Skating Championships: Akiko surprised everyone and won the Gold Medal skating her Free Skate to Music from The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber. This costume above was a new costume as opposed to what she had worn at the 2013 NHK Trophy (below). This costume above was a sweeter and more delicate "Phantom" heroine, featuring a creme colored "skirt"/fitted midriff and multicolored flowered applique sequined top section.

Free Skate Costume at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2013/2014 NHK Trophy: This is what she wore for her "Phantom" Free Skate at NHK--I liked this and thought it was quite elegant and modern. For some reason, she decided to change it. Which costume do you like best for her Free Skate? Now that she will be going to the Olympics in Sochi, she has a big decision to make!

Haruka Imai Short Program Costume at 2013-2014 Japan Figure Skating Championships: At last week's Japanese Nationals, Haruka Imai debuted this costume above to her Short Program Music of Song Without Words in D Major Op. 109 by Felix Mendelssohn. It was an EXACT duplicate of what she had been wearing in other 2013 Season Grand Prix but in a different color way. This one above was in pink, light dusty rose tones while...

This above is what she had worn before as her Short Program Costume--Photo above is from the 2013 Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia. I like them both, but if I had to choose I would pick the darker purple in the original costume. My main issue remains the nude illusion sleeves that are too big in both costumes.

Kanako Murakami Short Program Costume at 2013-2014 Japan Figure Skating Championships: Kanako is THE Costume Change Queen...At the Japanese Nationals, she debuted this gray, magenta, black and silver one shoulder costume for her Short Program to Catgroove by Parov Stelar, Libella Swing by Parov Stelar and Swing Bop. This modern looking costume was definitely a better costume choice than what we had seen her in before for the same Short Program:

Kanako Murakami Short Program Costume 2013 Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia of Figure Skating--this black and white with diamantes costume was a bore. It also look very store bought. Glad she decided to change it. And mind you, this above was a COSTUME CHANGE from this:

Short Program Costume at 2013 Lexus Cup of China--I LOVED this colorful fringed costume. It was a bit "Cirque du Soleil"-ish, yes, but I still loved it.

Now, the Costume Changes for Kanako didn't stop at her Short Program...

Kanako Murakami, Free Skate 2013-2014 Japan Figure Skating Championships: Kanako wore this above for the Japan Nationals last week for her Free Skate to Papa Can You Hear Me (from "Yentl" soundtrack) by Barbara Streisand. Now, this wasn't the first time we saw this costume. She actually debuted this costume at the 2013 Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia in November 2013. This costume, however was different from what she had worn before the 2013 Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia for her Free Skate...

Free Skate Costume Lexus Cup of China 2013--I liked this costume above and I also like her most recent Free Skate choice. If I had to chose, I'd say I like the one above more. Which one do you guys like better? Kanako is also going to the Sochi Olympics, so I will be waiting with bated breath as to what she will choose for the big event.

Miki Ando Short Program Costume at 2013-2014 Japan Figure Skating Championships: Miki Ando wore this deep lilac with an ombre yellow-green shading at the skirt sequined applique costume at the Japan Nationals to her Short Program to My Way by Frank Sinatra. This was a costume change from what she wore the last time she skated at...

Golden Spin of Zagreb 2013--Miki Ando Short Program Costume--I like both but if I had to chose I would say the lilac/ombre applique one from the Japan Nationals. While I like the navy blue sequined accents on this one above, I am not a fan of the length of the skirt and how she only has one layer of chiffon and you can see her unitard underneath.

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 Moving on, and now Russia and the 2014 Russian Figure Skating Championships...

 Iceberg Skating Palace in Sochi Russia

Alena Leonova Short Program Costume at 2014 Russian Figure Skating Championships: Alena skated her Short Program to Barynia (Russian Folk music) Kalinka (Russian Folk music)--which she also skated to for her 2009-2010 Season--wearing this colorful red and white with gold trim costume above. This was a debut of this costume for Alena. And a "debut" of sorts for this Short Program. The last time we saw her skate at a Grand Prix event earlier this season, she wore her infamous...

Pirates of the Caribbean Costume--Alena Leonova of Russia at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2013/2014 NHK Trophy in Tokyo, Japan November 2013. Alena skated her Short Program to Music from Pirates of the Caribbean (which she also skated to for her 2011-2012 Season) and wore the same costume. Glad she decided to change her costume--and music. And yes, it isn't by coincidence that she is now skating to Russian Folk Music in the lead-up to the Sochi RUSSIA Winter Olympics 2014. Hello! (Unfortunately for her, she didn't make the team).

For now, I'll leave you with Russian Male Figure Skating DIVO (who skated at the Russian Figure Skating Championships) and came in SECOND. How do say "Ouch!" in Russian?

Not Happy: Russian National 2014 Silver Medalist Evgeni Plushenko (left) and Gold Medalist Maxim Kovtun (right)

Uncomfortable: Russian National 2014 Silver Medalist Evgeni Plushenko (left) and Gold Medalist Maxim Kovtun (right)

Happy Figure Skating New Year!!!