ICE STYLE.....2014 Rostelecom Cup Figure Skating Costumes: PAIRS, ICE DANCE

Flutter Sleeves Are The Rage...at the 2014 Rostelecom Cup: (L to R) U.S. Ice Dance team Madison Chock and Evan Bates during their "Paso Doble" Short Dance and Russia's Kristina Astakhova and Alexei Rogonov during their Pairs Free Program--2014 Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia, Moscow Russia

In my last post, I discussed the Costumes Highlights of this past weekend's 2014 Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating and in particular the LADIES and MEN. Now, it's time to wrap it up with the PAIRS and ICE DANCE Costumes...

Let's begin with the PAIRS:

Narumi Takahashi and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan: They skated their Short Program to "Bossa Nova Baby" by Elvis Presley from his 1963 "Fun in Acapulco" album in the costumes seen above. I liked the neon bubblegum pink with black midriff detail costume on Narumi and thought his sweater vest and tie look was appropriate for Ryuichi. Both were fun and delightful for sure.

Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov of Russia: Tarasova and Morozov skated their Short Program to "Sarabande Suite (Aeternae)" by Globus in these all black slightly macabre/Emo--looking costumes. I liked both of their looks and thought there were elements of sexiness and dark fabulousness to them. I also think that the fact that both of them are pasty as all get out (their skin color, his bright red hair), helped to accentuate the costumes even further.

Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia: Stolbova and Klimov were THE STARS of the Pairs competition during this past weekend's 2014 Rostelecom Cup and in fact, got the gold medal. For their Short Program to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (soundtrack) by Tan Dun and "House of Flying Daggers"(soundtrack), they wore these black and white costumes which blended a bit of Asiana and a bit of Couture Fab. I loved these. I especially liked Ksenia's structured shouldered torso /jumpsuit design and his "Dragon" motif long sleeve top. 

Free Program to "Notre Dame de Paris" by Richard Cocciante: This Russian Pairs duo opted for a more "contemporary" costume vibe. Ksenia wore a deep muted purple dress with lace accents and Fedor was actually a bit more "costumey" with his tie dye shirt with purple criss-cross detail and loose black pants. I was rather underwhelmed by these--especially after what they wore for their Short Program. They got the gold so in the end, these costumes really didn't matter, as lackluster as they were.

Kristina Astakhova and Alexei Rogonov of Russia: For their Free Skate to The Master and Margarita (soundtrack) by Igor Kornelyuk, Astakhova and Rogonov wore these costumes above. The music's story revolves around a Demon, a love story with a nameless writer in the 1930s...and several other things. What I got from their Free Program was that yes, HE was the Demon and she was his love interest and somehow he was trying to get to her. And hopefully, his "Demonic" exaggerated flutter sleeves and bright red jacket would help. I liked the boldness of these costumes and that he was obviously just "going for it" in terms of a costume. I wondered how those flutter sleeves" would not impede his skating and alas...they did not. I have to say, between the look and fit of his costume and hair, it was a VERY early 1990s moment. Very Retro. Kristina's costume was beautiful, intricate and well done highlighting a spider-web like sequin applique and open back that suggested sexy tragic heroine. 

ICE DANCE:

Penny Coomes and Nicholas Buckland of United Kingdom: For their Free Dance to "Exogenesis Part 1" by Muse and "Hurricanes and Butterflies" by Muse, this British Ice Dance team looked quite dazzling in their costumes. I really liked her butterfly-inspired costume with its colors and semi-abstract design. I also liked how Nicholas' costume delicately had a "touch" of hers with his neck/collar sequins. If there was any critique, I just wished his pants were tighter.

Alexandra Aldridge and Daniel Eaton of USA: Aldridge and Eaton skated their Paso Doble Short Dance to "Carmen Overture and "Torreador March" from Carmen by Georges Bizet. I thought these costumes embodied the "Carmen" theme and music and I really liked Daniel's bullfighter cropped jacket with black sequined-and-tasseled detail.

Free Dance to "Tara's Theme" (from "Gone With the Wind" soundtrack) by Max Steiner performed by Andre Rieu, "Atlanta Bazaar" (from "Gone With the Wind" soundtrack) by Max Steiner, "Fleeing of Atlanta" (from "Gone With the Wind" soundtrack) by Max Steiner and "Tara's Theme" (from "Gone With the Wind" soundtrack) by Max Steiner: The theme--and music was "Gone With The Wind" but the costumes seemed like "Confederate Red Carpet No-No's". I'm especially not a fan of her red off the shoulder costume; it reads 1980's beauty pageant cheap.

Madison Chock and Evan Bates of USA, Short Dance and Free Dance--I discussed these costumes HERE on my 2014 Hilton HHonors Skate America costumes blog post.

Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker of USA: This U.S. Ice Dance couple skated their Paso Doble/Flamenco Short Dance to "Malaguena by Ernesto Lecuona". Kaitlin's black and nude sequined costume with red skirt was gorgeous. Jean-Luc looked as if he belonged in a "Phantom of the Opera"/Marriage of Figaro" section. Lets hope his costume gets a change. Por Favor. 

Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin of Russia: Stepanova and Bukin skated their Paso Doble/Flamenco Short Dance to "Espana Cani" performed by Erich Kuenzel. I absolutely LOVED these costumes and especially his black and white toreador look. I want that jacket! Not sure what kind of an occasion I would find to wear it to but, trust me, I'll figure out a way!

Elena Ilinykh and Ruslan Zhiganshin of Russia: I discussed these Short Dance Paso Doble/Flamenco costumes previously on my Costumes Blog Post on the 2014 Lexus Cup of China HERE. But...there was a bit of a male costume change. At the 2014 Rostelecom Cup, Ruslan wore a red velvet cropped bolero-like jacket, white tuxedo shirt and black super skinny tie as seen above.

At the 2014 Lexus Cup of China, he wore a completely different costume  as shown in above pic. Which one do you guys like better? My choice is for the costume above as opposed to the 2014 Rostelecom Cup design. 

 ICE DANCE SWITCH-A-ROO:

The Good Ol' Days--Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov: Yes, Elena's former partner was the CUTIE Nikita Katsalapov--they both won the bronze medal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. But things are different now. Elena is no longer with Nikita (he didn't want to skate with her, go figure!), and so she skates with some one else and guess what? So does he. And he skated at the 2014 Rostelcom Cup with his other partner...

Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov of Russia: Sinitsina and Katsalapov skated their Paso Doble/Flamenco Short Dance to "Toitas las Mares" by Manolo Caracol and "The Dance" by Michel Legrand. I thought they looked quite fabulous in their costumes exemplifying the Spain theme of their Short Dance. Her one shoulder black applique lace and red side slit dress was high fashion and looked great on her. As for Nikita, he was all HUNK-A-HUNK in his all black sexy matador-like look. 

**Next up...Trophee Eric Bompard!