ICE STYLE.....Skate America 2016: PAIRS and ICE DANCE Costumes!

Ice Dance Style: Costumes from Progressive Skate America 2016 Ice Dance competitors--Sears Centre Arena Chicago Illinois

Pairs Couture: Costumes from Progressive Skate America 2016 Pairs competitors--Sears Centre Arena, Chicago Illinois

Continuing with my "Ice Style" Figure Skating Costumes posts on this past weekend's "Progressive Skate America 2016", in my last post HERE I recap'ed the LADIES and MEN'S costumes...and now it's time to discuss the PAIRS and ICE DANCE Costumes Highlights!

Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier USA Short Program to Don Juan est mort (from "Don Juan" musical) by Felix Gray: I liked these costumes worn by USA's Denney and Frazier. They were on-point with the "Don Juan" music; very Spain-inspired with the red and black colors as well as the gold applique detail. I liked the asymmetrical gold embellishments of her costume as well as his "looped" tie.

Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier USA Free Skate to Somewhere in Time (soundtrack) by John Barry: These costumes were quite beautiful, especially Haven's. I loved her asymmetrical neckline and the royal blue color. The silver crystal sequin work was also quite spectacular on her costume. I also loved her sequined jeweled cuffs!

Kristina Astakhova and Alexei Rogonov Russia Free Skate to The Storm by Balazs Havas
Le Bien qui fait mal (from "Mozart L'Opera Rock"): These two got my attention for their Steam Punk-like costumes. I liked his more than hers. Alexei's faux leather brown vest with gold trim was kind of smashing--along with his shirt's sleeve cuff detail. And normally, I am annoyed at the too-hipster "man bun" (Note to Alexei: It's sooo 2015!), here it works...kind of. Oh, and yes, Kristina looks slightly too "Oktoberfest Bar Waitress". BTW: They used these same costumes last year, but to a completely different program.

Julianna Seguin and  Charles Bilodeau Canada Short Program to Skokiaan by Louis Armstrong: Julianna's costume was vibrant, impacting and quite figure skating fab. I loved (naturally!) the neon bright bubblegum pink fringe details. The sequin work was also nice. His all-black shawl collared tuxedo look was a nice contrast to her bold costume. While I liked his neon green pocket hankie to match the subtle neon green in her costume, I suggest changing it to neon green AND pink since that is the predominant color for her. The added detail will really put the icing on this Figure Skating cake!

Julianna Seguin and  Charles Bilodeau Canada Free Skate to Cinema Paradiso (soundtrack) by Ennio Morricone, Cinema Paradiso performed by Monica Mancini: These costumes were very "old school" figure skating. Nothing exciting or directional or even Costume Couture about them. Hers was pretty and then, his...well, quite a bore; black shirt and pants. Nope, try again Charles. Please. 

Marissa Castelli and Mervin Tran USA Free Skate to Journey Medley: I have positive things to say about these looks on Castelli and Tran. I think her bright red sequined look was very early 80's Pageant Fab and his reflected the "Journey" era with the red-and-black color blocking detail. With that said, part of me wished they both went "Journey" concert T-shirt 80's Rocker Cool. LOL! 

Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres France Short Program to Earned It (from "Fifty Shades of Grey") by The Weekend and Maxime Rodriguez: I always look forward to what James and Cipres wear. These two have the most AMAZING bodies and they almost always give fashion folk like me something when it comes to their costumes. For their SP here, they went sexy (Hello! It's "Fifty Shades of Grey!") and it got my attention. I especially liked her black-and-nude illusion sequined trimmed top section as well as his crystal-accented shoulders. 

Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov Russia Short Program to Glam (Electro Swing Remix) by Dimie Cat: One word--Love! I love her razzle-dazzle fringe fabulous gold, silver and white costume and his center front buttoned shirt goes well with her ensemble. BTW: Has anyone else ever said how much Evgenia looks like actress Claire Danes??

ICE DANCE---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alisa Agafonova and Alper Ucar of Turkey Free Dance to Near Light by Olafur Arnalds, Beethoven's Five Secrets by The Piano Guys, Sand by Nathan Lanier: I loved the grape/violet colors, the ombre shading of her costume--and especially the diagonal drape in his top. Who knew these Turkish Ice Dancers had so much Costume Style!! Now I do.

Elena Ilinykh and Ruslan Zhiganshin of Russia Fee Dance to Slumdog Millionaire (soundtrack)
Ang Laga De by Aditi Paul: My ears--and eyes--always perk up any time Ice Dancers do a "Bollywood" theme. Russians Ilinykh and Zhiganshin ventured into India and with costume gusto! I liked these costumes for many reasons: The colors were vibrant and great, the sequin work was fabulous (love her "choker necklace" and his paisley detail!). These looks were Mumbai Hot! 

Isabella Tobias and IIia Tkachenko of Israel Short Dance to Blues: Real Life by The Weekend
Hip Hop: Can't Feel My Face by The Weekend: I am always a sucker for a good sequined jumpsuit. This one--seen on Israel's Isabella Tobias would make Carolina Kostner blush huney! I loved the multicolored sequins, the fit, the plunging neckline...Very Hot! And his all-black look was cool and modern. I especially liked his "skinny stretch jeans".

Kana Muramoto and Chris Reed of Japan Short Dance to Blues: The Sun's Gonna Shine Again, Jive: I've Got a Woman, and Swing: Mess Around by Ray Charles: Very bold, very bright. This Japanese Ice Dance team wore these purple and yellow costumes for their Short Dance. While it was a bit "cartoon-y" for sure, I still think they were impacting and in a good way. For some reason, I actually enjoyed his windowpane striped printed jacket and that yellow skinny tie. If there was a Costume Star in this dance, it would Chris!

Kana Muramoto and Chris Reed of Japan Free Dance to Poeta en el Puerto, Amor Dulce Muerte, Nada Puede Dormir,  and Poeta en el Viento by Vincente Amigo: For their Free Dance, Muramoto and Reed went Spanish Flamenco with their music and costumes. I think these worked even though there was nothing extraordinary about them. I wish someone would re-invent the Spanish Flamenco Costume "wheel". Por Favor.

Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue of USA Free Dance to I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Bootstrap, Can't Help Falling In Love performed by Ingrid Michaelson, Earned It by Bootstrap: I love these two! Their skating and ice dancing is BEYOND. I wish they would have given me just a little bit more with their costumes. I appreciate her costume's design and delicate mini pleating and flower applique detail but...the color is so bland and really had little impact on the ice. And Zachary...well, he was just whatever; lots of knit jersey. I need just a little bit more kids, costume-wise!

Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani USA Short Dance to Blues: That's Life performed by Frank Sinatra, Hip Hop: I never thought I'd live to see the day Maia Shibutani would done a halter sequined bodysuit and black skin-tight pants. But I did and...I love it! These costumes were great looks for both Maia and Alex (he looks kind of sexy-licious in his "After Waaay Too Many Martinis" unbuttoned tuxedo look). So, yes, I liked these costumes.

Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani USA Free Dance to Evolution: Mirror In Mirror by Anne Akiko Meyers, Akira Eguchi, Evolution: Anyone Like You (Club Mix) by Digitize: Her deep royal blue shirred and sequined dress was very pretty. I loved the top's detail. His was modern, sleek. I think these looks worked. I loved their skate; but didn't necessarily love the music. Their skate--and chic costumes--lifted me up, while the music wanted me to reach for another Vanilla Iced Latte with a Double Shot Espresso. #JustSaying