ICE STYLE.....2016 NHK Trophy Costumes Recap: ICE DANCE, PAIRS!

Sexy-licious: French Ice Dance team of  Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron--2016 NHK Trophy

Continuing with my ICE STYLE blog on this past weekend's 2016 NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, in my last post I discussed the Ladies and Men HERE, so now, it's time to talk about Ice Dance and Pairs. Now, I must warn you that for some I have already talked about their costumes before for this 2016-2017 Grand Prix season, but I'm just including them here because, well, I just LOVE their costumes! Let's begin with some Ice Dancers I have not discussed:

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

Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac France Short Dance to Blues: The Way You Make Me Feel performed by Judith Hill and Swing: The Way You Make Me Feel performed by Michael Jackson--I get the black-and-white costume connection to Michael Jackson, of course. I think these were nice costumes that effectively showed a thru-line to the music. While I enjoyed her white godet dress with delicate sequins, I think Romain was the costume star here with his sleek look. And I LOVED the superwide suspenders and too-short tie! 

Emi Hirai and Marien de la Asuncion Japan Short Dance to Blues: I Just Want to Love by Etta James and Swing: Puttin' On the Ritz by Irving Berlin--Emi's sequined applique royal blue costume was impressive and very Ballroom Dancing. I was just a little questionable of Marien looking so "Deney Terrio Dance Fever" but he's so hunky...I almost didn't care!

Emi Hirai and Marien de la Asuncion Japan Free Dance to Kiss, Purple Rain, U Got the Look by Prince: Prince is VERY POPULAR this season for figure skaters and here, it was the music inspiration for Japan's Hirai and de la Asuncion. At first I didn't really understand the Prince costume connection--especially since there was a lack of obvious purple coloring in either of their costumes. But with closer inspection, I got the 80's-like style details and I especially loved her red jersey and gold sequined chain-like costume. 

Anastasia Cannuscio and Colin McManus USA Free Dance to Time by Billy Porter, Beyond The Sky by Karl Hugo and Time by Billy Porter: I thought these were quite pretty costumes worn by Americans Cannuscio and McManus. While her powder blue sequined dress was Pageant pretty, I LOVED his, especially the ombre dyed cowl-draped top. Not only did I admire the soft draping, I also liked the subtle gold and silver crystals that matched hers. I cannot stress this enough but it is always nice when men in figure skating let go of the whole "Manly-Man" costume schtick and embrace soft sensuality.

Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron France Short Dance to Blues: Bittersweet by Lene Riebau, Maxim Illion perf. by Club des Belugas and Swing: Diga Diga Doo by Dorthy Fields, Jimmy McHugh perf. by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy--I've discussed these costumes HERE if you want to now what I thought.

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir Canada Short Dance to Hip Hop: Kiss by Prince, Blues: Five Women by Prince, Blues: Purple Rain by Prince: I have also written about these costumes worn by Canada's Virtue and Moir but I just LOVED these photos and that is really why I wanted to put them here! Anyhow--yes, they skated to Prince (I told you he was a popular musical theme!) and you can read my comments on their costumes HERE.

Virtue and Moir of Canada Free Dance Pilgrims on a Long Journey by Coeur de Pirate
Latch (Acoustic) by Sam Smith: I have also already talked about these costumes back in Skate Canada International HERE. But seriously, I don't need a reason to show such fabulous photos and especially her SUPER CHIC beautifully pleated dress. J'Adore Tessa!

PAIRS------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meaghan Duhamel and Eric Radford Canada Free Skate to No, je ne regrette rien performed by Patricia Kaas: Back when I wrote about these costumes in my 2016 Skate Canada International blog HERE, I wasn't a big fan of her lilac/dusty rose sequined applique costume. I thought it was a bit "Toddlers & Tiaras". But, I have to admit that I kind of like it now: The sequin work is pretty nice with a closer detail photo and overall, she looks beautiful. And Eric's shirt is well-coordinated with her costume.

Wang Xuehan and Wang Lei China Short Program to Steppin' Out With My Baby performed by The Jump’ Joz Band: I thought these were fun but not perfect costume depictions of the "Steppin' Out With My Baby" music. Her red glittery costume was nice but not extraordinary and his black and white tuxedo look was a bit sloppy to be honest. Not sure who decided his shirt should be "untucked" and his overall costume be so un-sexy but it looked Junior-ish.

Mari Vartmann and Ruben Blommaert Germany Free Skate to Second Law by Muse: In a previous ICE STYLE post HERE, I discussed this German Pairs Short Program costumes to Michael Jackson so now I want to talk about their Free Skate. I really liked these looks especially her fire-red shredded sleeve and hem costume. Just take a look at how those details shine when he throws her up for the Throw Triple Twist. I also thought his black costume was modern and a nice compliment to hers.

Tarah Kayne and Danny O'Shea USA Short Program to Take Me to Church by Hozier: Pretty and well-done is all I can say with these all black costumes worn by American Pairs Kayne and O'Shea. I liked her black sheer with sequins look with a studded waistband.; It was very "Elie Saab"-like...for Figure Skating Costumes. 

Tarah Kayne and Danny O'Shea USA Free Skate to Song of India by Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov
Marche Slave by Petr I. Tchaikovski: For their Free Skate, they went a bit more Costume "Ethnic" with an obvious nod to the Near East influence of their music. I LOVED her multicolored jeweled top section and sheer midriff. And Danny's sexy faux leather arm band accessory look was good. I just wished his cummerbund had the same jeweled sequins that we saw in her costume to make them relate to each other a bit more.