ICE STYLE.....2017 Rostelecom Cup of Russia COSTUMES REVIEW: PAIRS and ICE DANCE!

Cha-Cha King and Queen: Alex and Mai Shibutani of USA during their Short Dance--2017 Rostelecom cup of Russia Grand Prix of Figure Skating, Moscow Russia

2017 Rostelecom Cup of Russia, Moscow Russia

In my last "Ice Style" blog posts, I discussed the COSTUMES from this past weekend's 2017 Rostelecom Cup of Russia including the MEN HERE, and the LADIES HERE so...now it's time to give my Costumes Recap of the Pairs and Ice Dance! This is going to be a fun costumes season, especially for Ice Dance since the theme is Latin American dances (including Rhumba, Samba, Mambo, ChaCha, Meringue, Salsa, and Bachata), so you know it's going to be HOT HOT HOT South of the Border Looks.With that said, let's begin with the Pairs and I'll end with the "Hot Hot Hot!" Ice Dancers:

PAIRS:

Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia: For their Short Program to Tango de Besame performed by Benise, the Russian pairs of Stolbova and Klimov, went with dramatic and sleek black-and-white looks. Fedor wore a white dress shirt and super tight black pants and Ksenia donned a black mini dress with an open back and bejeweled high neckline. They looked like Tango Experts showing a lesson in Buenos Aires which I guess was the point. 

Free Skate to Carmen Suite: For their Free Skate to Bizet's iconic music, they continued with the sleek and un-fussy costuming. She wore a fire-red mini-dress "Carmen" costume with black and red sequin applique at the bust, as well as nude illusion neckline/yoke. It was sexy yet kind of a snooze-fest. The placement of the lace applique over the bust was a bit odd for me. Since she is so tiny it wasn't too distracting, but I feel the blace lace could have been better integrated into the costume. Klimov donned a "Matador"-like ensemble consisting of black pants and a Toreador-inspired shirt. I liked the lace appliques on his shirt that mimicked a bullfighter's iconic jacket. But what was really interesting was...

His back...I really loved that detail, which again, is a nod to the traditional bullfighter costume, but slightly more sleek and modern. While I'm a fan of all that, I'm still NOT a fan of his Man Top Bun; it's SOOOO Hipster Douchey circa 2014. CUT IT OFF.

Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov of Russia: Tarasova (aka Claire Danes Doppelganger!) and Morozov skated their Short Program to Piano Concerto No. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninov in these costumes above. I thought they were quite unique and fabulous. I loved the wrapping-around red ties and black background. these were PRIME examples of well designed costumes for a Pairs couple that look expensive and Pair-Perfect!

Free Skate to Candyman by Christina Aguilera: For their Free Skate, they decided to go Kooky! While I guess there were hints of the WWII 40's Milk Shake Diner Style to these looks, they were still more "The Mask" than "Candyman". And boy oh boy, could these really work for a random Ice Dance pair, dancing to a Swing or Jitterbug! For this, it just looked comical and Junior-ish.

Marissa Castelli and Mervin Tran of USA: Americans Castelli and Tran wore these costumes to their Fallin' by Alicia Keys Short Program. If these seem familiar, it is because they are: They are the same costumes from last season (same program music as well). It seems that this is the season of programd and COSTUMES REDUX with several skaters like Yauzuru Hanyu, Mirai Nagasu and now Castelli and Tran...wearing the same costumes they have worn before (are they under budget constraints??). Anyhow...I thought these were one of THE BEST of last season and they still hold up now. Gorgeous styling, expensive beading...LOVE her one shoulder-like design and especially how draped and beautiful Mervin's costume is. So happy when a costume designer thinks about the guy as well (and the guy allows themselves to NOT be given a BLACK SHIRT and BLACK PANTS from Nordstrom Rack!).

Free Program to Women by Shawn Phillips: I was also a big fan of these costumes worn for their Free Skate. I loved the subtle color pairing of Castelli wearing blush pink and Tran donning more of a magenta-like color. His gray pants were on-point with his shirt color.  And Marissa's sequined dress...well, someone needs to lengthen it to the floor and turn it into a fab red carpet gown! ASAP! It is beautifully done!

ICE DANCE:

Betina Popova and Sergey Mozgov of Russia: Russians Popova and Mozgov skated their Short Dance to Cha Cha; Rhumba: Formidable by Stromae and Samba: Batacuda Mixes performed by D.J. Dero. The costumes were fun, kooky and right for the Cha-cha/Rhumba/Samba music. Her costume utilized the beaded fringe to add flutter and cha-cha movement to their dance and the polka dots--while being a little distracting--were bold enough to compete with the music and dance. I especially liked his top, especially the subtle baby blue colored piping that referenced to her kooky-and-crazy look.

Free Dance to Carmen Suite by Georges Bizet: Yes kids it's "Carmen". How could you have guessed?! Her dress had slight sequined applique nods to Toreador jackets (on her shoulders) and a ragged-looking handkerchief hem. He donned a Officer-like costume reminiscent of Don Jose, the Corporal of Dragoons from the opera. I've seen better. These were like "Carmen On a Budget".

Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada: Gilles and Poirier of Canada wore these costumes for their Short Dance to Bossa Nova: Bossa Cubana and Mambo: Gopher Mambo. Piper wore an aquamarine and black Devore velvet-like dress with an open back and GORGEOUS gold jeweled sequins on her upper torso. And Paul...well, he started with a been-there/done-that boring all black look but then...halfway through their skate, she ripped his sleeves, revealing Cha-cha ruffles of a similar fabrication to her dress. While it was gimmicky, I liked it! He definitely needed a style element of fun and the ruffles did it. I liked these overall however, I wished they were more BOLD in color. 

Free Dance to Stolen Hearts, Perry Mason Theme by Fred Steiner, Smokey Sax Perry, Mason Theme by Fred Steiner: I'l be really honest: I am usually a BIG FAN of Gilles and Poirier when it comes to their costumes through all these years, however...these are TERRIBLE! I'll (kind of) excuse his black shirt/black pants and suspenders look (I guess he's supposed to be Perry Mason or maybe a private investigator?) but Piper's dress leaves me perplexed. I am so surprised this dress made it to the ice. It fits odd (no swing to her skirt and it needs more flare), the oversized scroll pattern is jarring and it just does nothing to the pair or the dance. It was so distracting, I could not concentrate on their great skating. I can think of a million more creative ways to incorporate that scroll like pattern into her costume. I love this pair and hope somebody rescues them from these costumes. Please change this ASAP! 

Rachel Parsons and Michael Parsons of USA: Brother and sister Ice Dance pair Parsons and Parsons skated their Short Dance to Rhumba: Mambo Molly by Mambo Molly ; Slow Rhumba: Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime by Zuchero and Mambo: Congo Crazed by Mambo Molly. While these costumes weren't Latino Bright and Bold, they were sleek and still HOT HOT HOT! I liked her asymmetrical hem'ed dress featuring silver sequins in her neckline and sides. I especially loved the costume tie-in in his look and especially his v-neck shirt--which featured similar silver crystal embellishment. 

Free Dance to Ghost Dances: La Partida by Victor Jara; Sikuriadas by Inti Illimani and Quiaquenpita by Inti Illimani. This was an odd dance and odd music choice. The music was neo-folkloric from Chilean artist Victor Jara Latin American folk music style from Inti Illimani. It was just unusual since one doesn't normally hear this type of music in Ice Dance. I love this music but maybe not in this kind of stage. The costumes reflected a "South American Indigenous Tribe" look to them but to see them on two VERY WHITE kids from the US, well...it just seemed almost too "Halloween Costume"-like.

Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev of Russia: Russians Bobrova and Soloviev skated their Short Dance to Rhumba: Latin Lover by Joao Bosco; Samba: Dance by DJ Maksy and Samba: Quand je vois tes yeux by Dany Brilliant, and they looked Muy Caliente! She wore a very "Dancing With The Stars" barely-there asymmetrical dress in royal blue/deep purple featuring gold sequined detail at the bust and dress. The dress was also packed with fringe! And if that wasn't enough, she added a bicep bracelet and fringed earrings! Ekaterina was straight out of a Russian Ballroom Competition and looking fabulosa! Dmitri also looked sexy and hot with his black costume featuring a plunging neckline. I love the irony of the fact that even though they both OOZED the definition S.E.X. in these costumes, they still felt the need to wear those crosses on their neck. Ayyy Dios Mio.

Free Dance to Oblivion performed by Two Cellos and Beethoven's Five Secrets by The Piano Guys: For their Free Dance, Bobrova and Soloviev left the SEX back with their Short Dance and went more elegant "Period"-like with these costumes. She wore a pink-hued dress with a draped cowl neckline and dip-dyed skirt. He wore a white dress shirt, black pants and double breasted gray vest. They looked fine but both were very uncreative. They lacked any of the costume pizzazz they had in their Short Dance. Somehow I missed that.

Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin of Russia: Russia's model-looking Ice Dance couple of Stepanova and Bukin skated their Short Dance to Rhumba: Espérame en el Cielo by Mayte Martin, Samba: L'Ombelico Del Mondo by Jovanotti, Rhumba: Chandelier (Dj Maksy Rumba Remix) by Sia and Samba: Samba Do Brasil by Bellini. Once again, she followed the costume lead of her Ice Dance compatriot of  Ekaterina Bobrova and went super sexy! She wore a completely open back dress in nude with purple sequined appliques. Oh, and a fringe skirt that would make Bob Mackie blush! If anyone is going to get away with this look, it's Miranda Kerr-lookalike Alexandra Stepanova. Her partner wore (wait for it!)...an all black outfit. At least it had a plunging neckline and an asymmetrical hem on his shirt. At least. 

Free Dance to Love Story Theme, Love's Dream by Rick Wakeman, Liebestraum No. 3 in A-Flat Minor, S. 541 by Franz Lizst, performed by Martin Jones: These costumes were pretty, and right for the music. The delicate blush pink color story hinted at love. At first I was worried that the color should have been stronger since their own skin color isn't too far away from that blush muted pink!, but I  surprisingly it worked on them. I also loved the intricate, yet beautiful sequined flower applique on her torso which, once again, gave a nod to romance. His soft blouson-sleeve shirt (with a plunging neckline!) also gave a feel of Romanticism and Love. These two needed to get a Hotel Suite. After their Free Dance.  

Finally...

Maia and Alex Shibutani of USA: How do you say AMAZING in Ice Dance?? The Shibutanis, that's how! I LOVED their Short Dance to Mambo: Mambo No. 5 by Perez Prado; Cha Cha: Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White by Perez Prado and Samba: Mambo Jumbo/Mambo No. 8 by Perez Prado, and I especially ADORED their costumes. These were BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO!!! They looked so fabulous, I almost wanted to jump through the TV and be in Moscow dancing with them! I thought her bubblegum pink with gold and silver crystals dress was A STUNNER. And Alex was no Costume Chopped Liver huney! I thought his nude bedazzled shirt with black pants look was sexy and a perfect costume partner to her colorful eye candy costume. And if that isn't enough in terms of my compliments, Maia's hair and makeup were Latina Fab!

Free Dance to Paradise by Coldplay: For their Free Dance, they went much more subdued--keeping in mind their emotional and modern music. I liked the red and black colors and I especially liked her softly draped chiffon dress featuring subtle hints of ombre dying. I also appreciated how his shirt perfectly matched her dress coloring. This might not have been as impressive as their Short Dance costumes but they were beautiful and appropriate for this Free Dance.  

Next Up: Skate Canada International!