ICE STYLE....2018 U.S. Figure Skating Championships COSTUMES RECAP: PAIRS

U.S. Pairs team Alexa Scimeca-Knierim and Christopher Knierim during their Free Skate--2018 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships, SAP Center San Jose California

Last week and weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the 2018 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships with my better half David Paul (who took many gorgeous photos, some seen here!) and our very good friend, Johnny Nicoloro. The U.S. Nationals were so exciting but of course, I couldn't wait to return home and begin writing my "Ice Style" Costumes Blogs. I've discussed the LADIES HERE, the MEN HERE, so now it's time for the PAIRS! While we (we, as in the United States of America) may not be strong in Pairs and will probably not medal at the Olympics (we send only one Pairs team), the costumes were quite nice and at least, added "visual eye candy" for me. With that said, let's begin with the eventual Gold medalists...

Alexa Scimeca-Knierim and Christopher Knierim Short Program to Come What May (Moulin Rouge soundtrack) Alexa and Chris skated their Short Program wearing these costumes above. Alexa wore a pretty golden/nude colored costume with gorgeous beading throughout and a lilac/violet colored belt/waistband. I thought she looked like a "Red Carpet Satine" in her look, very on-trend and very pretty. Christopher's costume (of the same color as her waistband) involved a delicately beaded shirt, with matching-color pants. While I wished his shirt was tucked in, at least he looked like he belonged with her (sometimes the men in the Pairs look like they were an after-thought, in terms of costumes, but not here!). In case you are paying attention, these costumes above were different from what they wore at the NHK Trophy 2017 Grand Prix:

NHK Trophy 2017: More purple and more Corset. I like the ones worn at the 2018 U.S. Nationals better.

Lower Photo by David Paul

Free Skate to Ghost - The Musical by David A. Stewart, Glen Ballard--For their Free Skate, Alexa and Chris wore these looks above which I thought were modern and sleek. Alexa's dress featured a lilac-hued ombre color and clean/un-fussy design and I loved the sexy open back. Christopher's look was more on the un-costume costume world of the "Max Aaron School of Costuming" with his very tight silver-gray top and black pants. He also looked quite sexy and it was wise to make those sleeves as tight as they could be, showing off his very toned biceps. 

Ashley Cain and Timothy LeDuc Short Program to I'll Take Care of You by Joe Bonamassa--I liked seeing these modern and sleek unitard/jumpsuits on Ashley and Timothy. The looks were done in black with amethyst colored crystals scattered throughout. I loved her front and back silver sequined panels which added interest to her costume as well as elongated her body. I also liked Timothy's front panel top of gorgeous crystals, matching hers. Notice how her look has a plunging neckline (nude colored) and Timothy does to, but...his is covered in sequins!

Photos by David Paul

Free Skate to Bang Bang, Young and Beautiful, and A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (from "The Great Gatsby" soundtrack)--I really liked these Free Skate costumes from Cain and LeDuc. Here, Ashley was the costume star with her Great Gatsby-esque gold flapper look. Her dress had stage (or ice!) impact, looked expensive and made me want to join her dancing to their program's music. Timothy's all-black costume was a great choice making her the star but still giving him a little bit of sequin fabulousness, especially around his midriff. Oh, and the fact that his costume color almost matched his beard color: Nice!

Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Nathan Bartholomay Short Program to Eleanor Rigby by John Lennon, Paul McCartney--Deanna and Nathan skated their Short Program in these costumes above. I loved her one-shoulder-looking royal blue sequined design; it was elegant and pretty. And I also liked how Nathan's top matched her costume perfectly, especially in that his neckline trim was the same as her bodice trim. While I was looking at these, I had one of those "Figure Skating Costume Groundhog's Day" epiphanys in that I thought "Wait! Haven't they worn these before?" and yep, I was right: 

At last year's 2017 U.S. Nationals!! These costumes above are what they wore (hers is the same yet his top is different), for their Short Program to Canadian Tenors Medley. Different music, (almost) same costumes. 

Free Skate to Streets Have No Name and One Love by U2--For their Free Skate, Deanna and Nathan wore these looks above. Hers was a red halter neckline sequined costume and he was in all black. They were nice but a bit uninspiring--costume wise. While Nathan was modern and sexy in his semi-sheer shirted ensemble, Deanna was a bit "Old School Figure Skater" in her heavily appliqued design that looked a bit off-the-rack. 

Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier Short Program to All Of Me by John Stephens, Toby Gad performed by John Legend--I liked the matchy-matchy color story seen in the costumes worn by Haven and Brandon for their Short Program. Her vanilla cream costume matched his tuck-pleated-and-French-cuffed tuxedo shirt perfectly and once again, I loved how they looked as if they belonged together! Her sequined look was Figure Skating Traditional but totally on-trend with the popular "Golden/Nude" gowns seen on the red carpet and international beauty queens as of late.

Photos by David Paul

Free Skate to Who Wants to Live Forever by Brian May, performed by Queen & David Garrett--I really liked Haven and Brandon's Free Skate costumes seen above. The color story was deep indigo blue with hints of red and were quite nice and delicately done. I thought these were modern and directional--especially when compared to their Short Program costumes which veered on the traditional. I especially liked Brandon's asymmetrical long top and how it really made for a perfect "Male Costume Bookend" to her look. These were chic, fashionable and still ice -impacting.

Marissa Castelli and Mervin Tran Short Program to Fallin' by Alicia Keys Short Program--Marissa and Mervin wore these royal blue and black-hued costumes for the Short Program. She wore a halter-neckline costume, nicely beaded in her upper torso. Mervin had a fitted black top with semi-sheer raglan sleeves and delicate silver sequin detail. While these were nice, I REALLY REALLY wished they would have just worn these FABULOUS costumes that they wore at their appearance at the Rostelecom Cup of Russia 2017:

Sequined One Shoulder Haute Patinage Couture: Loved these costumes! Please bring them back. #JustSaying 

Photos by David Paul

Free Skate to Women by Shawn Phillips: I can't say enough AMAZING comments about these costumes worn by Marissa and Mervin for their Free Skate. I loved the subtle color pairing of Castelli wearing blush pink and Tran donning more of a deep magenta-like color. His gray pants were on-point with his shirt color.  And Marissa's sequined dress is EVERYTHING. Bravo!

Tarah Kayne and Danny O'Shea Short Program to Take Me to Church by Hozier--These costumes worn by Tarah and Danny were pretty and especially right for the lovely, romantic music accompaniment. I liked the turquoise/aqua jeweled sequins on her costume's neckline and how the color of Danny's delicately ruffled top matched those sequins. These were nice but they were saving their BEST for their Free Skate...

Photos by David Paul

Tarah Kayne and Danny O'Shea Free Skate to Swan Lake by Petr I. Tchaikovski--Well, well, well, looks like Tarah and Danny just made this Ice Style commentator--and Figure Skating fan--very happy: I thought these were probably THE BEST costumes of all the Pairs teams. Full stop. I loved these looks from head to ice skate toes! Tarah was the beautifully elegant swan in an imagined Bolshoi Ballet "Swan Lake" in her beautifully appliqued costume. And Danny's black costume was FIERCE, DARK and Black Swan Sexy. I especially LOVED the Bird-Skeletal back of his top. The costumes were designed by Tarah as well as their coach Jim Peterson and constructed by Dawn Imperatore.

**UP NEXT: THE ICE DANCE COSTUMES HIGHLIGHTS of the 2018 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships!!!

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