ICE STYLE.....Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2019 FINALS COSTUMES: LADIES and MEN!

Finals Costumes--Ladies and Men Skaters at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2019 Finals (L to R) Alina Zagitova of Russia, Anna Shcherbakova of Russia, Alena Kostornaia of Russia, Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan and Nathan Chen of USA--2019 Grand Prix Finals, Torino Italy

Last weekend was the Finals of the 2019-2020 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which took place in Torino Italy. This is the grand culmination of all the previous Grand Prix competition events which took place with all the top-scoring skaters competing for the highest of spots. Throughout this season, I have covered most of these costumes but don't mind recapping them here once again. There were a couple of Costume Changes--if you could actually deem them "Costumes" (Hello Nathan Chen!) so without further ado...let's start with the LADIES and MEN, first up...

THE LADIES:

Bradie Tennell USA Short Program to Mechanisms and Chronos by Kirill Richter--Bradie skated her Short program wearing this red costume. The design featured a sequined covered nude illusion "plunging neckline" front, long sleeves and short skirt, all accented with a diamante thin belt. It looked sinuous and modern and devoid of any unnecessary costume fluff, making Bradie look sleeker than ever! 

Rika Kihira Japan Short Program to Breakfast in Baghdad by Ulf Wakenius performed by Youn Sun Nah--Japan's Rika Kihira wore this red sequined costume. I liked the design and black ombre dye effect under the silver rhinestones, as well as the delicately asymmetrical skirt. The look was a bit "Vampira" but the red and black coloring was impacting, especially against her porcelain-like skin. She changed the costume she had been wearing at previous competition events and started wearing this red one at the NHK Trophy 2019.

Alexandra Trusova Russia Free Skate to Pray (High Valyrian) (from “Game of Thrones” soundtrack) by Matthew Bellamy, The Night King (from “Game of Thrones” soundtrack) by Ramin Djawadi--For her Free Skate to "Game of Thrones" music, she wore this costume. I think she was trying to vibe Daenarys "Khaleesi" Mother of Dragon's Season 3 costume, with the blue color and gray-ish tights. I get it, it was a nice attempt but it still looked a bit "Junior"-like (she is only FIFTEEN after all). I am not a fan of the sheer "leggings" but I give the costume designer points for trying to mimic the "striped" look in her costume to match the famous fur coat worn by the show's "Daenarys" character.

Anna Shcherbakova Russia Short Program to The Girl with the Plums, Meeting Laura, and Laura's Murder (from “The Perfume” soundtrack)--For her Short program, Anna wore this deep ombre dyed gray dress featuring sequined applique in the torso. While it was "Romantic Dark" and a bit "Nightshade Fairy" in its design, all that detail in the front torso looked a bit messy and jumbled, especially for her delicate body. 

Free Skate to Six Gnossiennes: Gnossienne No.1 by Eric Satie, performed by Roland Pontinen
The Firebird by Igor Stravinski--Anna started the skate in the lilac costume on the left above and then, she did a tug at her neck and voila: NEW COSTUME! While I really was not a fan of the lilac halter neck look, in the beginning, she Costume-redeemed herself when the "Firebird" dress that took over. The red feather-like sequined applique-over-nude-illusion-body-suit-with-red-skirt was eye-catching and impacting. I liked that it was a definite change from what she had worn in the first half. Was it kind of cheesy--the halfway-through-the-skate costume change? Yes, but I liked it.

Alina Zagitova Russia Short Program to Me Voy by Yasmin Levy--Russia's Olympian Alina Zagitova was vibing the Spanish flamenco theme with this black lace and sequined costume. I wasn't overly moved by this look; to be honest, it seemed a bit "old" and rather uninspiring for her. All that lace and darkness reminded me of the black lace Mantillas the widows wear to their husband's funerals. The one word that comes to mind is "Bland". It seems she was saving her "Ta-Da!" Costume for her free Skate...

Free Skate to The Feeling Begins by Peter Gabriel, Lawrence Of Arabia by Maurice Jarre and Ramses by Khatir Hicham--With a Middle East-themed soundtrack ranging from "The Last Temptation of Christ" to "Lawrence of Arabia" to Egypt, we arrive at this fabulous costume worn by Zagitova. After a rather dull Short Program design, I was very happy to see this for sure. I loved the one-shoulder black-draped design with sequined nude illusion and in particular, the turquoise jeweled "Cleopatra"-like wings at the bust. Oh, and then those incredible details like the necklace, shoulder epaulets, snake wrist accents, and gold paillettes used as eye makeup were fabulous.

Alena Kostornaia Russia Free Skate to The Meadow (from "New Moon" soundtrack) by Alexandre Desplat, Eyes on Fire (from "Twilight" soundtrack) by Blue Foundation and Supermassive Black Hole by Muse--For her Gold medal-winning Free Skate (she had the highest Short program score as well as overall Total Score), Alena wore a costume featuring a purple base, sweetheart neckline, black accents, silver rhinestones, and red blood-like sequin accents. I liked the not-so-subtle homage to the "Twilight" movies' vampire theme and the subtle details such as those gloves; she looked pretty yet slightly deadly. I especially liked the neckline's sequined "fangs" motif.

MEN:

Alexander Samarin Russia Short Program to Blues for Klook by Eddy Louiss--Samarin wore this indigo-blue colored solid/sheer shirt and matching dark blue pants for his Short Program. It matched the "Blues" inspiration of his music for sure and he did look like a band member of a cool blues band. While it wasn't making any real fab costume waves, it was clean, sharp and fit him well.

Dmitri Aliev Russia Short Program to Je Dors Sur Des Roses (from "Mozart L'Opera Rock) by Mikelangelo Loconte--Dmitri wore this costume consisting of a wine-red velvet long vest with embroidered lapels, see-through black shirt, and black pants. It was "Mozart"-y I guess and it fits him nicely but as far as an overall design, it was a bit off-the-rack from a Skating Shop.

Kevin Aymoz France Short Program to The Question Of U by Prince--Naturally, if you are skating to Prince, you wear PURPLE! And Kevin did, as seen from the purple sequined and Lycra top underneath. Oh, and he also wore black pants with a black belt. I have to say there are more creative ways of honoring Prince than this so I wasn't a big fan of this "costume". He looked like he went to a Caribbean Cruise and found out it was a Prince Karaoke tribute night and then bought this at the ship's souvenir shop.

Nathan Chen USA Short Program La Boheme performed by Charles Aznavour--Nathan skated his Short Program to the music of  Armenian-French singer Charles Aznavour. This was a costume change from what he had been wearing at previous Grand Prix competition events this season (the I'm-a-Waiter-at-a-Wedding Shirt/Vest/Red Pocket Hankie Look)...

The new "costume" involved a grey/lilac-colored tie-dye long sleeve stretch top with a black-and-white ribbed neck and black pants. While it was more modern "sportif", it fell short of adding any nice visual costume "candy" to his skate and let's be honest, had nothing to do with the iconic French chanson he skated to. 

Nathan also changed his costume for his Free Skate...

Free Skate to Music from "Rocketman": Goodbye Yellowbrick Road by Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell; Rocketman by Taron Egerton and Benny and the Jets by Logic, Elton John and Pink--For his Free Skate to "Rocketman", Nathan changed from a psychedelic, multicolored tie-dye stretch shirt to...a yellow-and-white tie-dye stretch shirt. It was obviously made by the same people who did his Short Program costume and maybe were under A) Budgetary or B) Time constraints and decided to just cut the same style top but in a different fabric. He looked like an extra in a vintage "Star Trek" episode. It looked sloppy and the unfitted style was distracting as it flopped around during the skate. On a good note: At least it was YELLOW, honoring the Elton John "Goodbye Yellowbrick Road" music. But, in case you didn't understand my review: I wasn't a fan.

Yuzuru Hanyu Japan Short Program to Otonal by Raul di Blasio--Yuzuru Hanyu rehashed his same Short Program music from last season for this 2019-2010 season. I liked this season's costume with its jaggedy edges and beautiful rhinestones. It all makes for a striking design on the torso, giving a "Snow King" effect, like stylish icicles. My only critique is those necklaces...As much as he likes wearing them--as "lucky charms", for sponsorship or health as some messageboards say HERE--but they distract from the neckline of the costume as a whole.

Free Skate to Origin ("Art on Ice")  by Edvin Marton--This was a STUNNING costume worn by Yuzuru Hanyu for his Free Skate. The subtle purple shading, the beautiful gold curved rhinestone design, the juxtaposition of the solid vs. the sheer, the 3D effect of the applique...all details that add up to a very Couture-like design that is right for such a Couture-like figure skater. 

**UP NEXT: PAIRS and ICE DANCE COSTUME HIGHLIGHTS of 2019 Grand Prix Finals