ICE STYLE.....Rostelecom Cup 2020 Grand Prix of Figure Skating COSTUMES RECAP: THE LADIES!

Ladies of Rostelecom Cupm 2020--(L to R) Alena Kostornaia, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, Alena Kostornaia, and Alexandra Trusova

This past weekend was the Rostelecom Cup 2020, the fifth event in the 2020-2021 Grand Prix of Figure Skating senior-level international competition. It was held at the Megasport Sport Palace in Moscow Russia. While several of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating had to be canceled (Skate Canada International and Internationaux de France) or held under "different" conditions (no audience for Skate America for example) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rostelecom Cup 2020 went ahead--with an audience and mostly Russian skaters with some from neighboring nations such as Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, etc.

Empress Elizaveta--Russia's Elizaveta Tuktamysheva skating her Short Program to "Spartacus",                                                   Rostelecom Cup 2020, Moscoew Russia

It has been a while since I have done an ICE STYLE post, so I thought this would be a great time to do a fun post on the ladies costumes--Let's get started!

Alena Kostornaia--Short Program to "No Time To Die" and "You Should See Me With A Crown" by Billie Eilish--I loved this costume on Alena; it was dreamy, mysterious, and full of glorious colored sequins. The asymmetrical neckline and handkerchief hem added interesting dimensions to the costume bringing some flourish to her already interesting skate to Billie Eilish. I especially loved the "exploding heart" of bejeweled sequins.

COSTUME SCORE: 9.90

Free Skate to Wayward Sisters (from "Nocturnal Animals" soundtrack) by Abel Korzeniowski, Dance for Me Wallis (from "W.E." soundtrack) by Abel Korzeniowski, and The Cheek of Night (from "Romeo and Juliet" soundtrack) by Abel Korzeniowski--For her more romantic Free Skate, she wore this mauve-y pink and black costume exuding feminine delicacy, along with classic skating costume lines. While it wasn't a directional or fashion-forward design, I did appreciate the ombre dip-dye hem and black midriff panels filled with lace applique and crystals.

SCORE: 8.99

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva--Short Program to Adagio (from "Spartacus") by Aram Khatchaturian-I ALWAYS look forward to Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, not just for her "Diva" skating, but also her fearless approach to the costumes. For her Short Program to "Spartacus" ballet music, she donned a gold and copper costume, reminiscent of what one would envision a Roman Queen--or Concubine--would look like (at least in my COUTURE fantasy eyes!). The costume featured a golden statement necklace to end ALL statement necklaces--full of crystals and jagged edges--as well as see-through panels showing the sexy side of Elizaveta. The 2-fingers-missing golden glove was an interesting accessory that went well with the entire look.

SCORE: 9.45

Free Skate to "Chronicles of a Mischievous Bird" by Bkhima Iunusov--For her Free Skate to the Japanese-like music of "Chronicles of a Mischievous Bird", Elizaveta wore this elegant black costume featuring chiffon flutters at the sleeve, to mimic a bird's wings (and possibly a Geisha's kimono). I liked the boning-like detail at the midriff and sequined collar which, along with the sleeve "wings", added a mysterious air of a dark and emotionally complicated bird. If there was any critique, it would be the too-dark nude-colored panel in the front; it was a bit distracting and cheesy--and too dark for her porcelain skin color.

Score: 9.25

Alexandra Trusova--Short Program to "Love Story" by Lola and Hauser and "Appassionata" by Secret Garden--At only 16 years old, it makes sense to put Alexandra in pretty, soft, lovely costumes. This is one example of that, for which she wore to her Short Program. The turquoise blue-green costume had flower appliques hand-sewn throughout in Fuschia pinks, greens, and seafoam colors with sequins interspersed throughout. I liked the 3-D effect of the flowers which added texture to the costume.

SCORE: 8.00

Free Skate to O Verona (from "Romeo and Juliet" soundtrack) by Craig Armstrong, Montagues & Capulets (from "Romeo and Juliet" soundtrack), Come, Gentle Night (from "Romeo and Juliet" soundtrack) by Abel Korzeniowski, and Dance of the Knights (from "Romeo and Juliet") by Sergei Prokofiev--For her Free Skate, she went much darker, stronger and dare I say, adult! Her costume featured a black bodice and wine-red skirt. The bodice had sequined details suggesting a semi-corsetted look and Renaissance-like neckline inspirations...

 

The back was pretty stunning with a skeleton-like design.

But my favorite part was the sleeves...

More than halfway through her skate, at the moment Prokofiev's haunting "Dance of the Knight from Romeo and Juliet" music starts, Alexandra flips these arm details attached on her sleeves, which all of sudden go from being flat...to spiked thorns. In a hot second, she went from darkly romantic to..."I'm about to CUT YOU!". 

SCORE: 9.65

Sofia Samodurova--Short Program to "The Man with the Harmonica" by Ennio Morricone, arranged by Appollo 440--I was a big fan of this modern stylized costume worn by Sofia for her Short Program. The design featured solid and see-through elements, especially throughout the torso with sexy bust cups...very Proenza-Schouler-meets-Jean Paul Gaultier.  I thought it was very fashion-forward.

SCORE: 9.50

Elizaveta Nugumanova--Free Skate to The Mountain Between Us (soundtrack), Dusk Till Dawn by Zayn Malik feat. Sia--Elizaveta skated her Free Skate in this very pretty "Skating Queen"-looking costume. The design was delicate, feminine, and very pretty. I liked the light ombre violet-white shadings and degradations of light-to-heavy crystals.  

SCORE: 9.00 

Check out the Short Program from Elizaveta Tuktamysheva--ROSTELECOM CUP 2020: