ICE STYLE.....Skate Canada 2021 Figure Skating Costumes: ICE DANCE and PAIRS!

 Fab Looks: Costumes from Pairs and Ice Dance seen at Skate Canada International 2021 (L to R) Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada, and Olivia Smart and Adrian Diaz of Spain 

In my previous "Ice Style" blog post HERE, I discussed the LADIES of Skate Canada International 2021, and so now it is time to talk about the costumes from some of the ICE DANCE and PAIRS couples...

Let's start with PAIRS:

Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc of USA Short Program: Skating their Short Program to The White Crow (soundtrack) by Ilan Eshkeri, performed by Lisa Batiashvili, Ashley and Timothy wore these costumes above. Based on a soft lilac/silver-gray coloration, the designs were elegant and classic. The crystal embellishments that seem to jut out from her waistband and then seen at her one-shoulder-like neckline were quite beautiful. I appreciated how the sequin details were also put on his costume...or top. These two have a great costume consistency throughout the seasons in terms of looking like they BELONG with each other...and not wasting some same old-same old black pants/black shirt on him and calling it a day!

*Side note: although I couldn't find any photos to show it, Timothy had one small but important change to his costume since his last appearance at the Finlandia Trophy. Darts!! 2 fish-eye darts were added to the back of his shirt to give it that custom-fitted look. Watch the 2 skates back-to-back on YouTube and you'll notice the subtle but important change.

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Free Skate to W.E. (soundtrack) by Abel Korzeniowski: Speaking of belonging with each other...these costumes are the PERFECT EXAMPLE of this. I really like these looks in which they skate to the "W.E" music. They were similar in coloring and jumpsuit styles but different in detail to the costumes they wore in their 2018 season. The updated ones (above) had darker lower halves and different sequin embellishment. Timothy even got an "upgrade" in that his top was "pumped up" with even more appliques and more crystal work than his 2018-2019 version below:

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Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc at the 2018 Rostelecom Cup of Russia Grand Prix

Vanessa James and Eric Radford of Canada Short Program: Skating their Short Program to Shiny Happy People performed by Ruben and The Dark & AG, James and Radford wore the above looks. She wore ivory with gold details and he wore a blue mock-neck and black pants. While his look was "Meh" in design but Sexy in fit...James' costume was a high fashion look of an asymmetrically gathered halter-like neckline design with great gold crystal embellishments. I also loved the nude illusion at the side and especially how PERFECT the nude illusion color was to match her skin.

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Wenjing Sui and Cong Han China Short Program: Skating to Mission Impossible 2 Orchestra Suite: Part 1 by Hans Zimmer, Sui and Han looked every bit a high-flying, dangerous elite power couple...ready for some Martinis and Caviar in Cannes! Their "black-tie" looks were expensive, chic and so red carpet-worthy. I loved the design details of her costume and that "mock" plunging neckline. I also want HIS cropped jacket: It was Black Tie Menswear Couture!

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Free Skate to Bridge Over Troubled Water by Paul Simon, performed by Lina Eder, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Paul Simon, performed by John Legend: For the costumes for their Free Skate, Sui and Han went more of a "Romeo and Juliet"-like costume vibe. She wore an ivory with blue/violet ombre dip-dye design that was romantic and feminine, featuring a heavily sequined bodice and sleeves. It was very "Juliet: the Ice Capades" but not campy/tacky. His look played into the more subdued "gentle" prince stereotype with a high collared deep blue shirt and skin-tight pants. Both were certainly not as polished and chic as their Short Program costumes but OK nonetheless.

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ICE DANCE:

Caroline Green and Michael Parsons USA Rhythm Dance: Doing their Rhythm Dance to The Knowledge by Janet Jackson, My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It) by En Vogue, and Rhythm Nation by Janet Jackson, Green and Parsons wore this black with gold trim early 90's-looking designs piggybacking on the Janet Jackson and En Vogue music. The styling of the costumes certainly referenced Jackson's "Rhythm Nation" more than En Vogue and was restrained. Part of me wished that there would have been one or two more Janet Jackson-esque costume details but maybe I should just be happy with how they turned out; it was "Rhythm Nation" Lite.

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Free Dance to Violin Concerto No. 1 "EsoConcerto": II. Adagio by Ezio Bosso and Clouds, The Mind on the (Re)Wind by Ezio Bosso arranged by Hugo Chouinard: First off, in terms of their Free Skate, I LOVED this program and loved their skate. It was modern, sleek and on a level we have not necessarily seen before from them. I also liked these sleek tie-dye-ish looks void of any sparkles, flash, and typical Ice Dance razzle-dazzle; the costumes matched the choreography and program. 

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Olivia Smart and Adrian Diaz Spain Rhythm Dance: Speaking of razzle-dazzle...skating to Proud Mary by Tina Turner, Smart and Diaz looked JUST RIGHT for the exciting and energetic Tina Turner music. Adrian looked MUY SEXY in his PLUNGING neckline black sequined shirt and black pants (I wished he would have done without that belt though). And Olivia was ALL TINA in that fire red caviar-beaded mini dress with a side slit. Simple design, vibrant color, and powerful impression.

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Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri Italy Rhythm Dance: Skating to Michael Jackson x Mark Ronson: Diamonds Are Invincible, Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson, and Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough by Michael Jackson, Italians Guignard and Fabbri looked as if the House of Versace created these for them: They were stylish, sexy and modern. While the black and silver details (especially his "tuxedo" striped pants and jacket) had references to Michael Jackson, it wasn't overt or campy...and I especially LOVED that Versace-like neckline and bust detail on Guignard, it framed her torso beautifully and fit her outstandingly.

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Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier Canada Rhythm Dance: I cannot contain the happiness and COSTUME joy I had when I saw these colorful, fun, fabulous costumes on the Canadians Gilles and Poirier. It may not come as a shock to find out that they skated to I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues by Elton John and Still Standing by Elton John. I loved the bright orange, the ABBA-campy stretch jumpsuit styles...the multicolored sequins...and those fabulous feathers! In addition, I would be remiss to not mention Paul's UBER PLUNGING neckline #WOW

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They were very reminiscent of the "Rocketman" costumes from Costume Designer Julian Day (above, from the FIDM Museum Exhibition)

Free Dance to Long and Winding Road by Paul McCartney, arranged by Govardo: For their Free Dance, it was nice that they went elegant and chic...the complete opposite of their Rhythm Dance "Elton John" camp. I loved the one-shoulder gathered and sequined design featuring a wrap skirt on Piper...and Paul looked just as smashing in his matching-color look. I was very impressed with the soft sexiness of his top especially and that asymmetrical neckline. They belonged together beautifully in an elegant and high fashion manner.

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