Costume Pairs--(L to R) Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc of the USA and Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China--Beijing 2022 Olympics Pairs Figure Skating Competitions
Completing my Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Figure Skating Costumes RECAP "Ice Style" BLOG, it is now time to discuss the final discipline and competition, the PAIRS! If you missed my others...
Click HERE for the MEN...Click HERE for the ICE DANCE...and Click HERE for the WOMEN!
Let's begin with the Gold medalists from CHINA:
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Free Skate to Bridge Over Troubled Water by Paul Simon, performed by Lina Eder, and Bridge Over Troubled Water by Paul Simon, performed by John Legend--For their Gold medal-winning Free Skate, they went more delicate, soft, and pretty when it came to their costumes, very appropriate looks to go with the music. I thought they looked just the way a traditional Olympic Pairs skating duo should look...to win a Gold. She wore a stunningly beaded silver and white costume with an ombre-dyed blue overskirt that perfectly matched the "Beijing 2022" blue boards in the background. He contrasted her look with a deep midnight blue outfit featuring a delicately sequined shirt.
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Evgeniya Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov ROC Short Program--For their Short Program to Metamorphosis Two by Philip Glass, Experience by Ludovico Einaudi, Tarasova and Morozov looked like the Olympic versions of Romeo and Juliet in these costumes. I especially liked her blue costume which featured a gathered bust, crystals highlighting the seams, and silver sequined "straps" wrapping around her midriff. It was both Period-style and High Fashion.
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Free Skate to Lighthouse by Patrick Watson--Their Free Skate costumes were done in pink and light purple/gray hues with ombre shading and crystals. I wasn't a fan of these (as much as their Short Program costumes). I thought they were a bit "muddy" looking and I didn't understand the silver and black detail in their front chest sections.
Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov ROC Short Program--Skating to Variations on the ballet Esmeralda by Cesare Pugni, arranged by Alexander Goldshtein, Mishina and Galliamov embraced the costume aspect with gusto! The ballet itself is inspired by the novel Notre-Dame de Paris and involves a beautiful Romani girl Esmeralda and Captain Phoebus, her love interest. Anastasia looks beautiful in this strawberry-colored costume with side sequin embellishment and Aleksandr is dashing in his Captain uniform/outfit featuring a matching strawberry-colored neck scarf.
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Free Skate to The Snowstorm by Georgi Sviridov, The Snowstorm (The Vocal Octet) by Georgi Sviridov performed by Valeria Staroverova, and Time, Forward! by Georgi Sviridov--For their Free Skate at the Pairs Competition, they wore these lavender colored costumes with crystal details. I really liked the delicate ombre shading of the lilac/lavender colors and especially loved the way the sequin embellishment was done on both of their costumes. I appreciated the slight design detail on Aleksandr's collar in that one side was a Notch Collar and the other was a Shawl.
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Aleksandra Boykova and Dmitrii Kozlovskii ROC Short Program--For their Short program, Boykova and Kozlovskii skated to Swan Lake by Petr I. Tchaikovski. They looked like two ballet dancers from the Bolshoi in these dramatic, elegant designs. Dmitrii's shirt was gorgeous in its black with silver crystal applique and see-through arm/shoulder panels but it was Aleksandra who really gave you Couture Black Swan in this stunning design with fabulous sequin embroidery at the front bust/torso, and luxe lace skirt detail.
Free Skate to Malaguena by Ernesto Lecuona--Fiery, Andalucian Style was the costume theme here, as seen on the designs worn by Boykova and Kozlovskii. She wore a fire red dress with side draped wrap skirt and gold embroidery, and he was "Matador Lite" in black pants and an elegant white shirt with gorgeous black sequin applique. I especially loved the red "cuff links:" detail subtly matching her fire red dress. Together they painted a very strong image on the ice.
BTW: This is what they wore to the Team Competition Pairs Free Skate:
They wore more elaborate costumes for their Free Skate during the Team Competition. These were much more "Baroque" and gaudy, especially when compared to the ones they wore in their Individual Pairs skate. One thing (kind of) stayed the same and that was his Notch/Shawl Collar design detail.
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Cheng Peng and Yang Jin CHINA Short Program--Skating to Piano & I: Moonlight Sonata by L. v. Beethoven, performed by Alicia Keys, No One by Alicia Keys, the Chinese Pairs team wore these deep lavender-and-blue colored costumes. Hers featured ocean wave-like sequined "scrolls" throughout her upper torso and arms, along with an almost see-through midriff, and ombre-shaded skirt. But it was Yang Jin who was a standout in that delicately draped top with sequins and matching ombre shading. 
BTW:
Free Skate to W.E. (soundtrack) by Abel Korzeniowski--For their Free Skate, both Ashley and Tim wore these costumes. The designs were one-piece jumpsuits in black with silver/gray ombre shading, highlighted by sequined lace applique embellishment. I really liked the costumes and very linear designs with a hint of Wallis Simpson's style richness (referencing the "W.E." film). But what I really ABSOLUTELY LOVED was the fact that Tim's design was literally almost the same as Ashley's, which has so much more meaning now after they announced being nonbinary--and in addition making history as the first nonbinary athlete to compete at the Winter Games.
Free Skate to Falling by Harry Styles, Maelstrom by Karl Hugo--For their Free Skate costumes, Vanessa wore this super sleek and high fashion jumpsuit from ASTRAEE Couture. I thought the design certainly highlighted Vanessa's perfectly toned figure and with the addition of the well-placed and well-done crystal work, made the jumpsuit much more luxe. Eric looked minimalist chic in this navy blue silk knit turtleneck design from Feeling by Mathieu Caron.
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Free Skate to Exile To Snowy West from The Banquet soundtrack by Tan Dun, Only For Love from The Banquet soundtrack by Tan Dun, Sword Dance from The Banquet soundtrack by Tan Dun--These costumes were FABULOUS! I loved everything about these designs and how they paid homage to the beautiful score and Chinese culture. Her lilac-colored costume was sweet in its design but featured a very impacting sequin applique radiating from the waist to the rest of the body. His look was OUTSTANDING with its vibrant red top and impressive sequined detail. I especially loved the subtle Fuschia belt at her waist, that tied into the Fuschia trim on the collar edge of his costume. They were both classical, romantic, and chic at the same time.
Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier USA Short Program--Alexa and Brandon wore these costumes for their Short Program to House of The Rising Sun by Heavy Young Heathens. I thought these looks were impactful and strong with their colors and stylings. I loved her barely-there sexy red and nude illusion costume with black bands and stunning gold jeweled studs. Oh, and yes, Brandon looked great too with his subtly shaded black and red top and black pants.
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These were designed and custom-created by the fabulous Lisa McKinnon.
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Free Skate to Fix You by Fearless Soul, Coldplay, Redemption Through Love by Karl Hugo--Another fabulous design from Lisa McKinnon, for Alexa and Brandon, this time for their Free Skate. While Brandon was great in his lilac-hued tie-dye, Alexa was again the costumed star in this sexy nude-and-lilac dyed design with open back and GORGEOUS jewel sequin detail. It is an art and technical mastery to make these costumes, and Ms. McKinnon excels at it!
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Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy Leduc USA Short Program--Skating to The White Crow (soundtrack) by Ilan Eshkeri, performed by Lisa Batiashvili, Cain-Gribble and LeDuc wore these designs above. I loved them both! Let's start with Ashley: She wore a one-shoulder-like design with nude illusion "cut-outs" on the side and back, with blue/lilac/silver coloring and beautiful sequin details which I loved. Timothy's look was FABULOUS with his black pants and white shirt studded at the neck, shoulders, and sleeve wrists, adding a luxe look to his design. That shirt was EVERYTHING darlings!
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Timothy had worn something different in past competitions (to the same program), as seen here at the NHK Trophy 2021--They had a top matching hers that mimicked the ombre dye colors as well as sequin detail. I didn't mind the look then but...I DEFINITELY like the white studded shirt more!
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Vanessa James and Eric Radford CANADA Short Program--Vanessa and Eric skated their Short Program to Shiny Happy People performed by Ruben and The Dark & AG, Daydreamers by Karl Hugo wearing these designs above. Its creator and designer, Feeling by Mathieu Caron, described Vanessa's look as "channeling Goddess glamour in an ecru draped stretch knit dress with gold airbrush and crystal details"...and YES she is! I loved the draping and asymmetrical styling of this costume as well as the gorgeous beading. In addition, Mathieu Caron must be commended for getting the nude illusion color JUST RIGHT since many times, it's either too light or too dark on costumes I have seen on other skaters. Eric's look is equally deserving of praise for being modern and high fashion elegant and for being the perfect complement to Vanessa's. I am a BIG FAN of draping on men and here it is done beautifully.
BTW:
They didn't always wear these matching jumpsuits...here at the World Figure Skating Championships 2021, Ashley wore a very traditional (and pretty) figure skating dress costume, with a skirt.
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Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara JAPAN Short Program--Skating to Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, performed by Kathryn Dawn Lang Riku and Ryuichi wore these looks above. Hers was a baby blue halter-neck almost-sheer costume with heavy jeweled embellishment. The color and style were pretty for Riku. I also liked Ryuichi's costume of midnight blue pants and shirt with beautiful light blue (matching her color) branch-like detail on the top.
Last but not least...
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Free Skate to Woman by Shawn Phillips--For their wonderful Free Skate, they wore these black-color-based costumes above. Riku's featured an ombre-shaded overskirt with black-to-gray-to-peach colors and silver crystals throughout the front torso. I especially liked the nude illusion "open back" with what looked like sequined back "straps". Ryuichi wore an all-black consisting of pants and a modern shirt in crystal-detailed knit with a faux leather panel.
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BTW:
Riku had previously worn a different version of the costume that had less beading and embellishment--as seen above from Skate America 2021. She also wore this particular costume for the World Championships and Autumn Classic International as well. Maybe it is the same costume, but their style team decided to bump up the sequin details!
