Figure Skating Fun:
After blogging about the Figure Skating Fashion for the last 2 seasons here on my blog, I decided it was time to see some of these costumes "Up Close" and since the Nationals were almost in my backyard--well, almost--an hour away by plane in San Jose, CA... I, along with my partner, David Paul (who LOVES himself some figure skating!) decided to make a weekend of it! Yes, we hopped on a Horizon/Alaska Airlines propeller plane at LAX and an hour later, we were in San Jose....to go to the 2012 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
This years Nationals were being held at the HP Pavilion and yes, we bought tickets for all of the weekend high-profile events--including the Ladies Finals, Pairs, Ice Dance and Men's short and Long Programs. This is like the "Miss USA" of figure skating...and very very important!!!
I was so excited to attend the Ladies Final Competition--which was held this past Saturday--and as part of the afternoon's event at the HP Pavilion, there was a very special (and a big highlight for me) Induction Presentation of Michelle Kwan into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame. She wore a bright silk satin mustard yellow top and black skirt during this ceremony and actually got teary as all the congratulatory video montages played on the HUGE overhead pavilion screens.
Now, let's get to the Ladies Final and The Costumes!!!
Gold Medalist Ashley Wagner: I LOVED Ashley's Free Skate costume. She skated to "Music from Black Swan" and yes, this is one of my favorite costumes of the entire season. The one-shoulder embroidered lace applique with beaded detail design is both elegant and directional. Ashley Wagner--Short Program: For her Short Program, she skated to "Music from the Pollock Soundtrack" and wore a red halter neckline costume with rhinestones. It's pretty, it "pops" on the ice and appropriate for the music and theme. Agnes Zawadzki--Long Program: Agnes was First Place after her Short Program but received the Bronze Medal after the Free Skate. For her Free Program, she skated to "Rhapsody In Blue" By George Gershwin and wouldn't you know it...she wore a royal/electric blue costume with a one-shoulder/band mock-neck silhouette design with yes, lots of crystals. On the ice, this costume really stood out and look fabulous! Agnes Zawadzki--Short Program Costume: For her Short Program, Agnes skated to "Harlem Nocturne" and "Whatever Lola Wants" wearing a similar one-shoulder/band neckline costume--but in deep violet. I like that she knows how important these strong colors are, especially on "stage". Up close, these costumes do look about five minutes away from looking too "Figure Skating Betty" however, it somehow works on Agnes. The colors work really well against her skin tone and hair color. On that note, I love that she keeps her hairstyle in an elegant side-parted chignon each time. Alissa Czisny--Long Program: OK, I will have to get this one off my chest right now: I wasn't a fan of this costume. There, I said it! Alissa--whom I love--and I was "pulling for her"--got the Silver Medal after her Free Skate to "La Valse Triste" by Jean Sibelius. The costume was a little too lingerie/corsetry-looking for my taste. It was "Trashy Lingerie"-ish. On a good note: it had "hints" of Rodarte--the much-praised High Fashion brand everyone and Anna Wintour just LUVS--however, it fell a bit short for me, in terms of impact. I am not a fan of the long skirts for Ladies Figure Skating and well, the entire look was not impacting enough. Alissa Cizisny--Short Program: For her Short Program, she skated to "La Vie en Rose" from the Sabrina soundtrack and wore this elegant rose-pink boatneck sleeveless costume with all-over crystals. I liked this--it was classic and serene. And the thin belt at the waist is soooo "Red Carpet"-ready! The back is covered in Silver Crystals and is absolutely breathtaking. The photos do not do this costume justice. Mirai Nagasu---Short Program: Mirai skated to "Danzarin" Tango Lorca to her Short Program. This costume looked like something one could buy off the rack--from one of the skating shops in the Arena. And kids, that's not a good thing--especially for the Nationals. She need to "Bring It On" and for me, she didn't. I can design--and sew this costume--in my sleep! Caroline Zhang: Pewter Medalist Caroline Zhang wore on of my TOP costumes of the Ladies Final Championships. It was a black number featuring original beading detail under her bust and framing her torso. She skated her Free Skate to "Allegro Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104-1" in this and it worked seamlessly into the performance. Tres Chic Caroline! Rachael Flatt: One of my favorite figure skaters, Rachael Flatt--skated to the "Firebird Suite" from The Firebird by Stravinsky for her Long Program/Free Skate. She changed her costume and showcase this new design at the US Nationals. Here is the one she wore before. I liked the multicolored beading that (I am assuming) was supposed to mimic feathers of a bird. The colors, design and crystals--they all looked well-made and expensive. But, the best part of her costume came at the end of her performance--during the "Kiss-And-Cry", when she put on a "Stanford University" (the college she attends) cap. Soooo CUTE! Go Miss Rachael!
Click Below for "Figure Skating Chat" with Jimmy Nguyen and Nick Verreos--Previewing the Ladies Final:
Click Below for "Figure Skating Chat" with Jimmy Nguyen and Nick Verreos--Recap'ing Ladies Final Competition:

Outfit Changes aren't just for Miss Universe Contestants, Drag Queens or for Fabulous Brides at their Weddings...Add: Ladies Figure Skaters to the mix! First: It's 1988 All Over Again...
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2011-2012 was held over the weekend at the Pavillon de la Jeunesse in gorgeous (I've never been but it looks that way in photos!) and historic Quebec City, Quebec Canada. For months now, the top figure skaters, pairs and ice dancers in the world competed in the Grand Prix 2011-2012 events including Skate America, Skate Canada, Cup of China, NHK Trophy (Japan), Trophee Eric Bompard (France) and Cup of Russia. The six highest ranking skaters/teams qualified for spots at this Grand Prix Final (it's like "Miss Universe", in beauty pageant terms).
Speaking of Miss Universe and beauty pageants, here's another similarity: sometimes for the Live Telecast Final, a "Miss Venezuela" or "Miss USA" changes her Evening gown (as opposed to the same one she wore for the "Preliminaries" ) therefore "busting out" a new gown, surprising everyone (including fellow competing contestants and of course, pageant fanatics). Well, it seems that some of the top Ladies Figure Skaters did (kind of ) the same thing...and changed their costumes for this Grand Prix Final. To be more precise THREE Ladies--Japan's Akiko Suzuki, Russia's Elizaveta Tuktamysheva and Italy's Carolina Kostner, changed their Free Skate costumes. Let's just get right to it and analyze the changes and if they were for better...or Disco Krazee worse... First up: Akiko Suzuki of Japan: Akiko skated to Johann Strauss II's "Die Fledermaus" for her Free Skate. The costume above was her new costume. It was a "strapless" silhouette (I put it in quotes since there was a nude illusion mesh neck piece) in a degrade pink with crystals and sequins strewn throughout the costume in an irregular pattern. The photo below is the costume she had worn before (to the same music) during her NHK Trophy 2011 Free Skate: A lilac-colored costume featuring a "one-sleeve" look, swirly torso detail and ribbon-like "ties" in her other arm--as well as crystals throughout. I like this costume change. The lilac one wasn't so bad but I admit, I wasn't necessarily a fan of it. The color was a bit "blah" and something about it definitely needed a "Costume Punch". Akiko Costume Change: Her new Free Skate costume did add that color "punch" yet still retained elegance and a simplicity to the silhouette. What do you guys think? Do you like the old LILAC one or the new degrade pink one above? Make sure to let me know at the end of this post in the "Comments" section-- From Red Hot Latina to Apple Green J. Lo at the Grammys Homage? Elizaveta Tuktamysheva of Russia: Almost 15-year-old Elizaveta (her birthday is December 17th--Happy Early Birthday Elizaveta!) also changed her Free Skate costume for this weekend's Grand Prix Final 2011-2012. For her Latin-inspired Grand Prix Final Free Program to "Besame Mucho" and "Caravan" , little jumping whippersnapper Elizaveta, wore an apple-green, (I feel uncomfortable even typing this, considering she's FOURTEEN!) sexy costume that had a... "J.Lo in Versace at the 2000 Grammy Awards" look to it, in terms of the dropped bust torso section. It was also very "Dancing With The Stars" in its daring and colorful style. This new costume was something you would see the female Ice Dancer wear for their Latin "Mambo Rhumba" Short Dance program... Besides that front dropped bust section, the rest of the costume featured crystals, a flirty little "skirt", LOTS of illusion nude mesh and back "straps". It was a far cry from what she had been wearing throughout this Grand Prix season for the same Free Program: This red-and-silver sequin number above that was feminine and age-appropriate. But DEFINITELY not J Lo sexy. While I liked the new apple-green costume, I just thought that maybe...just maybe, it might be too "mature and sexy" for little Elizaveta. I didn't have a problem with her original red flutter-sleeved outfit other than yes, it looked a little "young" and well UN-Couture in terms of its styling. I just never realized her "costume advisers" would take it to the extreme and give her Apple Green J LO Sexi-licious! Again, PLEASE let me know what you guys think!!! Finally, it's Disco Ball Time: Carolina Kostner of Italy: Always the Figure Skating Costume Fashionista, Miss Carolina Kostner decided to change her Free Skate Grand Prix 2011-2012 costume. But kids, she didn't just change the sleeve, the color or neckline...no! She done GAVE YOU: 1978 Donna Summer Disco Unitard Jumpsuit! And (wait for it), do you know what she skated to? Mozart's "Concerto No. 23". I know! For a minute there, I thought she had changed her music to Sister Sledge's "He's The Greatest Dancer"! Below was her "old" costume for her Grand Prix Free Skate: I thought the costume above was very pretty, elegant and appropriate for a Mozart soundtrack. But...Kostner--and her team--decided to REALLY change it up and she switched to a one-shoulder, degrade, grey-silver sequined jumpsuit. Now, at first I thought "Oh My!". And then of course, I thought, "Is this really right for Mozart?". And then (as I looked closer), I also realized : I think she's got Camel-toe: I know, it is so unprofessional of me to even bring this up, but seriously guys, whether her jumpsuit is too tight or too loose, but...she's got CAMEL-TOE! As a Fashion Designer, as a Fan of Figure Skating and Figure Skating Costumes, I like the "I'm going to take it to A WHOLE OTHER LEVEL"--Costume-wise. I am just not sure if this was the right level. It was sort of distracting as she did her Free Program (which won the Gold by the way, so obviously, it did not matter!). All I kept focusing on was THAT Disco Ball degrade Swarovski-crystal jumpsuit. I LOVE the costume changes, but was this the right one? I do give her "Nick Points" for going there though! I always love a Figure Skating Costume Diva! Finally, let's discuss the originator of the Unitard/Jumpsuit during a World-class Competition: Presenting Miss Debi Thomas at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics-- Thomas was the first African-American to hold U.S. National titles in ladies' singles figure skating (in 1986 and 1988). And she got the Bronze at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics where she famously brought out THAT black and silver sequined JUMPSUIT!!! It was ESCANDALOSO! (and yes, every Gay in the audience and watching on TV was jumpin' for Costume Joy!). This might have been the last time one saw a jumpsuit in world class competition...until now, with Carolina Kostner. Here's the Question: Are jumpsuits back for Ladies Figure Skating? And which one do we like better? Carolina's or Debi's? Let me know for sure!!! *Up Next: MORE Grand Prix 2011 Costume Reviews!!!