Finishing up my 2017 NHK Trophy ICE STYLE Costumes blogs, I have discussed the LADIES HERE, the MEN HERE and now it's time for the PAIRS and ICE DANCE Costumes. Some of the Pairs and Ice Dance skaters who skated at 2017 NHK Trophy--Sui and Han, Stolbova and Klimov, Virtue and Moir, and Hubbell and Donohue, for example--have already skated in some of the previous three 2017-2018 Grand Prix competitions/events and I have already covered them here in my blog. If you're wondering my thoughts on their costumes go HERE, HERE and HERE.


Now--it's time for the PAIRS and ICE DANCE costumes of 2017 NHK Trophy that I haven't discussed previously--let's start with the PAIRS:
Alexa Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim of USA: Alexa and Chris skated their Short Program to Come What May (Moulin Rouge soundtrack) wearing these costumes above. The color scheme stayed within a pretty lilac/lavender/purple category. Alexa's costume featured a beaded bustier-like corset-inspired costume giving hints of Nicole Kidman's in the movie/musical. What I really loved was Chris' look:



Free Skate to Ghost - The Musical--For their Free Skate, Alexa and Chris wore these looks. they were less "costume-y" and quite classic and subtle. They were nice and I guess a good choice considering the musical accompaniment...well, at least the lilac-hued color story was similar to the Musical's posters!  Also.....
Alexa's costume reminded me of something Nancy Kerrigan might have worn and in addition, Alexa and Chris together reminded me of Gordeeva and Grinkov.

Kristina Astakhova and Alexei Rogonov of Russia: Short Program to Adagio For Strings by William Barber, Lacrimosa (from "Requiem in D Minor") by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and O Fortuna (from "Carmina Burana") by Carl Orff. These were great costumes worn by the Russian Pairs couple of Astakhova and Rogonov. There were elements of rawness and fight (mimicking the powerful music they skated to) plus the sweetness of the lightly dusted crystals and modernity of the asymmetrical hems. I also loved how both of their necklines were so similar and his costume looked like a perfect costume pair to hers. Speaking of her...


ICE DANCE:
Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte of Italy: Cappellini and Lanotte skated their fun Short Dance to Cha Cha: Kaboom performed by Ursula 1000; Samba: Skip to the Bip performed by Club des Belugas; and Samba: 1008 Samba. While most of the Ice Dance men are utilizing this Samba/Rhumba/Cha-Cha Shorty Dance to be Muy Caliente Sexy Hot with their costumes (sheer, plunging and tighter!) here, while still super tight fitting, Luca is all covered up!! And in all black! I get that Anna's fuchsia-and-silver colored costume makes a bold color statement alone but still, I just wish he didn't look like a valet about to take my car away. Her costume, on the other hand, is one of my favorites of the season! It is spectacular with the crystal beaded bodice and fuchsia ruffled skirt that is just the right length for her teeny tiny frame. In a way, by making him fade away, it highlighted her even more...which was probably the point!

Free Dance to Biongiorno Principessa (from "La Vita e Bella" soundtrack), Life Is Beautiful (from "La Vita e Bella" soundtrack) by Nicola Piovani, arranged & performed by Mi Loco Tango, and La Vita e Bella (from "La Vita e Bella" soundtrack) by Nicola Piovani arranged by Claudio Mandonico. Cappellini and Lanotte are known for their very Italy-centric Ice dances and this Olympic Season was no exception for their Free Dance. She wore an ivory colored dress with beaded top section and nude illusion neckline. I thought she looked quite Mumsy and matronly and I just did not understand the nude illusion neckline; she looked like one of the ten wives of a cult leader! I did like Luca's high-waisted pants-and-shirt costume. The pants were super tight which was a good thing, but the colors were SOOOOO drab. I get the whole We're-Italian-peasants-dancing-up-a-storm theme but still, I wish they didn't look so sad and uninspiring.

Misato Komatsubara and Timothy Koleto of Japan: For their Short Dance to Salsa: Ahora Quien by Marc Anthony; Rhumba: Ahora Quien by Marc Anthony; and Samba: Samba do Brasil (Radio Remix) by Bellini, these are the costumes the Ice Dance team representing Japan wore. Remember what I said about how PLUNGING and how SEXY these Ice Dance men were costumed for their Latin-inspired Short Dances...Exhibit A: Timothy Koleto. Look at him compared to turtlenecked Luca Lanotte. Anyhow--I liked Timothy's look as well as Misato's dress. Her black and gold costume was exotic and more Near East Empress as opposed to Hello Havana...but it was great for the music/program as well as fun and impacting.

Free Dance to Where Is It Written? by Barbara Streisand, Michel Legrand, End Credits (from "Sabrina" soundtrack) by John Williams, and A Piece of Sky by Barbara Streisand, Michel Legrand--Komatsubara and Koleto wore the blue and black looks above for their Free Dance. These were romantic and pretty costumes. The beautiful rhinestones on her upper torso looked like a starry sky and I loved how they went from blue to silver. And I also appreciated how he got some of those rhinestones on his top--as if while touching her...or just being near her...he was "sprinkled" with Swarovski crystal dust!

Oleksandra Nazarova and Maksim Nikitin of Ukraine: Well HELLO FABULOSA!!! For their Short Dance to Rhumba: Chuvirico (from "Wanted") by Perez Prado; Mambo: Cu-cu-rru-cu-cu-paloma (from "Mambo No. 5) by Perez Prado, Rosemary Clooney; and Mambo: La Pantera Mambo (Pink Panther Theme) by Henry Mancini, this Ukrainian Ice Dance team--and especially her!--went all out Cha-Cha Queen. While admittedly, this is on the more "Kray-Kray" side of the Fiery Hot Samba/Rhuma/Cha-Cha costumes the ladies are wearing, it was still A LOT OF FUN to look at! I loved the bold purple and gold fringe and how it literally wrapped around her leg. With so much going on with her, it was kind of a nice "fringe commercial break" to have him just in black with a purple tie! 

Lastly...
Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalopov of Russia: One word: SEXYLICIOUS! This Russian Ice Dance pair were oozing S.E.X. I'm surprised the ISU didn't give them a "Not appropriate to be viewed by anyone under 16" rating! For their Short Dance to Rhumba: Agua de beber by Al Jarreau; Samba: Balumukeno by Bonga Kuenda; and Samba: Batacuda Brasileira, they wore these looks above. Nikita was "comfy sexy" in his un-tucked gray/black shirt and tight pants; not much there to see. It was Victoria who was Muy Caliente in her attire--if you could even call it that; she was barely wearing anything! Victoria's costume consisted of a beaded bra top and two swaths of asymmetrically cut fabric...and that's it! I thought the side cowl drape was interesting and I was kind of fascinated how she just looked as if she went into a bin and wrapped a couple of fabric scraps around her and called it a day. But in closer inspection...



Free Skate to Piano Concerto No. 2 Op. 18 and Vocalise by Sergei Rachmaninov--For their Free Dance, they went much, much, MUCH more subdued, which made sense, especially with their classical musical accompaniment. They stayed in the same gray/black color theme as in their Short dance but this time, Victoria got a little more fabric yardage for her dress. I liked the delicate look of her costume and the shimmering waistband. In terms of Nikita, I have to be honest and say that I just didn't really understand his "shredded" and ripped shirt I-just-came-from-the-Apocalypse vibe. I wished he was more elegant here. 

In my last 2017 NHK Trophy ICE STYLE post HERE, I discussed the LADIES COSTUMES highlights (and Mirai Nagasu's costume change!), so now, it's time to talk about the MEN and their costumes and how much I LOVED Adam Rippon's new Free Skate look...But, let's start with Israel's boy, Alexei Bychenko:

Alexei Bychenko of Israel: To his Short Program for this Olympic Season, Alexei went full-on "Israeli Proud" with Hava Nagila (Jewish Folk Song). His costume for this staple song at Jewish weddings and bar/bat mitzvah celebrations involved black pants, a loose/un-tucked white shirt and a beige unbuttoned vest. It's a look that works for the music but I wish it was just a teeny bit more interesting.

Free Skate to Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo--For his Free Skate, Alexei continued the black/white/beige color theme he started with his Short Program. This costume for "Pagliacci" looked more appropriate for "Hava Nagila" and I wish he would have worn this! (it was a more "fancier" look). Well, at least he didn't go full-on Pagliacci clown:


Deniss Vasiljevs of Latvia: For his Short Program to Recondita Armonia by Giacomo Puccini, Deniss went Period costume, staying slightly to the "Tosca" costume script, which takes place in the early 1800s, during the "Regency Fashion Era". He wore black pants, black brocade vest with gray back, and a ruffled-and-lace men's blouse with fluffy necktie. I liked this look and especially, keeping the interest up top with the blouson sleeves and that nice jeweled pin.

Free Skate to Put the Blame On Mame by Doctor 3, Anyone to Love and Sway by Michael Buble--For his Free Skate, Deniss went for a "Lead Singer of a Band"-look with his shimmering costume. The look had tuxedo-like pants, dark open neck shirt and a bi-colored jacket featuring one gold side as well as a blue one. This was a "costume" that I could totally see Michael Buble wear in one of his concerts so it seems appropriate that this was Deniss' choice.

Dmitry Aliev of Russia: Short Program to Masquerade Waltz by Aram Khatchaturian. I loved this costume worn by Russia's Dmitry Aliev of Russia for his Short Program. The "Admiral"-like costume featured a red/maroon colored double-breasted snug-fitting stretch jacket, gorgeous collar and cuffs with sequined appliques and those great frilly epaulets. With the accompaniment of the sweeping music and this costume, I was almost transported to a fabulous ball in Imperialist Russia. 

Hiroaki Sato of Japan: For his Short Program to Terre-Merre (from "Totem" - Cirque du Soleil) by Guy Dubuc and Marc Lessard, Japan's Hiroaki Sato wore this above. If I hadn't known that the music was from "cirque du Soleil", I would have probably commented and said that his costume looked VERY "Cirque du Soleil" so....I guess, he was perfect! The striking turquoise and violet colors juxtaposed with the peacock feather-like details gave an air of a flora and fauna creature sliding through the ice as if it were a magical lake. 

Sergei Voronov of Russia: Sergei skated his Short Program to Adios Nonino by Astor Piazzolla. This is a Tango and therefore, I assume Sergei was going for a "Modern Tango" look with his red and black costume. The top was a bit odd with the different panels and I was especially confused about the nude-like ones. Was this supposed to be skin-colored illusion? And if so, why the odd placements in the midriff and neck area? he looked a little more "Tron" than Tango.

Free Skate to Sarabande Suite--This all-black look was a little better than his Short program costume--only because it looked sleeker and less like a just-out-of-fashion-school student designed it. I wished those "straps" on the shirt might have been studded in black Swarovski crystals and I'm not a fan of the gloves but...at least he DID NOT wear that tacky "Ross Dress For Less" 90s belt a lot of these male figure skaters cannot let go of! So, I am happy for the small things.

Jason Brown: I discussed Jason Brown in my 2017 Skate Canada International costumes blog HERE but if I am not mistaken, I think Jason (kind of) changed his costume...kind of! For his Free Skate to Inner Love by Maxime Rodriguez at 2017 NHK Trophy, he wore this beautiful stretch velvet blue dégradé top with silver sequined accents. For the pants, he donned dark indigo-colored stretch velvet pants. So...what was different? ....

Above was what he wore at his previous Grand Prix this season--at 2017 Skate Canada International--notice the pants; they MATCH the royal blue of his top. But in the new look, they're not matching so...I guess it's kind of a costume change. Which one do you guys like better? Darker or Matching Pants?

Adam Rippon of USA: Adam wore this "Rock & Roll" Flashy look above for his Short Program to Let Me Think About It (Eddie Thoneick Remix) performed by Ida Carr feat. Fedde Le Grand. I LOVED IT! Adam has been on a costume roll wearing SUPER TIGHT sexy tops with plunging necklines and see-through fabrications, and I am a big fan! A) Adam is like FAT FREE and lean as a toothpick so...he can do it! And B) It's refreshing to see something that is fun, flashy and NOT an all black boring look straight out of a department store. I really like the faux leather panels and the rhinestones accenting the top. Throw in that center front zipper and sheer stretch chiffon and Adam is ready to hit the dance floor! All that's missing is a FAB disco ball.

Free Skate to Arrival of the Birds ("Crimson Wing" soundtrack) by The Cinematic Orchestra
O by Coldplay--This is the same program music from last season but Thank Goodness, it was a different costume. Not that I didn't like last season's costume but THIS WAS GORGEOUS! The look--designed by Veretto Sport and designer Braden Overett--included blue skin tight pants and a second-skin sequined top. That top was OUTSTANDING--like Figure Skating Haute Couture! There were hints of the sky and bird's wings (to go along with the music) but not so overtly like last season's feathered costume.

In case you are wondering, this is what he wore last season to the same program/music:

**UP NEXT: The PAIRS & ICE DANCE COSTUMES highlights from 2017 NHK Trophy!

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