This past weekend were the very important 2017-2018 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals, held in Nagoya Japan. I have covered all the Grand Prix of the season here on my ICE STYLE BLOG so just search whichever one you want in the "Search" tab here on my blog and you can see (and read) my thoughts on the skaters costumes--no matter what principle (Ladies, Men, Pairs and Ice Dance). It would be redundant to go through all the skaters and what they wore for the Grand Prix Finals since I've already discussed ALL OF THEM, so I was very happy to find out that some did a COSTUME CHANGE--from what they had worn during the previous Grand Prix this season leading up to the Finals) and therefore gave me reason to write a new "Ice Style" blog for the Grand Prix Finals. So...let's begin discussing:

The first "Costume Change" actually involves a "Costume Throwback" and that is...
Aliona Savchenko and Bruno Massot of Germany: The "Costume Throwback" in question involves this German pair (well, she's actually Ukrainian-born and he's French but just got his German citizenship, in time for the Olympics!) and what they wore for their Short Program to That Man performed by Caro Emerald. First, I was like "Wait! THIS is their Short Program??" The entire 2017-2018 Grand Prix season, they skated their Short Program to Ameksa-Fuego by Taalbi Brothers and wore this:


But, I guess they decided to change it up and go back to LAST SEASON'S Program (yes kids, these costumes and music were from last season's Short Program) and for this weekend's 2017-2017 Grand Prix Finals, they made the decision to go back to it. It was so "What the heck?" that even her Wikipedia page, has the other Short Program, listed as the one for this season. And yes, in case you're wondering I spend lots of hours looking up all this info, thank you very much! (I do try and do my research!). Anyhow, this is what they wore at the 2017-2018 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals and their "old-is-new-again" Short Program:


If you are still wondering the "Costume Throwback"-ness of it all, this is what they wore at...

And...

Apparently, her zipper broke during the skate. I guess it really was an OLD costume! LOL! Can you imagine Aliona's closet full of skating costumes throughout the years?! She could have a museum at this point...looks like they'll have to go through all the costumes first and check for broken zippers!


Next...
Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Canada: For the 2017-2018 Grand Prix Finals of Figure Skating, Meagan Duhamel changed her costume for her Free Skate to Neutron Star Collision by Matthew Bellamy, I Belong To You (Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix) from "Samson and Dalilah" by Camille Saint-Saens, and Uprising by Matthew Bellamy performed by Muse. She wore this sequined gold design that was very much on-trend with the "Nude/Golden" gowns seen on the red carpet as well as beauty pageants. The costume featured beaded gold embroidery over a nude illusion base with a very mini "skirt"...

Golden Girl: Meagan's golden costume was exquisitely beaded and looked expensive. This was a change from what she had been wearing for the previous Grand Prix for her Pairs Free Skate at...



Next up, it's a LADIES Costume Change:

Maria Sotskova of Russia: Maria debuted a new costume for her Free Skate to Claire de Lune by Claude Debussy at this past weekend's 2017-2018 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals. This new costume was a gray sequined embroidered design featuring a high neck, long sleeves, appliqued bodice and clean chiffon bottom/skirt section... 





Lastly...it's time to discuss Tessa Virtue and her Costume Change:
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada: When Virtue and Moir first stepped on the ice at this weekend's 2017-2018 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals for their Short Dance, I thought that something was different. And my Costume Eagle Eye knew it: She had changed her costume! For their Short Dance to Samba: Sympathy for the Devil by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards performed by The Rolling Stones; Rhumba: Hotel California by Don Felders, Don Henley, Glenn Frey performed by Eagles; and Cha Cha: Oye Como Va by Tito Puente performed by Santana, she changed her dress to this Zebra-printed purple-and-black hued costume featuring GORGEOUS black/silver/violet colored sequined jewels at her neck:


Tessa's costume was a change from this:

The 2017 Internationaux de France was held this past weekend in Grenoble France. Previously known as Grand Prix International de Paris (1987-1993) , Trophee de France (1994-1995, 2016), Trophee Lalique (1996-2003) and Trophee Eric Bompard (2004-2015) (take your pick of a sponsor!), this was the fifth of six I.S.U. Grand Prix of Figure Skating Competitions in advance of the Grand Prix Finals. As you may know, I have covered all the previous Grand Prix events of the season here--on my ICE STYLE BLOG so just click on "Ice Style" in the header for ALL the reviews.  Now, it's time to discuss this Grand Prix of France Costumes and I'll begin with the LADIES COSTUMES that I have not discussed in the past Grand Prix events/competitions.

Polina Edmunds of USA: This violet colored sequined jumpsuit costume is what Edmunds wore for her Short Program to Palladio by Karl Jenkins performed by Escala. I had never seen this costume before and so, naturally, when she stepped on the ice, I was like "OOOHHH...OK...Polina is giving a ONE PIECE JUMPSUIT!" Polina is a tall skater (compared to other ladies--She's 5'6" and Ashley Wagner for comparison is 5"3") and the jumpsuit can make her look even longer and leaner. This costume featured beautiful rhinestones jutting out like sun-rays--or crowns, take your pick--in a solid/"nude" panel design. This is definitely a "different" look for Polina and...



Elizabet Tursynbayeva of Kazakhstan: Elizabet skated her Free Skate to The Prayer performed by Celine Dion, Andrea Boccelli in this lilac costume. I liked the costume; the ombre-dyed look featured a gathered upper torso with exquisite silver sequin embellishment. The costume looked EXPENSIVE for sure. If there was any critique, I just felt the ruching in the front torso looked heavy--especially for her TEENY TINY frame. I am sure they were trying to give the illusion of a bust when there isn't one (she's 17 and 4'10"!) but maybe they should take away some of that gathering and make it...flatter...but still with a little ruching?! The sequins, however were GORGEOUS!


Maria Sotskova of Russia: Maria wore this pink costume for her 2017-2018 Short Program to Swan Lake by Petr I. Tchaikovski, and IT WAS BEAUTIFUL! I loved this elegant costume featuring a pink chiffon base with 19th Century-like design details reminding me of a Romanov Russian Princess. The rhinestone-studded necklace, bracelets and bodice embellishment were superb! I also loved that back. I was thrilled to see that this was a NEW COSTUME for her.  At the last Grand Prix she competed at--2017 Skate Canada International--she wore this:

And I remembered that she had worn THIS SAME COSTUME for last season's Free Skate to different music (not "Swan Lake"). I also said something to the effect of "either her team is being cheap or I.S.U. isn't giving the Russian skating federation enough funds. In addition, I also wished that she would have worn A NEW COSTUME. As it turns out, I guess her new costume just wasn't ready. 

Time for another Costume Redux...kind of:
Mae Berenice Meite of France: I have discussed Mae Berenice and her costumes for this season before at the 2017 Rostelecom Cup of Russia--click HERE--so when I saw this look at the Grand Prix of France for her Free Skate to Les Nocturnes de Chopin and Happy by C2C, I was like "WAIT! There is something different!". I remember her lady-like Peter Pan collar and rather basic white and black costume (at least for her!) but those rhinestones were NOT THERE! I swear!...



**UP NEXT: THE MEN'S COSTUMES of the 2017 Internationaux de France Grand Prix of France!

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