ICE STYLE.....2014 ISU European Championships: LADIES & MEN

 Top Three Ladies: (left to right) Adelina Sotnikova of Russia (Silver), Julia Lipnitskaia of Russia (Gold) and Carolina Kostner of Italy (Bronze)--2014 ISU European Figure Skating Championships, Syma Sports and Events Centre Budapest Hungary

This past week and weekend (January 13-19th) were the 2014 ISU European Figure Skating Championships, held at the Syma Sports and Events Centre in Budapest Hungary. NBC/NBC Sports televised the LADIES and MEN'S Free Skate today (Sunday) in the afternoon. I was happy to get some Figure Skating-watching in this weekend naturally and I, especially, was interested in the COSTUMES.

Budapest Hungary--site of the 2014 ISU European Championships of Figure Skating

 Let's begin with a couple of the MEN:

 Top Three Men: (left to right) Silver medalist Sergei Voronov of Russia, gold medalist Javier Fernandez of Spain and bronze medalist Konstantin Menshov of Russia--2014 ISU European Figure Skating Championships, Syma Sports and Events Centre Budapest Hungary

Konstantin Menshov of Russia, Free Skate: For his Free Skate to "Allegro," "Rose" and "Night Run" by Rene Aubry, I liked his black, silver gray and white costume consisting of a stretch top with super tight long sleeves in white with a front flap, silver-gray inset and silver sequins. His pants were black. It was modern and good-looking for his skate. It also featured his very athletic build.

Sergei Voronov of Russia, Free Skate: Russian figure skater Sergei Voronov wore this above for his Free Skate to "A Los Amigos" by Armando Pontier, "Por Una Cabeza" by Carlos Gardel and "Tanguera" by Mariano Mores. The music was very Tango-esque and therefore it went with the black and red...and applique lace. The costume was TACKY-LICIOUS. Although it looked expensive and well-made, it seemed two seconds away from a Cirque du Soleil show; it was rather distracting from his skate, in my eyes. Not a fan of this costume.

Ladies:

Carolina Kostner of Italy, Short Program: Carolina skated a new SP to Ave Maria by Franz Schubert. This was also a NEW COSTUME. The sky blue colored costume featured a "plunging" neckline with gorgeously strewn sequins throughout. It was beautiful, classic and "Ice Princess" perfect. The costume above was different from the last Short Program costume we had seen from her...

Carolina Kostner at the Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia 2013--This red costume was what she wore to her SP to Humoresque by Antonin Dvorak. I was not a fan. It was too "Figure Skating Amateur Hour" and those butterfly appliques were...obnoxious. Glad she changed her costume and music. Grazie Carolina!

Carolina Kostner of Italy, Free Skate: For her Free Skate, she also changed her music and costume. Carolina skated to "Bolero" by Maurice Ravel, performed by Andre Previn and the London Symphony Orchestra. This was the same music she used in last season's (2012-2013) program. Her costume consisted of a black design using solid vs. illusion fabrication and beautiful silver and black icicle-like sequin accents.

The sleeves were see-thru/solid as well as the front torso. The back was designed to be "backless"-looking but there was an annoying white elastic strap that broke the line of the silhouette (right photo). That needs to be changed. ASAP. Other than this, I thought the costume was modern, chic and a nice departure from what she had worn before for her Free Skate to...

Carolina Kostner at the Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia 2013, Free Skate to "Scheherazade" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. This was a very FASHIONISTA costume in its design, sequin accents and bold style. While I liked the sequin detail, I understand how people can see this as a bit, well, TOO MUCHEY.

 Adelina Sotnikova of Russia, Free Skate: Silver medalist Adelina Sotnikova wore this costume above for her Free Skate to "Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28" by Camille Saint-Saëns. The costume featured an ombre lilac/gray colored design with copper/gold sequined trim. I liked this. I also realized that "wait, it looks kinda familiar..."

Adelina Sotnikova, Free Skate Costume at the 2013 ISU Grand Prix Final Championships, Japan--Adelina wore a similar costume at the 2013 ISU Grand Prix Finals for her Free Skate (above photo). The gold/copper sequins were similar but the color of her costume was a darker chocolate brown color. I like the lighter one she wore at the 2014 European Championships of Figure Skating MUCH BETTER!

Julia Lipnitskaia of Russia, Short Program: Gold medalist Julia wore this blue sequined number for her SP to "You Don't Give Up on Love" by Mark Minkov. I loved the light-to-dark blue coloring but my favorite part were the three straps in the back. And yes, this girl CAN JUMP! I would bet money (if I was a betting type) that Julia will be an Olympic Medalist in Sochi!

Valentina Marchei of Italy, Free Skate: Four time Italian champion Valentina Marchei skated her Free Skate to "Nyah" from the Mission Impossible soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. I really liked this black and silver sequined costume. It had a blouson top section in "striped" solid/sheer fabrication with raw edges and paillettes throughout.

Crystal Boots: The costume had an open back save for straps (above photo). BTW, my favorite part were the Swarovski crystal-encrusted figure skating boots. These are FAB!