Ladies and Gentlemen: Some of my favorite costumes from the 2014-2015 ISU Grand Prix Finals from the Ladies (Elizaveta Tuktamysheva of Russia and Ashley Wagner of the USA) and Men (Javier Fernandez of Spain and Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan)
Last weekend, the city of Barcelona in Spain hosted the
2014-2015 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals competition. This was the first time this top international competition had taken place in the Iberian Peninsula.
This was the Finals of all the Grand Prix that happened earlier in the year, including
Hilton HHonors Skate America,
Skate Canada,
Lexus Cup of China,
Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia,
NHK Trophy (Japan) and
Trophee Eric Bompard in France. I talked about most of the figure skating costumes throughout this Grand Prix season here on my little ol' blog. So now it's time to discuss my favorite costumes from the Grand Prix Finals.
Let's begin with the LADIES:
The Top Three: (L to R) Silver medalist Elena Radionova, gold medalist Elizaveta Tuktamysheva and bronze medalists, Ashley Wagner of the USA--2014 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals, Barcelona Spain
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva of Russia: Elizaveta wore my FAVORITE costumes for the Free Skate in this deep violet design above which she wore to skate to "
Batwannis Beek" by The REG Project and "Sandstorm" by La Bionda. I loved the color, the asymmetrical neckline, the chiffon dolman sleeves and gold jeweled details. FAB-ulous! She wore a similar costume--but in black with silver crystals...
For her Short Program to "Bolero" by Maurice Ravel. I thought this was great as well. While many may think it was rather un-creative or semi-repetitive for her (and her costume designer) to do very similar costumes for both, I think it was both wise and perfect for the music.
Ashley Wagner of the USA: Ashley's costumes for both her Short Program (above) and Free Skate (top photo) were some of my top faves for this 2014-2015 ISU Grand Prix Finals. For her Short (black costume), she skated to "
Spartacus" by Aram Khatchaturian and I liked the gathered top section with open sides and gold embellished waist; it was very "Near East" fab! For her Free Skate to Music from "Moulin Rouge", she DAZZLED in that red costume with "diamond" necklace detail.
Anna Pogorilaya of Russia: Anna wore two very creative costumes for both her Short (top photo) and Free (above photo from the
2014 Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia) Programs to "
Adagio" by Il Divo and "The Firebird Ballet Suite" by Igor Stravinski, respectively. I thought they were very "Fashion Diva" in terms of design and execution and while I do LOVE bright, bold colors, I might have to choose the light blue one (Short program) as my favorite of the two.
Ladies Costume Changes:
Elena Radionova of Russia: Silver medalists Elena Radionova wore a different costume for her Free Skate at the 2014-2015 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals than what she had worn before. For her Free Skate, she skated to "
Piano Concerto No. 3" and "Trio Elegiaque No. 2" by Sergei Rachmaninov. If I have to chose the better of the two, it would be the top (newer) one; I liked the ombre shading and yellow with sequined top section of the 2014-2015 Grand Prix Finals costume. I think the other costume was a bit "heavy-handed" in terms of the ruching/gathering. But I did love the gold neck/shoulder section embellishments.
Yulia/Julia Lipnitskaya of Russia: Yulia was another Costume Changer at last weekend's 2014-2015 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals in Barcelona Spain. She wore a new costume for her Free Skate to
"Romeo and Juliet" by Nino Rota, Mother's Journey (from "Good Bye Lenin" soundtrack) by Yann Tiersen and "Forbidden Love" (from "Romeo and Juliet" soundtrack) by Abel Korzeniowski. I have to be honest here: both are BAD. I get that she's young but seriously, she's a Gold-medal Olympian. These costumes seem so "Happy Hands at Home" and cheap, tacky. The stretch lace screams Downtown L.A. fabric bin. Sorry.
MEN:
The Top Three Boys: (L to R) Silver medalist Javier Fernandez of Spain, gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan, and bronze medalist Sergei Voronov of Russia--2014-1015 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals, Barcelona Spain
Javier Fernandez of Spain: Javier's Free Skate costume to
Ouverture, Acto Laro al Factotum, andTemporale from "Il Barbiere di Seviglia" by Giacchino Rossini. I loved this look for Javi. The striped vest fit him perfectly and I especially LOVED the mitering (matching) of the stripes in the back.
Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan: I haven't been a fan of Yuzuru's costumes in past season's (
especially at the 2014 Sochi Olympics!) but I am beginning to warm up to these Short (top photo) and Free Skate (bottom one) designs for the 2014-2015 season. If I have to choose a better one, it would be the the Free Skate costume which he wears to
"Phantom of the Opera" by Andrew Lloyd Webber. I like the jagged color distribution on his top and gold applique accents. Not sure how necessary the black chiffon sleeve hem ruffles were but, I have a feeling with Yuzuru...More is More.
Takahito Mura of Japan: Takahito skated his Short Program to
"Carmen" by Georges Bizet and his Free Skate (bottom photo) to
"Phantom of the Opera" by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Both were a bit "MEH" on the costume scale for me; the "Carmen" one seemed a bit too "Tron"-ish and the "Phantom" one was waaaay too formulaic. I give both a 5.0 out of 10 in terms of a Costume Score.
Maxim Kovtun of Russia: Maxim was such a bore in terms of costumes this season. The top one--a black top and pants...with the DREADED "Ross Dress-For-Less" black belt--is what he wore for his Short program to
"Bolero" by Maurice Ravel. Yes, kids, that's what he wore to BOLERO!!! Next...then for his Free Skate to
"Exogenesis Symphony" by Muse (bottom photo, above) he wore this blue and black skeleton-like top with black pants. While it would seem OK, I had MAJOR problems once his body kept lifting up and showing the same "Ross Dress For Less" belt he wore for his Short Program. This costume needed to be a complete bodysuit to make any sense.
**NEXT UP: PAIRS and ICE DANCE COSTUMES of the 2014-2015 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals!!
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