ICE STYLE.....Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2019 FINALS COSTUMES: PAIRS and ICE DANCE!

Pairs and Ice Dance Grand Prix Costumes--Peng Cheng and Jin Yang of China, Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China; Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada--2019 ISU Grand Prix Finals, Torino Italy

In my previous post HERE, I discussed the LADIES and MEN costumes highlights from the 2019 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals. Now it is time to do a recap of the PAIRS and ICE DANCE...

PAIRS:

Aleksandra Bokiova and Dmitrii Kozlovskii Russia Short Program to My Way performed by Frank Sinatra--Boikova and Kozlovskii of Russia wore these costumes skating their Short Program. They featured a pink dress and top for Aleksandra and Dmitrii, with multicolored sequin detail with blue pants for him. They were nice (I liked the beadwork) but not extraordinary; they did look a bit "Junior"-ish.

Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro Canada Short Program to Love On the Brain (Los Feliz Blvd) feat. Bishop Briggs--I liked these pretty costumes worn by Kirsten and Michael. The striped sequin detail on her dress was nice and "jazzy"--she looked sleek and chic. I also liked the sheer/solid panels which mirrored her sequined "stripes" which was a nice way of pairing them together--costume-wise. 

Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov Russia Short Program to Je suis malade by Serge Lama and Alica Dona performed by Lara Fabian--Mishina and Galliamov of Russia wore these black and white looks for their Short program. These were nice costumes for the skate and he looked a bit 90's Retro with the skinny white tie, vest and studded trim jeans. Overall, these were effective for their skate; they looked like a romantic couple enjoying the 1994 Lara Fabian song (that's why the 90's look!).

Free Skate to The Master and Margarita (soundtrack) by Igor Kornelyuk--This is a repeat of the music they skated to their Free Skate last season (2018-2019) during their final Junior Season (the music is from a Russian TV miniseries) their costumes were not a repeat. I liked these designs: The costumes were vibrant, effective and ice-stage impacting. I admit they were a little "Cirque du Soleil" Meets "The Greatest Showman" but that's OK, at least they were giving me something--hopefully helpful in complementing this obscure (to us Westerners) Russian miniseries music.

Peng Cheng and Jin Yang China Short Program to Alegria (from Cirque du Soleil)--This Chinese pair wore these costumes for their Short Program. They did a nice job of meshing the "White" and "Black" "Alegria" costumes from the Cirque du Soleil show. I liked her blush-and-black lace sequin bustier and his very chic black crystal top; if this wasn't a "Cirque du Soleil" theme, they could have easily have worn this for a Madonna-based skate. Notice also the flared out peplums on both his and her tops, resembling the flared-out crinoline shapes of the show's costumes.

Free Skate to Cloud Atlas (soundtrack)--I really liked these costumes from by the Chinese pairs skaters for their Free Skate. The varying shades of blue were beautiful and while I liked his "different" vest/jacket with rhinestone trim, it was Cheng Peng who was the obvious costume STAR! Her dress featured a pale blue chiffon base with deep lilac and silver paillettes and sequined applique, along with a silver sequin "belt". The design was gorgeous, expensive-looking and effective for the skate... 

Her look reminded me of a design Lebanese Couturier Elie Saab (photo above).

Sui Wenjing and Han Cong China Free Skate to Rain, In Your Black Eyes by Ezio Bossio--Sui and Han wore these very impressive costumes for their equally impressive Free Skate. She wore a dark hunter green costume featuring a plunging neckline, nude illusion front panel and beautiful sequins across the torso reminiscent of a star-filled night sky. It was simple, elegant, and quite chic. I also liked his look which included a blue band-collar shirt, black pants, and wonderful across-the-chest sequined "straps" that looked like a "holster". It made his ensemble look modern, stylish and tied himself in with her sequined costume.

ICE DANCE:

Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier Canada Rhythm Dance to Movies Were Movies (from "Mack and Mabel") by Jerry Herman, Look What Happened to Mabel (from "Mack and Mabel") by Jerry Herman, and Entr'acte, Tap Your Troubles Away (from "Mack and Mabel") by Jerry Herman--I loved these very impacting costumes, ready for the stage (or ice!), worn by Canada's Gilles and Poirier for their homage to "Old Hollywood". The old-school costume-y tuxedos were so Radio City Rockettes Glam with the silver, bubblegum pink, sequin and fringe details. 

Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue USA Rhythm Dance to My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Cole Porter performed by Marilyn Monroe and Let's Be Bad (from "Smash") by Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman--Madison vibed her best Marilyn Monroe look in this cowl-draped red sequined dress, looking very Old Hollywood and Zachary looked handsome as her Joe DiMaggio Baseball Player husband in his striped jersey and blue pants. Very cute and visually fun. This is a costume change from earlier this season....

Which do you like better?? I feel the new costumes project a stronger theme and tell the story in a stronger way.

Madison Chock and Evan Bates USA Rhythm Dance to Too Darn Hot by Cole Porter (original cast recording)--Chock and Bates wore these costumes bringing vivid memories of Hollywood icon Ann Miller in "Kiss Me Kate", especially in Madison's fuchsia pink fringed design. I thought it was fun, flashy and an obvious homage to Walter Plunkett's costumes for the 1953 film. And Evan looked sharp in his open-collar tuxedo outfit.

Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizero France Rhythm Dance to I Can Do Anything Better Than You Can by S. Linzer & D. Wolfert (arrang. by Maxime Rodriguez) from "Fame" by Michael Gore, Dean Pitchsord, Fame by Michael Gore, Dean Pitchsford (arranged by Maxime Rodriguez and Ludivine Amado) and Fame by Michael Gore, Dean Pitchsford, performed by Irene Cara--Naturally, these 80's Jazzercize looks were probably my FAVORITE "costumes" from this season's Rhythm dance. Only this fab French Ice Dance duo can pull off ice dancing to "Fame" complete with leotards, headbands, and legwarmers in such a flawless manner that no one, absolutely NO ONE, batted an eyelash! It was fab cheesy, disco-licious and Retro Chic, all at the same time. They left me in a sweat...after watching them!

Free Dance to Danny and Suspects by Olafur Arnalds and Find Me by Forest Black--Skating to the gorgeous music from the British TV drama "Broadchurch" and a spoken word poem, Papadakis and Cizeron took Ice Dance to an even higher level. Their simple, modern dance-like costumes mirrored the music and choreography beautifully and seamlessly; the sheer vs. solid all-black looks were directional and almost became invisible within their incredible skating. I also liked the addition of the silver foil "splashes" on their costumes, which gave a nice contrasting touch to their otherwise all-black designs.