ICE STYLE.....Skate America 2021 Costumes: PAIRS and ICE DANCE!

Billie Eilish Meets Janet Jackson: (L to R)  USA Ice Dance pairs Madison Chock and Evan Bates skating to Billie Eilish, and Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue skating to a Janet Jackson medley--Skate America 2021, Las Vegas NV

Continuing with my ICE STYLE figure skating costumes recap of this past weekend's Skate America 2021 competition held in the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas...in my last post HERE, I talked about the LADIES and MEN'S costumes, so now it is time to discuss the PAIRS and ICE DANCE costumes of this 2021-2022 season. 

Let's begin with the PAIRS:

Pairs Style: (Clockwise L to R) Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan, Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov of Russia and Jessica Calalang and Brian Johnson of USA-Skate America 2021 Las Vegas NV

Photo by Robin Ritoss

Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier of USA Short Program: Skating to House of The Rising Sun by Heavy Young Heathens, from the 2014 film "Revenge of the Green Dragons", a film about Chinese American gangs. I would venture to guess that perhaps the deep red color in Alexa's sparkly costume may reference a traditional red cheongsam in Chinese culture, but besides that, the nods to the film and what it is about, end there. I liked her look and the spaced-out multi-sized silver sequins as well as the uneven illusion panel down the front. Brandon was the quintessential non-costumed Pairs partner in basic black. At least, he gave you a somewhat plunging v-neck!  

8.25

Jessica Calalang and Brian Johnson USA Short Program: For their Short Program to Come Together by The Beatles performed by Gary Clark Jr. and Junkie XL, Calalang and Johnson were perfectly dressed for the Las Vegas Rock & Roll ICE stage! Jessica's black costume featured a curved high neckline highlighted by the sequined sweetheart-shaped bust top plus a fishtail skirt hem. I loved that for Brian's costume, they didn't just go with basic; at least they upped the shirt ante by giving him one with contrasting sheer/solid paneling and sequined trim around the collar and front placket. Both looks were great for the music.

9.10

Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara Japan Free Skate: Skating to Woman by Shawn Phillips, this Japanese pairs team wore the costumes above. While Riku looked pretty and more like a "Junior Figure Skater" in her costume of illusion, crystals, and blue-black/nude ombre shading... Ryuichi was more directional and fashion-forward in his look. I really liked his costume more than hers. I loved the play with texture using faux leather and lightly sequined stretch Ponte knit, as well as asymmetrical fishtail hemming on the shirt. She was cute, he was dark, mysterious, and stylish.

8.99

Aleksandra Boikova and Dmitrii Kozlovskii of Russia Short Program: Skating to the classic Swan Lake by Petr I. Tchaikovski, it's difficult to go "off-script" costume-wise when it comes to Swan Lake, so naturally, Boikova and Kozlovskii vibed their best "Black Swan" couture for this. I liked the "evil" look of her costume which reminded me more of "Maleficent" especially with the horn-like front detailing and the broken glass-like sequined effect. Her eye makeup was, in addition, very complimentary to her look. Not forgetting about Dmitrii, his costume was outstanding in its top detail and silver crystal wing-like embellishments; he was sexy and oh-so-threatening. 

9.50

Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov Russia Short Program: Skating to Metamorphosis Two by Philip Glass, Experience by Ludovico Einaudi, Tarasova and Morozov wore these costumes above. There was a "Modern Dance" sensuality about these costumes...the delicate draping, side-gathering, asymmetrical styling, sparse crystal work, and ombre shading. I liked all of these details on the costumes but it almost seemed as if each belonged to another pair; I wished either her costume's color-matched his or the other way around. Even though the details were similar, they were mismatched. That said, they were still pretty and fashion-forward.

8.99

Free Skate to Lighthouse by Patrick Watson: This was a better example of how both his and her costumes go together seamlessly. The grays match as well as the crystal display on the tops...there's a symbiotic relationship between the clothing, the details, and both the skaters. 

9.35

ICE DANCE------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Madison Chock and Evan Bates Rhythm Dance: Skating their Rhythm Dance to Myboi by Billie Eilish, Therefore I am by Billie Eilish, Bad Guy by Billie Eilish, Chock and Bates looked fresh, modern, and in tune with the sensuous yet somewhat spooky Billie Eilish melody. Naturally, I loved the pop of "highlighter" green color on Madison Chock in her fishtail hemmed sequined dress. While I wasn't that much of a fan of the UBER pointed "witchy" neckline...I did like her fabulous gloves (those nails!). In addition, her eye makeup was EVERYTHING! Not to be left out, Evan's costume was pretty cool on its own: From the sleek top and pants, the neon green bias binding to the faux leather chest harness...he looked like he was ready to NOT play nice. 

9.40 

Free Dance to Contact by Daft Punk, Touch by Daft Punk, Within by Daft Punk, Touch by Daft Punk: Skating to a Daft Punk medley, the American team wore these lavender/purple-based looks. These costumes blended a "Mood Board" of Futuristic Space Explorer-Meets-Extraterrestrial which went pretty well with Daft Punk's French Electro-House Techno vibe. I imagined that Evan--in his deep purple fashion space suit--was this astronaut from 2221 who happened to land on a planet where he fell in love with Madison's sexy lizard-like stretch chiffon-and-sequined creature with a cascade ruffle spine. I want to go to that planet ASAP!

9.75 

Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue USA Rhythm Dance: Hubbell and Donohue skated their Rhythm Dance to Nasty by Janet Jackson, Rope Burn by Janet Jackson, Rhythm Nation Janet Jackson. Their costumes were very Jacket Jackson Rhythm Nation Retro for sure...almost to a fault. While as a kid of that era (and who LOVED Miss Jackson!), I almost thought it was too on-the-nose and almost went "Halloween Costume-y". But, the (fashion) nostalgic part of me still appreciated those silver epaulets and late 80's Military Hip Hop accouterments. 

8.99

Free Dance to Drowning by Anne Sila: These were beautiful, classic figure skating costume looks from this amazing ice dance couple. I loved her romantic lilac-colored sequined dress...the asymmetrical neckline, the paneled chiffon skirt...it looked effortless on her as if it was a second skin.  In addition, I thought Zach looked like a Figure Skating prince...in his deep plum ensemble of skin-tight pants and velvety top. The color shading and the crystal designs were gorgeous and I also loved the asymmetrical neckline. I know the music wasn't to Romeo and Juliet but boy oh boy, they sure looked like a modern interpretation of that classic love story. 

9.65