Skate Canada Ladies: (L to R) Karen Chen of USA, Elisaveta Tuktamysheva of Russia, Mai Mihara of Japan, and Wakaba Higuchi of Japan--Skate Canada International 2021, Vancouver Canada
This past weekend was SKATE CANADA INTERNATIONAL 2021, the second international competition event of the 2021-2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating...which means it's time for...FIGURE SKATING COSTUMES! In my last posts here in my BLOG, I discussed the costumes from Skate America 2021 so if you missed it, you can click HERE and HERE. For now, let's talk about THE LADIES:
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Haein Lee Korea Short Program: Skating her Short Program to Ave Maria by Franz Schubert, performed by Helen Fischer, Haein Lee wore this beautiful white costume reminiscent of a top ballerina. The design had gorgeous mini sequins placed throughout the torso, giving an elongated effect and highlighting that area. Bigger jewel stones framed the neckline for a definite Haute Couture-level effect on this figure skating costume. Slight unobtrusive ruffles gave additional interest to the sleeves.
Alysa Liu USA Short Program: Alysa is all grown up now (since we last saw her!) but yet, it's so CUTE to see she's actually not (those braces!). For her Short Program, she skated to a decidedly semi-adult piece of music, Gypsy Dance (Don Quixote: Act II) by Ludwig Minkus. Her costume was bold, exciting, and certainly had a stage presence. I loved the strong red color and intricate blue sequin applique swirling through her upper torso. The design and details like the nude illusion and gold "necklace" were great as well. Last but not least, the "gypsy"-like top knot with gold hairband gave her a fun "I Dream of Jeannie" look.
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Free Skate to Homage to Korea by Ji Pyeong Kwon: Naturally when skating to music titled "Homage to Korea", it makes sense to wear the figure skating version of a Hanbok. And this is basically what we see here on Haein. This design features some of those traditional Hanbok details such as the wrap-around neckline, the fluttery sleeves, the "powdery" colors, and yes, some requisite flower and sequin appliques. It was pretty and a nice costume partner to the music.
Alena Kostornaia Russia Short Program: Take a look at that razzle-dazzle costume above. Now, don't be surprised when I tell you she skated to....(wait for it!)...New York, New York (Theme) performed by Carey Mulligan, Liz Caplan/New York, New York performed by Liza Minelli. I loved it! All the right details were there: The evening black, the bugle-beaded fringe, the silver crystals looking like the sky in NYC on a perfect night...check, check and check! All of this and somehow, it was elegant and not campy. She looked sassy and ready to start high-kicking it on a Broadway stage.
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Kamila Valieva Russia Short Program: The newly-minted Russian skating phenom, Kamila Valieva, skated her Short Program to In Memoriam by Kirill Richter wearing this costume above. The reddish/peach-colored design was modern yet had style nods to 1920's/1930's Grecian Goddess Madame Gres. It featured a watercolor/ombre dyed effect with a meticulously draped and gathered design, with crystals strewn throughout and braid-like Empire-line trim.
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Elizaveta Tuktamysheva Russia Short Program: Skating to Oblivion (J'oublie) by Astor Piazzolla, performed by Misia, a tango-inspired chanson, Elizaveta "The Empress", wore this deep red-and-orange hued costume featured a one-shoulder-like design (the other shoulder was a nude illusion), strappy details, asymmetrical hem, and crystal embellishment. She accessorized it with fluttery cuffs, one glove (?), choker, and red lipstick (of course!). She looked every bit "The Empress"; commanding, strong, and sexy.
Free Skate to Bolero by Maurice Ravel: Skating to Ravel's iconic Bolero, Valieva wore this black and red costume above. The design featured see-through black sleeves and a top section with red color accents. Under the main costume/dress, she added matching see-through black tights to give a look of a semi-jumpsuit. Details such as sequined criss-cross "snake"-like trim, a peek-a-boo torso, and fiery red gloves definitely gave a mood of dangerous seductress which I guess was the point, especially skating to this music. On the other hand, the costume was still a bit "Cirque du Soleil" acrobat-ish for my taste.
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Free Skate to Arabia by Hanine El Alam and My Love...Music by Artem Uzunov: Elizaveta's costume certainly had "Near East/Middle East"-like details that paralleled the music she skated to. The costume featured a gathered bust, a "flippy" skirt, ombre-dyed teal/navy colorations, and sequined applique. The look was very "Figure Skater Scheherazade". I liked it for the most part but...I just thought the skin color of the nude illusion could have been slightly lighter and done better so it wasn't so obvious - the scooped neckline was distracting. BTW: What is it with Elizaveta and the one glove??
Mana Kawabe Japan Short Program: Skating her Short Program to Shadow 5 by Max Richter and Winter 1 by Max Richter, Antonio Vivaldi wearing this ivory sequined costume. The design was very "Snow Queen" with the white color, scroll-like cut-outs, and silver crystals. Even though it was rather traditional in the world of figure skating costumes, it still had some extra design aspects with the asymmetrical pointed hem and illusion panels throughout the torso, creating interest all around her.
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Free Skate to Miracle by Sarah Brightman, Yoshiki, Miracle (Sarah's Version feat. Yoshiki) by Sarah Brightman, Yoshiki: For her Free Skate, she wore this purple-based costume with nude illusion neckline, upper sleeves, sides, and front. The design was ombre-shaded from dark to light and featured many crystals - in varying sizes - throughout. I thought the crystal work was fantastic but the overall design was just OK.
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Wakaba Higuchi Japan Short Program: Skating to Your Song by Ellie Goulding, Elton John, Wakaba wore this beautiful one-shoulder-like costume. The design had an almost tie-dye look to the base, which then was enhanced with silver sequin applique and big aquamarine stones. Nude illusion accented the neckline and sides as well. I thought this was a pretty costume, delicate in its mood but sparkly enough to also be joyous and Icicle Princess-like.
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Free Skate to Spirit (from "The Lion King") by Beyonce, Grasslands Chant (from "The Lion King"), Stampede (from "The Lion King") by Hans Zimmer, Remember (from "The Lion King") by Hans Zimmer: This look above was by far one of my TOP FAVORITES from the Ladies at Skate Canada International 2021. I loved EVERYTHING about it: It was paying definite homage to "The Lion King" - with Wakaba being her own LION QUEEN! I loved the hues of orange, golds, yellows, fir reds...The feather-and-sequin trim was outstanding and to top it all off: That fabulous crown! Bravo Wakaba.
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Mai Mihara Japan Short Program: Mai skated her Short Program to I Dreamed A Dream (from Les Miserables) by Claude-Michel Schönberg wearing this ethereal lilac-colored costume/dress. The design had a Couture Dishevelled look which I appreciated, reminding me of those early 90's Galliano bias-cut creations. The silver jeweled crystals added a sense that this might have been owned by someone who had wealth...but lost it. In addition, the lovely color and jagged hem made it red carpet modern...for a 21st Les Miserables Heroine.
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