Figure Skating Fashion Minute: Skate America--The Ice Dancers!!

Walk Like An Egyptian...and a Brazilian...and a German Waltzer!!!

Mummy Issues: France's Pechalat and Bourzat doing their "Egypt"-inspired Free Dance at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Skate America

This weekend's first competition of the Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2011/2012 Season took place in Ontario. Not Canada, kids, California! It was well above 80 degrees HOT outside as figure skaters from all over the world fought for the top honors. And I was there for one of the days (for the Pairs and Ladies Free Skate on Sunday) taking my "Nick Costume Notes". I love when a BIG important Figure Skating Competition event is so close to home--as opposed to Moscow Russia, thank you VERY MUCH!

Costume Medals: The Top Three in ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Skate America 2011--L to R: Silver Medalists France's Pechalat and Bourzat, Gold Medalists USA's Davis and White, Bronze Medalists Latvia's Tobias and Stagniunas

Over the weekend, the Ice Dance couples took to the Citizens Business Bank Arena for their Short and Free Dance and huney, it was Costume Heaven! So, naturally, now it's time for the FAB Ice Dancers Costume Review!

Let's begin with the Gold Medalists from...THE USA!!!!

Davis and White: Meryl Davis and Charlie White skated their Free Dance to "Die Fledermaus" by Johann Strauss II. They won the Gold for their fabulous Ice Dancing performance. I absolutely LOVE them! They are so old-school, classic yet fresh and directional at the same time and have taken Ice Dance to another level. Now, in terms of their Free Dance Costumes: Meryl looked perfect! The color, the halter silhouette the cascading crystals falling from a gorgeous sequined neckline, the feathered-and-crystal hair pin: Done and Done! But Charlie...

Frat Boy Tuxedo: Davis and White, Free Dance ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Skate America 2011

Now, some of the commentators said on TV that "Charlie should wear tuxedos more often...they look good on him" (or something to that effect). I agree a little bit. With his body, he probably looks great in anything. However, I feel like he looked like a FRAT BOY in a Tuxedo, after three beers! The five-o'clock goatee, the unbuttoned wing-tip tuxedo shirt, the loose I-just-came-back-from-surfing hair. If Meryl took the time and effort to do her make-up and hair so elegantly and beautifully, then Charlie should have cleaned up as well. Slick the hair, shave, put on an ascot...something. Class it up huney! With that being said...I still love 'em!!!

Orange Samba: For their Short Dance, Davis & White danced to "Samba, Rhumba, Samba", a Latin music medley (The Short Dance was a Latin Dance Theme). I liked how Charlie looked here: his curly locks, unshaven sexy self was appropriate here. Of course, Meryl looked flawless, yet again. The combination of bright orange and deep violet sequins made me wanna get up and do a Brazilian Samba right there in front of my TV as I was watching!

Pechalat and Bourzat: France's Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat skated to "The Pharaoh and His Mummy" (of course, you didn't think it was to "Funny Girl"??). Can I just say that this is why I watch the Ice Dance Competition (well, besides the amazing seamless twizzles!)!! I also love seeing these "Out There" costumes. Some observers said that maybe the costumes took away from the performance. Well, as a fashion designer, I disagree. I thought they were this side of a hot steamy rendezvous near the tombs of Luxor! Hot Hot Hot! (how do you type that in hieroglyphics ??)

Neon Latino: For their Short Dance, they skated to a "Samba" medley , including Sergio Mendes' "Mas Que Nada". Again: Muy Caliente! I loved her sequined top and fringed cowl-back skirt.

My Eyes Hurt: While I could have done without Fabian's eye-hurting striped neon green-and-yellow striped pants (a solid lemon color would have sufficed), he was still OK to me in the costume department. He just looked like a dance instructor at a Cruise Ship "Lose Some Weight with SAMBA!" class.

Tobias and Stagniunas: Lithuania's Isabella Tobias and Delvivas Stagniunas won the Bronze after their Short and Free Dances at Skate America over the weekend. They skated to "Let's Twist Again" "Only You" and "Tutti Frutti".

Their costumes were fun, colorful and bedazzled enough to compliment the fun soundtrack. I really liked how the strong deep red was "brought back" to his costume by way of the sewn-down un-tied bow tie.

San Juan, Here I Come: For their Short Dance--like the rest of the Ice Dance Competitors, they also danced to a Latin theme--a "Samba and Meregue" music medley, in fact. Her gold and black sequin and bugle beaded costume was very effective while his was well, a little bit of a let down. I understand that in Ice Dance, the attention should be on her--but we all know, it really isn't. I feel that his black velvet outfit with light gold beading at the sleeve hem could have been stronger. But on a good note: at least together, they did turn the Latin Heat up! I almost booked tickets to San Juan Puerto Rico, just for the HECK of it, after seeing that performance. I love me some Ice Dancing!

*Until the next Grand Prix---Canada here we come! (well, I won't be there but I'll still be looking at those costumes!)

Figure Skating Fashion Minute: Skate America 2011--The Men!

Oh Boy!!!

GRRRRR: Florent Amodio of France vibes "Tony The Tiger" at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Skate America 2011

Continuing with my "Nick Figure Skating Costumes Two Cents" for this past weekend's ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Skate America 2011/2012, now it's the Men's turn!! The Top Medalists at this year's Skate America were Michal Brezina from the Czech Republic who got the Gold, Belgium's Kevin Van Der Perren received the Silver, and Bronze went to Japan's Takahiko Kozuka. No American got one of the top three spots unfortunately.

Speaking of Americans, 2010 Olympic Champion and 2009/2010 Grand Prix Champion Evan Lysacek from the US was supposed to be at this past weekend's Skate America competition. But then, as a result of the US Figure Skating Association not paying him the fee he was asking for, he decided not to come. Too bad for us, let's hope he gets it all sorted out by the National Championships so we can see a new Vera Wang creation!

The Top Men: Silver Medalist Belgium's Kevin Van der Perren, Gold Medalist Czech Republic's Michal Brezina, Bronze Medalist Japan's Takahiko Kozuka

Now, let's talk costumes: I don't know what's happened in the last few years--maybe it's a "Johnny Weir Phenomena" but...the Men's Costumes are getting GLITZIER and more "Blades of Glory" Fab-u-licious. Well, for most of the boys. There are a still a few men who like to keep it on the "DL" when it comes to their costumes. But, naturally, I am happy when they "QUEEN OUT", as I like to say. Let's see who did and who should've:

Michal Brezina: For his Free Skate, he skated to "The Untouchables". When he first stepped on the ice, I noticed the half-something and half-something else costume. For some reason, his costume was half "Eliot Ness" and the other half "Boy at a Mykonos Dance Club". First, it had a dress shirt with rolled-up sleeve with a sleeve garter and a bias-cut plaid-ish vest (that was the Eliot Ness "detective" side). The other side featured a very short sleeved t-shirt and half of a sexy tank top. Umm, OK... Detective from 9-5, and then sexy dance club Go-Go boy afterward, I guess. I think he should have gone ALL OUT and half of his pants should have been shorty-shorts too! What do you think? KIDDING!

Florent Amodio: France's (by way of Brazil) Florent Amodio skated to a "Latin Medley" for his Free Skate. What a tiger-print leotard with matching tiger-print fingerless gloves, apple-green under shirt collar and black velvet bedazzled pants, have to do with "Latino" is beyond me. But on a "Nick Scale" of "HUUUUNEEEY!!!", he gets a TEN! He looked like a cross between a Gay "Tony The Tiger" and "The Lion King On Ice" skating performer. He takes my Top Costume Honors for "Skate America: Most QUEENED out!".

Richard Dornbush: For his Free Skate, cutie American Richard Dornbush skated to "A Fistful of Dollars" and "Ecstasy of Gold" Medley. I LOVED his Western get-up. It was simple, to-the-point and performance appropriate, all at the same time. I don't know why but all I wanted to do was hit the ice and do some Line Dancin' with him!!! Clearly, his friends did too as they all were in the audience dressed in Western Attire! Too cute!

Kevin Van der Perren: Belgium's Kevin Van der Perren, the resident "HOTTIE" of the group, did not disappoint his fans, in terms of his costume and showing well, how much he works out! He skated his Free Skate to music from "The Man in the Iron Mask". The movie centers around the aging "Three Musketeers" and his costume had those overt suggestions of the movie's period including the "Slashed" sleeve, neckline lacing, the oversized belt buckle, and torso silhouette of a period Jerkin.

But it was TIGHTER than TIGHT--and bedazzled!! So, I guess, this was the "Van der Perren Muscle Musketeer"! Somehow in this, Kevin still looked masculine, strong, and sexy, all at the same time. Another skater might have added TEN feathers and a big Hat but I'm glad "Kevin the Hottie" didn't go there.

Daisuke Murakami: For his Free Skate, Daisuke skated to "Gladiator" by Hans Zimmer. His costume featured lots of faux leather strapping, "Gladiator Gold" accessories and crystals strewn throughout. It looked a little bit like a Halloween costume one buys on Hollywood Blvd--you know, the ones that come in a bag. It seemed a little half-done for me. And the random crystals seemed ill-placed. I would have loved a Total and Complete Gladiator costume and maybe instead of the faux leather straps, make them all be thousands of Swarovski crystals!!

Takahiko Kozuka: One word--BORING! He skated to something called "Fantasia for Nausicca". This costume--if you could called it that--had me nauseous for how underwhelming, un-theatrical and dated it was. It was very Todd Eldredge circa 1992! And what is with that belt? It's like he suddenly realized that he didn't have a costume for his Free Skate so he went to the closest "Ross Dress For Less" near the Arena and picked this up. Takahiko, please try a little bit harder next time---or fire your Costume Designer. Pretty Please?

*Up Next: The Ice Dancers Costumes!!!

Figure Skating Fashion Minute: Skate America 2011--The Ladies !!

Best BEDAZZLED--in the Ladies Short and Free Skate...

Girls Best Friend: Russia's Ksenia Makarova in bubblegum pink "Marilyn Monroe" costume, Skate America 2011 Ladies Free Skate

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2011 Hilton HHonors Skate America begun on Oct 21st at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario California. Skate America is the first of six events of the 2011/2012 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series.

Top Three: Silver Medalist Italy's Carolina Kostner, Gold Medalist USA's Alyssa Czisny, and Bronze Medalist Sweden's Viktoria Helgesson, Skate America 2011

The skaters compete for a global prize money of $180,000 per individual event of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating and the top six of each discipline go on to the Finals. First up: the Ladies. They skated their Short Programs as well as the Free Skate.

I love Figure Skating and Figure Skating Costumes so much that I actually drove all the way to Ontario (only an hour drive from LA "proper") to see the Pairs Final Competition as well as the Ladies Free Skate at Skate America 2011 in the Citizens Business Bank Arena--along with the man who got me into all this figure skatin' stuff--my trusty NIKOLAKI partner, David Paul. Yes, kids, it was a day filled with Figure Skating and bedazzled madness!! That's how I like to spend my Sunday...

So, now let's get to my "Nick Skating Costumes Two Cents" for the Ladies:

Carolina Kostner: I always look forward to what Italy's Carolina Kostner wears. She became a "Skating Fashionista" ever since she enlisted the design expertise of Italian Designer Roberto Cavalli, several Winter Olympics ago. Not sure if the "House of Cavalli" is still designing her costumes but they are still great! For her Short Program, Carolina wore a brightly colored sherbert-y costume featuring a side-gathered "wrap" silhouette and a beaded side panel and sleeve.

Carolina Kostner Ladies Free Skate ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Skate America 2011

For her Free Skate, she skated to Mozart's Concerto No. 77 and I loved this costume much more than her first. It was actually one of my favorites of the competition. It was dramatic, very "Dancing With The Stars" cheeky yet still very beautifully made (especially seeing it up close from my seats at the Arena!).

The bodice and torso with its navy-to-light-blue sequin work was incredible, as you can see from the above photos. In terms of her skating, she actually WON the Free Skate but she ended up in second place overall, and got the Silver. She gets the Gold for Costumes from me.

Ksenia Makarova: My next favorite (secretly my MOST!), was the costume worn by Russia's Ksenia Makarova (I just love saying her name OVER and OVER again!) in her Free Skate. When she first stepped on the ice, I said "She is so 'Madonna Material Girl'!" And yes, I was partially correct: she actually skated to a "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" medley.

It was a "Mini Me" version of the iconic William Travilla-designed bubblegum pink gown that Marilyn Monroe wore in the film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes". It was "strapless" (well, of course, with an attached skin-colored illusion netting), had a HUGE statement-making "diamond" necklace as well as bracelets.

Toddlers, Tiaras, and Bows: No detail was left on the sewing and cutting room: not only did the costume feature the side draping of the original gown, but the accompanying pink gloves Ksenia wore also had little bows at the elbows. Was it a little TLC's "Toddlers & Tiaras"? Yes! But did I LOVE it? TOTALLY!

Viktoria Helgesson: Sweden's Figure Skating "Barbie Doll", the gorgeous Viktoria, also skated to the music from "Sunset Blvd: the Musical" which, of course, is based on the legendary Hollywood Movie. I assume she was trying to vibe the "Norma Desmond" character in this black crystal beaded costume with white fur cuffs. Her hair was done up very "50's Hollywood Glamour" but I'm not sure if it worked entirely. Look, I think Viktoria looks gorgeous in anything she puts on, but I actually thought she looked more like a "Sexy Christmas Santa Helper" than Gloria Swanson. Here's a thought for her next Skating Competition Theme: Pan Am. She needs to do 60's Pan Am Airline Stewardess. Like TOMORROW!

Alyssa Czisny: Finally, we have the Gold Medalist USA's Alyssa Czisny. She was certainly the Star of the Weekend, leading the Ladies Short and then taking the BIG prize at the end. I liked her Short Program costume better than her Free Skate. For her short, she wore a beautifully elegant light pink bateau-necked costume that was modern, sleek and oh-so-not Figure Skating tacky-licious.

Loved the bodice/torso completely covered in Swarovski crystals and the simple thin belt, and it also featured a gorgeous beaded see-through back. A WINNER for sure!

On the other hand, I was a bit underwhelmed by what she wore for the Free Skate. She skated to Valse Triste ("Sad Waltz") from Jean Sibelius. And the costume seemed a little sad (maybe that was the point!). The aubergine color didn't really "pop" on the ice and, dare I say it, it might have benefited from some extra "sparkle".

Yes, MORE BEDAZZLING! Well, maybe just a couple more. It didn't look "International Competition Costume" ready enough for me. But it was impeccably made and when you see it up close the delicately draped bodice and beading is stunning. But oh well, what do I know--the beautiful Alyssa won the entire thing; she brought the entire Ontario California audience (me included!) to our feet, bland costume and all. Congrats Alyssa and keep the costumes FAB!! Remember, I'm watching :)

* Up Next: The Men...at Skate America!!!