ICE STYLE.....ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals 2015/2016 Barcelona: Costumes Recap & Highlights PAIRS and ICE DANCE

Pairs and Ice Dance Grand Prix: Costume Collage of Pairs and Ice Dance at the 2015/2016 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals Barcelona

This past weekend were the Finals of the 2015/2016 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating which were held in Barcelona Spain. The top skaters in various disciplines competed for the top titles.  I've discussed many of the costumes during this season's Grand Prix series here on my blog. Just go to the "Search" section (on the right of this blog) under "Ice Style" and you'll find them all.

2015/2016 ISU Grand Prix Final Barcelona Spain

So...it's time to recap some of the costumes from the PAIRS and ICE DANCE skaters. I'll do a blog on the LADIES and MEN afterward...



PAIRS------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Top Three Pairs: (L to R) Silver medalists Duhamel and Radford of Canada; Russia's gold medalists Stolbova and Klimov; bronze medalists from Russia Kavaguti and Smirnov--2015/2016 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final Barcelona Spain

Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford Canada: For their Short Program to Your
Song by Elton John, performed by Ewan McGregor. I loved the bright red
color and the criss-cross gathered draping in her costume's torso. I also liked
that Eric's shirt and tank matched hers and especially his crystal buttons. Oh
and can I add, HOW HOT does Eric look with that five o-clock shadow??!! Welcome
to the beard club darling.

Free Skate to Hometown
Glory by Adele: Great multi jeweled neckline piece on Meagan's costume
and I loved the back detail. One word: Exquisite.

Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov: Short Program (top)
to I Put a Spell on You performed by
Annie Lennox, I loved their costumes,
especially hers. She wore a black high-neck costume with a exposed side with
sequined side straps. Modern and Skating Chic.

For their Free Skate (lower photo) to Man and Shadow (The Unknown Known soundtrack) by Danny Elfman, Stolbova and Klimov wore these post-modern directional costumes. I liked these costumes,
especially her gathered and criss-cross ribbon look; very modern, very chic,
once again.  

Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov: Kavaguti and Smirnov wore these costumes for their Free Skate to Manfred Symphony by Petr I. Tchaikovski. I was more of a fan of HIS costume than hers. I liked his sheer chiffon and sequined top with sexy black pants. But for some reason, her costume looked dated and way too traditional (compared to his). I also wasn't a fan of that neck piece.

Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim USA: These are the costumes they wore for their Short Program to Nothing Else Matters by Metallica. These were the prefect costumes to wear for such a program. I liked her studded 80's-like bustier and his outfit, in particular, looked Rocker-Fab! Especially his finger-less leather gloves and studded belt.

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

Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte Italy: For their Short Dance to The Merry Widow by Franz Lehar, they wore these costumes. I thought these were very effective for the music. I liked the gathered tulle detail of her neckline and his "uniform"-like look was very nice.

Free Dance to La Dolce Vita by Nino Rota Soundtrack: I was also a big fan of these costumes. Her black sequined "strapless" costume was very Retro and Glam and I liked the white tulle underskirt. Luca looked sexy and very Hot Italiano in his white tuxedo shirt-and-black pant ensemble.

Madison Chock and
Evan Bates USA: Skated
their Short Dance to More by Andrea
Bocelli and Unchained Melody by
Il Divo in these looks above. I thought that Madison--as always--looked beautiful and so
feminine in this ultramarine blue dress. I liked the intricate gathering and
draping at the torso and how the multicolored sequins were used in strategic
locations. I also liked the contrast color of the underskirt. Evan's tuxedo
with tails was sharp and I appreciated how his pocket hankie was the same color
as Madison's
dress. And I REALLY appreciated him slicking his hair back and at least giving
the impression of being a little more "formal" and fancy.

Free Dance to Concerto No. 2 Adagio by Sergei Rachmaninov and Concerto No. 2 Allegro by Sergei Rachmaninov: I really liked these costumes worn by USA'a Chock and Bates. Her one shoulder ombre shaded dress was pretty and ethereal. But he was really the (Costume) star here with his asymmetrical neckline side draped top. 

Maia and Alex Shibutani USA: For their Short Dance to Coppelia by Leo Delibes, these are the costumes they wore. I was at first a bit surprised at the "Prom Princess"-like look of Maia's pink and sequin costume. But as the routine was being performed, I realized that it was very "Coppelia" a fit the dance perfectly. Alex look great, by the way. I would have liked for his costume to be a bit more "designed", but overall they both looked great.

Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje Canada: Weaver and Poje skated their Short Dance to "The Blue Danube" and "Annepolka" by Johann Strauss in these gorgeous costumes. These were stupendous. I loved both his and hers. very Luxe and very Skating Couture.

Free Dance to On the Nature of Daylight by Max Richter and Run by Ludovico Einaudi: For their Free Dance at the 2015/2016 ISU Grand Prix Finals, Canada's Weaver and Poje wore these blue-gray ombre draped costumes. I absolutely loved them. This was a costume change from what they wore for the Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia:

Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia 2015

The new costumes were beautiful, modern, ethereal and drape-gorgeous!

**NEXT UP: The LADIES and MEN Costume HIGHLIGHTS of the 2015/2016 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 

ICE STYLE.....2015 World Figure Skating Championships Costumes Recap Part 3: PAIRS COSTUMES!

Costume Pairs: Pairs skaters--and their costumes--at 2015 World Figure Skating Championships Shanghai China

Since I have already discussed the LADIES Costumes HERE and MEN Costumes HERE from this past week's 2015 World Figure Skating Championships, It's now time to discuss the PAIRS Costumes Highlights:

Kristina Astakhova and Alexei Rogonov of Russia: Above is what they wore for their Free Skate to  "The Master and Margarita" (soundtrack) by Igor Korneliuk. While at first glance, these costumes may seem a bit on the "Cray-Cray" side, I liked them! They go perfectly well with the music and the theme of that Russian TV miniseries involving demons, Stalin, and an "Annual Spring Ball of the Full Moon". The red and black are very impacting and his slash-open sleeves flutter nicely while he skated. But my favorite was her costume: it's like a Demon Goddess/Spiderweb Couture. 

Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov of Russia: These are the costumes Kavaguti and Smirnov wore for their Short Program to Méditation from “Thaïs” by Jules Massenet (top photo)

and Free Skate to "Manfred Symphony" by Petr I. Tchaikovski (lower photo). If I had to choose a favorite, I like her pale blue costume for the Short program and his slate-gray chiffon and sequined look he wore for the Free Skate. I think that in terms of the SP and Free Skate costume's overall effect would probably be on a 6/10; in other words, OK designs but nothing extraordinary.

Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres of France: Free Skate to "Angels and Demons" (soundtrack) by Hans Zimmer, "Heaven and Hell" by Vangelis and "Requiem for a Dream" (soundtrack) by Clint Mansell. I LOVE these costumes worn by James and Cipres. They tell the story of Angels and Demons well through fashion (the black and white colors), and the sequin detail is exquisite. Her costume especially needs to be in a Figure Skating Costume Museum ASAP! But another highlight is...

The great detail on Morgan Cipres' back. I love when the design or designers don't just focus on the front but pay as much (if not more!) interest on the back. C'est Magnifique!

Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Canada: For gold medal-winning Pairs skaters Duhamel and Radford's Short Program to "Un peu plus haut" by Ginette Reno and Free Skate to "Neutron Star Collision", "I Belong to You" (from "Samson and Delilah") and "Uprising" by Muse, they wore the costumes above. I really liked Meagan's one shoulder black with sequins costume for her Free Skate. And normally, I am not a big fan of the "let's just make the guy wear a black top and black pants and call it a day" look, but with Duhamel and Radford, I will give him a Costume Pass. They won the Gold so...

Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim of the USA: These costumes above are what Scimeca and Knierim wore for their Free Skate to "An American in Paris" by George Gershwin. I really like these costumes, both Alexa's and Chris'. Her blue and silver sequined costume looks refined, expensive and very effective with the music and theme. And Chris really reflects the Gene Kelly character in the iconic musical "An American in Paris".

Pang Qing and Tong Jian of China: Pang and Tong skated their Free Skate to "Io Ci Saro" by David Foster, Walter Afanasieff in these costumes above. I really love her blue chiffon and sequined applique costume. Especially  those fluttery sleeves. Her costume reminds me of a figure skating costume version of an Elie Saab Haute Couture design (lower photo of Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2014). Now, for the not-so-nice: his costume was BLAH and almost tacky; that shirt with the shoulder yoke detail is two minutes from a bad 1987 shirt (that I probably owned!).

Nicole Della Monica and Mateo Guarise of Italy: Above is what Italian Pairs Della Monica and Guarise wore for their Free Skate to The Mask of Zorro (soundtrack) by James Horner. I like these costumes. Especially HIS! I love how his back is "exposed" through the nude illusion and framed by the exquisite silver/black sequined applique scallop edges.

Mari Vartmann and Aaron Van Cleave of Germany: These are the costumes Germany's Vartmann and Van Cleave wore for their Short Program to Waltz from "Petersburg's Secrets" (soundtrack) by Andrei Petrov (top photo) and Free Skate to "Concierto de Aranjuez" by Joaquin Rodrigo (lower photo). The Short Program costumes seem almost Ice Dance "comical" in its styling and color matchy-matchy; it's a bit on the tacky side--unless they were skating to the B-52's! I do like the Free Skate costumes better; they are elegant, reflect the "Near East" music well and seem fashion-restrained. And in a good way. 

Peng Cheng and Zhang Hao of China: Peng and Zhang skated their Short Program to Arabian Dance (from "The Nutcracker") by Peter I. Tchaikovski. Now, I know "The Nutcracker" very well and every single part of that iconic music. I think that these costumes well reflect the "Arabian Dance" (lower photo of the San Francisco Ballet's "The Nutcracker" Arabian Dance). I love the snake sequin panel that wraps around her costume and his electric blue and gold sequined top is very "Middle Eastern" Sheik. 

Miriam Ziegler and Severin Kiefer of Austria: Finally, I wanted to add the Austrian Pairs skaters Ziegler and Kiefer and the costumes they wore for their Short Program to "C'est pas l'amour" by Rupa and the "April Fishes Zydeko" by Benoit Jutras. They never made it to the Free Skate competition but when I first saw these, I wanted to say how much I liked them--only for their "kookiness". These costumes are very "Cirque du Soleil"-ish and fun but my favorite part is the bedazzled heart on his bootie! #GoAustria



**UP NEXT!! The Final Part of my Costumes Recap of the 2015 World Figure Skating Championships...ICE DANCE!