25th Feb 2006
2006 Winter Olympics: Figure Skating “Fashion”
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Torino may just be a short train ride from Milan, but the fashion on display at the Olympics is a completely different world. Figure skating costumes often look like hand-me-downs from the showgirls of seedy Las Vegas hotels. But in the women’s long program, there were some costumes that deserved the gold and silver (and happened to be on the women who earned them)…
The gold medalist was Shizuka Arakawa, and her costume was dazzling. Representing Japan on the ice, she chose a costume grounded in Japanese performing arts: the kimono, with alterations that reduced its fundamental components to make it suitable for figure skating: the sleeves were slightly flared, the shortened skirt twirled, and an obi-like waistband to give the outfit form. Most importantly, from the competition perspective, the costume enhanced her form during jumps and spins.
Sasha Cohen’s outfit also defied the figure skating curse. The plush red velvet with gold embroidery was baroque in style but also showed crucial restraint. The costume was tasteful and looked gorgeous on her.
Others were less glamorous:
Irina Slutskaya’s costume illustrates the more common figure skating costume: flashy and unflattering, even distracting. I cheered for Irina anyway, because she has such a fabulous story.
Emily Hughes’ outfit just seemed so “the little sister†to me, just a leotard with some sequined trim, and tights that were about three shades too dark for her legs, making her look unbalanced.
Couples skating is unequivocally the ninth circle of fashion hell.
-Ali
Posted by Ali @ 11:44 am
March 19th, 2006 at 8:20 am
I think Sasha Cohen is the best figure skater in the whole world. she is my role model. I think in the Olympics she did good. I really want to be just like her!