Figure Skating Fashion Minute: ISU 2012 World Championships Nice France--The Ladies Short Program Costumes

Les Dames...

Ashley Wagner USA: Wagner ranked the highest score of the two Americans competing (poor Miss Alissa Czisny--she's SIXTEENTH!!)--The red sequined dress to her "Pollock" Short Program for this 2011-2012 Season is pretty and expensive-looking. On a (slightly) negative note: it's a bit "Figure Skating Costume 101" and not so Fashion-creative.

Speaking of Alissa...Even though she didn't do so well at the 2012 Nice World Championships, I still LOVE her serenely elegant back silver sequined costume--it's a "throw back" to those simple Vera Wang numbers.

Nice France

The ISU 2012 World Figure Skating Championships are occurring in Nice France and in my last posting, I wrote about the Short Dance Costumes of the Latin-Fabuloso Ice Dancers and now, it's the Ladies' turn...They just did their Short Programs. If you've been a fan and a follower of International Figure Skating Competitions (and my blog here), in terms of costumes, there was nothing really new (the costume changes usually happen with the Ice Dancers) but there was still enough color and fashion worthy of some "Nick Two Cents":

Alena Leonova Russia: Skating to "Sirens" and "Pirates of the Caribbean", Leonova's costume reflected her music perfectly. It's rare to see a "pant's-costume" in International Ladies Figure Skating Competition, so I give her 'Nick Points" for going there. I've seen this costume on her so many times now, that I am just DYING to see something different...like add some Swarovski crystals to that vest!!!! Or at least begin with a big ol' Pirate hat and then swoosh it off into the audience when you begin...something!

Kanako Murakami Japan: The top Japanese skater (so far after the Short Program), Murakami skated to "Violin Partita No. 2" by Johann Sebastian Bach. Her swirly lilac sequined costume is OK--nothing too "Japanese Vogue Magazine"-fashion earthshaking...but just OK. I'd like to see something more modern and fashion-forward, especially when skating to such classical music.

Carolina Kostner Italy: in Third Place after the Short Program Results, Miss Kostner wears this neon green and sequined number for her "Allegretto From Trio. No. 2" skate. Love the bright color and asymmetry of the style lines. However, I want to see more Cavalli or Dolce & Gabbana and less Torino Italia Skating Store .

Mao Asada Japan: Skating to "Scheherazade", Asada wore this baby blue costume with tassels, gold trim, embroidery and diamante crystal details...I have to say, that I miss this Pantaloon costume which she wore for the NHK Grand Prix back in November 2011:

I like this costume much better. It's daring. Fits the music, theme, and stands out far more--in a better way--than the baby blue number.

Sarah Hecken of Germany: I'll give you one guess as to what music she is skating to in this red and black with tassels and rose applique costume....If you thought "Carmen" by Bizet, well, you were wrong. It was to "Malaguena" by Ernesto Lecuona. It looks very much like a Spanish mantilla and therefore, I like it!

Ksenia Makarova Russia: To her Short Program of "Maria and the Violin's String", Makarova wore a powder blue costume with delicate crystal beading that is both modern and elegant. I like its simplicity and lack of "Toddlers & Tiara's" details. She gets an "A" in my Figure Skating Costume Book! Although she gets a big deduction for that one nude illusion glove! Maybe she hurt herself and it is a wrist brace and she decided to add some Swarovski Crystals?! If that is the case, then she is back up to an "A"!

Valentina Marchei Italy: Skating to "Johnny's Mambo" , her red-and-silver costume strikes me as something one would see from the Ice Dancers. And this is why I'm a fan! It's both tacky and Fab--at the same time. Love the torso sequin detail and then the skirt is all "Fire-and-Ice" with it's "shredded" fabric. The thing that throws me off is the "look at my crotch" applique in the center front of the skirt... Valentina, we might not want to focus there!!!

Figure Skating Fashion Minute: NHK Trophy 2011--The Ladies!

An Aladdin Princess, A Golden Supermodel on Ice, and Best Costumed Lady at NHK Trophy 2011-2012 Goes To...

Jasmine Asada: Silver Medalist Mao Asada of Japan in her "Scheherazade" costume, NHK Trophy 2011 Sapporo Japan

The Ladies gave their costume BEST at this weekend's Grand Prix of Japan/NHK Trophy 20111-2012 and I was watching--on TV--from my big ol' couch here in LA. I was happy to see a lot of COLOR, creativity in design and expensive-looking Swarovski jeweled crystals (not the cheap kind thank you very much!) Who were my faves?

The Top Three: (Left to right) Silver went to Japan's Mao Asada, Gold Medalist Akiko Suzuki of Japan, and Bronze, Russia's Alena Leonova

Akiko Suzuki of Japan: Akiko won the Gold, at home and I've discussed her costumes here on my blog in my Skate Canada Fashion posting. I loved both her Free Skate (top photo with the other medalists) and her Short Program (above photo) costumes. My favorite of the two is this gunmetal grey SP one. She wears this while skating to Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody" and well, she looks like some Contessa who should have a fabulous Castle to come home to! The black leaf design encircled by crystals is original and elegant. Imagine extending this costume into a floor-length gown! Gorgeous.

Mao Asada of Japan: She got 2nd place in Sapporo. I also give her my "Fashion Silver" Award when it comes to her Grand Prix of Japan fashion. For her Free Dance to Liszt's (a popular choice this season!) "Liebestraume", she looks all things pretty in this lilac-colored ensemble. The delicate crystal flowers detail at the torso could go the route of "Toddlers & Tiaras" in a HOT Triple Lutz Minute, but it didn't. It looked restrained yet still theatrical at the same time and VERY expensive!

Not sure about that pretzel-twist knotted waistband (looks a bit odd and jarring there), but the beautiful top makes up for it. Now, what I just LOVED was...

Asada's Scheherazade costume. It's so OUT there, it's GOOOOD!!! She looks like a cross between Princess Jasmine of "Aladdin" and an extra in those old "Bob Hope Goes To (fill in the blank)" movies. It's not every day one sees an "I Dream of Jeannie"-like harem pant costume, so as a Fashion Designer, Mao made me smile with "Fashion Glee" when she stepped on the ice.

Kiira Korpi of Finland: The "Supermodel On Ice" Kiira, looked radiant in her canary yellow costume, which she wore to her "Over The Rainbow" Short Program. At first, I thought "what does her costume have to do with that?" but then I remembered the YELLOW BRICK road!!! Hello!!!

This was the Lycra and silk chiffon with an encrusted crystal Costume ROAD! The entire design was beautiful and made her look like she should be on the cover of a fashion magazine.

And then, for her Free Skate to Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm", she wore another red carpet mini stunner, with a black costume featuring "swirled" silver-grey crystal detail and original armhole-and-shoulder crystal accents.

I also loved her 1930's-looking finger wave hairstyle that went fabulously with her music and costume. She looked like one of those Hollywood Starlets in a Busby Berkeley musical movie!

Ashley Wagner of the USA: But to me, one of the best Fashion Ladies on the NHK Trophy Ice Title goes to Ashley Wagner of the USA. She missed the Medal podium by a little over 5 points but to me, she got the Fashion Gold. I've discussed her "Black Swan" costume here and in case you missed it: this was one of my FAVORITE costumes in YEARS!!! Stunning, gorgeous, dramatic and SO "Swan Lake" Ballerina.

But I didn't discuss her red halter-necklined Short Program costume which she performs to "Pollock". This looks like a more mature version of Maia Shibutani's red "Big Band" costume. The heavy crystal beading detail looks expensive as opposed to tacky and the silhouette works for her. It also makes a sweet-and-pretty contrast to what she then wears for her "Black Swan" Free Skate. Good Job Ashley! You make my "Best Costumed" Nick List!