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In my last ICE STYLE blog HERE, I discussed the LADIES and PAIRS Costumes of the 2014 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, so now it's time to get to the MEN and ICE DANCE.

Let's begin with the MEN:






Adam Rippon of the US, Short Program: Adam skated his Short Program to Suite from Carmen for Strings and Drums by Georges Bizet and Rodion Shchedrin. This above is a gloriously elegant costume hinting at a toreador bolero and remaining modern yet classic at the same time. I like it!





Adam Rippon of US, Free Skate: I've discussed this costume from Adam Rippon before for his Free Skate to L'après-midi d'un faune (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun) by Claude Debussy. You can read that HERE. Let's just say that yes, I likey!






Chih-I Tsao of Taiwan, Free Skate: Chih-I Tsao is a skater I have not discussed before so I am happy to do so. He skated his Free Skate to Loreley by Naoki Sato, music to an  anime film from 2005. I actually loved this silver and black costume. It was interesting, fashionable and it really caught my attention...in a good way. I love the epaulet detail and sequined waistband. Thank goodness he is giving me SOMETHING!




David Kranjec of Australia, Short Program: David is another figure skater whose costumes I have never discussed. This one above is what he wears to his Short Program to Who Wants to Live Forever by Queen performed by David Garrett. It is a complete jumpsuit in black with accents of red, neon yellow and splashes of sequins with a nude illusion front panel. It's a little bit "Cirque du Soleil". Now speaking of Cirque...





Dong Won Lee of South Korea, Short Program: Dong Won Lee of South Korea wears this above for his Short Program to Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra by Salvador Bacarisse. Maybe it's the puke-like colors of the pants (change that PLEASE!) or the very eye-jarring neon ombre blouson top with front flaps, sequins and applique...He looks like a Parrot from South America. This would be a good thing if...his theme and music were Brazilian, Ecuadorian, Venezuelan...well...name a South American nation.





Jeremy Ten of Canada, Short Program: Jeremy wore this costume above for his Short Program to Dance For Me Wallis (from "W.E." soundtrack) by Abel Korzeniowski. I like its simplicity and color-scheme, but at the same time, I am confused at what this has to do with the film and Arianne Phillips' fabulous costumes for the movie.




Jeremy Ten of Canada, Free Skate: For his Free Skate to Variations by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jeremy wore this colorful costume above. I like this better, only for its "Costume Kitsch" factor that is very Cirque du Soleil-like...even though this was NOT a Cirque du Soleil musical skate.




Joshua Farris of US, Free Skate: I love this costume, worn by Joshua Farris for his Free Skate to Schindler's List (soundtrack) by John Williams. You can read HERE my full thoughts.




Takahiko Kozuka of Japan, Free Skate: Oh Takahiko...this blouson top-and-black pant costume just doesn't do it for me. Takahiko wore this for his Free Skate to Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso Op. 28 by Camille Saint-Saens. The deep plum-colored top with sequins is pretty but does nothing to enhance the presentation of his skate. It is as if he bought that top at a Figure Skating Costume store. He needs to do better.




Nan Song of China, Free Skate: Nan Song wore this drop-waist blouson silver/gray cardigan with black pants costume for his Free Skate to The Mission by Ennio Morricone. There is a "suggestion" of Colonial Period Costume but to me, this looks more like Chanel Haute Couture. This is both good and not-so-good. I have to admit: I kinda like it!




Takahito Mura of Japan, Free Skate: Takahito wears his costume for his Free Skate to Shogun. It could be much better. I have discussed this costume HERE. He wore this same costume two seasons ago in 2012-2103. He needs to update it.



Ice Dance Costumes Highlights:


Emi Hirai and Marien de la Asuncion of Japan, Free Dance: Hirai and Marien of Japan skated their Free Dance to Breadcrumbs (from "Skyfall" soundtrack), Silhouette (from "Skyfall" soundtrack), Golden Eye (James Bond soundtrack), James Bond Theme. Their costumes show the dark sexy theme of the film and overall this was a good Costume show.





Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada, Free Dance: I absolute LOVE these costumes worn by Canada's Gilles and Poirer for their Free Dance to End Credit (from "Hitchcock" soundtrack) by Danny Elfman, Explosion (from "Hitchcock" soundtrack) by Danny Elfman, The Premiere (from "Hitchcock" soundtrack) by Danny Elfman, The Rainstorm by Bernard Hermann. You can read HERE of what I thought of these fab costumes.




Kharis Ralph and Asher Hill of Canada, Free Dance: Two words for these Canadians--costume-wise: GO Canada! I think these costumes were fun and perfect for their very energetic Free Dance to Samba Vocalizado, Chorado by F. de Brito and Magalenha. Watching their skate and seeing these costumes made me want to book a trio to Rio, like NOW!




Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue of US, Free Dance: These costumes worn by Americans Hubbell and Donohue for their Free Dance to Nocturne Into Bohemian Rhapsody by Lucia Micarelli wee OK; I liked hers and I also liked his...however, not together. I really DISLIKE when the woman and the man DO NOT seem as if they belong together in Ice Dance--costume-wise. And well, this was the case here.




Lynn Kriengkrairut and Logan Giulietti-Schmitt of US, Free Dance: LOVE! These were great costumes worn by US Ice Dancers Kriengkrairut and Giulietti-Schmitt. They skated their Free Dance to Spartacus by Aram Khatchaturian and these costumes were perfect reflections of that.




Danielle Obrien and Gregory Merriman of Australia, Free Dance: Two words: Oh Dear! This Australian Ice Dance team wore this colorful costumes for their Free Dance to Thunder and Blazes performed by Sounds of the Circus South Shore Concert Band, Goofus performed by Sounds of the Circus South Shore Concert Band, Complainte de la Butte by Rufus Wainwright and The Southener performed by The Merle Evans Circus Band. Now, I said "Oh Dear!" but...I actually really like these; they're fun, colorful and right for the music.

 Let's begin with a couple of the MEN:






Konstantin Menshov of Russia, Free Skate: For his Free Skate to "Allegro," "Rose" and "Night Run" by Rene Aubry, I liked his black, silver gray and white costume consisting of a stretch top with super tight long sleeves in white with a front flap, silver-gray inset and silver sequins. His pants were black. It was modern and good-looking for his skate. It also featured his very athletic build.







Sergei Voronov of Russia, Free Skate: Russian figure skater Sergei Voronov wore this above for his Free Skate to "A Los Amigos" by Armando Pontier, "Por Una Cabeza" by Carlos Gardel and "Tanguera" by Mariano Mores. The music was very Tango-esque and therefore it went with the black and red...and applique lace. The costume was TACKY-LICIOUS. Although it looked expensive and well-made, it seemed two seconds away from a Cirque du Soleil show; it was rather distracting from his skate, in my eyes. Not a fan of this costume.



Ladies:



Carolina Kostner of Italy, Short Program: Carolina skated a new SP to Ave Maria by Franz Schubert. This was also a NEW COSTUME. The sky blue colored costume featured a "plunging" neckline with gorgeously strewn sequins throughout. It was beautiful, classic and "Ice Princess" perfect. The costume above was different from the last Short Program costume we had seen from her...




Carolina Kostner at the Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia 2013--This red costume was what she wore to her SP to Humoresque by Antonin Dvorak. I was not a fan. It was too "Figure Skating Amateur Hour" and those butterfly appliques were...obnoxious. Glad she changed her costume and music. Grazie Carolina!




Carolina Kostner of Italy, Free Skate: For her Free Skate, she also changed her music and costume. Carolina skated to "Bolero" by Maurice Ravel, performed by Andre Previn and the London Symphony Orchestra. This was the same music she used in last season's (2012-2013) program. Her costume consisted of a black design using solid vs. illusion fabrication and beautiful silver and black icicle-like sequin accents.




The sleeves were see-thru/solid as well as the front torso. The back was designed to be "backless"-looking but there was an annoying white elastic strap that broke the line of the silhouette (right photo). That needs to be changed. ASAP. Other than this, I thought the costume was modern, chic and a nice departure from what she had worn before for her Free Skate to...





Carolina Kostner at the Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia 2013, Free Skate to "Scheherazade" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. This was a very FASHIONISTA costume in its design, sequin accents and bold style. While I liked the sequin detail, I understand how people can see this as a bit, well, TOO MUCHEY.




 Adelina Sotnikova of Russia, Free Skate: Silver medalist Adelina Sotnikova wore this costume above for her Free Skate to "Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28" by Camille Saint-Saëns. The costume featured an ombre lilac/gray colored design with copper/gold sequined trim. I liked this. I also realized that "wait, it looks kinda familiar..."




Adelina Sotnikova, Free Skate Costume at the 2013 ISU Grand Prix Final Championships, Japan--Adelina wore a similar costume at the 2013 ISU Grand Prix Finals for her Free Skate (above photo). The gold/copper sequins were similar but the color of her costume was a darker chocolate brown color. I like the lighter one she wore at the 2014 European Championships of Figure Skating MUCH BETTER!




Julia Lipnitskaia of Russia, Short Program: Gold medalist Julia wore this blue sequined number for her SP to "You Don't Give Up on Love" by Mark Minkov. I loved the light-to-dark blue coloring but my favorite part were the three straps in the back. And yes, this girl CAN JUMP! I would bet money (if I was a betting type) that Julia will be an Olympic Medalist in Sochi!




Valentina Marchei of Italy, Free Skate: Four time Italian champion Valentina Marchei skated her Free Skate to "Nyah" from the Mission Impossible soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. I really liked this black and silver sequined costume. It had a blouson top section in "striped" solid/sheer fabrication with raw edges and paillettes throughout.





Crystal Boots: The costume had an open back save for straps (above photo). BTW, my favorite part were the Swarovski crystal-encrusted figure skating boots. These are FAB!