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Washington DC Red Carpet:







Last night, at a star-studded gala, US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed honorees of the
2012 Kennedy Center Honors at the White House in Washington, DC.

This year the John F. Kennedy Center of Performing Arts recognized seven individuals including Blues musician Buddy Guy, actor and director Dustin Hoffman, talk show host and comedian David Letterman, ballerina Natalia Makarova, as well as musicians John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, and Robert Plant of
rock band Led Zeppelin, for their lifetime contributions to American
culture through the performing arts.




The President and Mrs. Obama received the honorees and members of the
Artists Committee who nominate them, along with the Kennedy Center Board
of Trustees at the White House prior to a gala performance at the Kennedy Center Opera House. The telecast of the 35th Annual Kennedy Center Honors will be
aired on CBS as a two-hour primetime special on Wednesday, December 26
at 9:00 PM.







Prior to last night's White House Reception and Gala at the Kennedy Center Opera House,
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton hosted a dinner for
the 2012 Kennedy Center honorees at the U.S. Department of State in Washington DC, on Saturday December 1st, inviting the 2012 honorees, actors,
politicians and DC society and past honorees as well.







The Secretary of State did not wear a pantsuit (Thank Goodness!) but in fact, looked beautiful in a teal-colored satin gown featuring a scooped neckline, long sleeves, and an exaggerated waist sash accessorized by a classic diamond choker necklace. I love the cut and color of this gown on her. Her hair (always a debated subject), looked elegant--no scrunchie there (Thank Goodness Part Two).











 The 35th Annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala, Sunday December 2nd:










Golden First Lady: US First Lady Michelle Obama dazzled in a gold lame gown with a fitted and gathered midriff band, with attached floor-length full skirt and a jewel-encrusted "armor" top neckline/armhole yoke detail. The gown was from the...























Couple Guests:














The Ladies:

NHK Trophy 2012 Costume Finale: Get 'Em Cowgirl, Geisha Chic and Mod Fab







Finishing my reviews of the NHK Trophy 2012, you can read my "two cents" on the Ladies HERE, the Men HERE, and the Pairs HERE...it's time for the always fantastic, never dissapointing colorful and a little over-the-top ICE DANCE costumes. First...



I think I just DIED and went to Figure Skating Costume HEAVEN:


Nicole Orford and Thomas Williams of Canada: For their Short Dance to "Sold" by John Michael Montgomery and "Tennesse Waltz" by Anne Murray. How. In the Name of the Figure Skating Costume Gods. Did I miss these throughout all my Costume Recaps this 2012-2013 Grand Prix season???? One look at these costumes, and I wanted to jump onto the ice and do the two-step and eat some hot & spicy chicken wings with them! All at the same time! Seriously.




Whoever designed these, please tell me so I can give you credit here on my blog! I demand it. Because they are fantastic. I love Thomas' red Western shirt, jeans, Western belt...he looks like the King of the Rodeo! And Nicole looks AMAZEEENG in her blue denim-like laced-up bustier and the double-tiered skirt. But can I tell you my favorite part (and I think you know by now):




Her Cowgirl Skate Boot Covers Y'all !!!I want a pair...for the next time I hit my local ice rink!









Yu Xiaoyang and Wang Chen of China: The Country & Western theme must have been "in the water" for these Ice Dancers, because it wasn't only Canada who got bit by the Line Dancin' Bug. For their Short Dance, this Chinese Pair skated to "Oh Susanna" and "Twilight Waltz" by Johnny Gimble. These costumes were colorful--sassy and combined all the right elements for the music. Notice how they brought the red color of her notched-collar costume into his ensemble by giving him a red hankie. Smart. And yes kids, you do notice that there was "mini fringe" in her hem. Of course.




Penny Coomes/ Nicholas Buckland of Great Britain: For their Free Dance to "Basement Jaxx vs Metropol Orkest". On a positive note: I do like the colors on her costume; the bright pink and purple, combined with the black background, make for a great contrast. And I do appreciate how the purple was brought back to his gray plaid vest in the welt pockets. However, she looks like an extra in the Eurovision-like "Nutcracker" ballet segment of the "Waltz of the Flowers". It's a bit of a mess, unfortunately.






Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov of Russia: I discussed these costumes that Ilinykh and Katasalapov wore for their Short Dance to "Andijan Polka" HERE. They were one of my FAVORITE Ice Dance Costume looks for this season. The colors, the print, her headband, his navy and gold-trimmed coat...all Costume FANTASTIC!







Cathy Reed and Chris Reed of Japan: Michigan, US-born half-Japanese brother-and-sister Ice Dance team of Reed and Reed (who represent Japan) skated their Short Dance to "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" wearing these costumes above. The bright pink and shiny fabric of her dress was a bit much, but the overall theme was appropriate for the musical. Well done kids!





For their Free Dance to Selections from "The Beatles", they went pop-art 60's Mod (well, she did!). Again, I really liked these looks. The color-blocked dress on Cathy was very on-trend with 2012 yet seem perfect for the music and ice dance. And notice, kids, how his tie had the SAME colors as her dress. If there was any critique, it's that the costume designer sacrificed him for her "outlandishness" by slapping a white dress shirt and black pants on him. But, I forgive 'em.




Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani of USA: I talked about these great costumes worn by brother-and-sister Ice Dance team of Shinbutani and Shibutani HERE. They skated their Free Dance to John Williams' "Memoirs of a Geisha" and I thought they were PERFECT.




Meryl Davis and Charlie White of USA: I wrote about these fun costumes HERE in case you might have missed it. For their "Yankee Polka" Short Dance to "Giselle", Meryl and Charlie looked great--and more importantly,
appropriate for the music. She was very "St. Pauli Girl" and maybe that's why I loved it! She would make Heidi Klum proud!

Lots of Crystals, Spartacus Fab, Last of the Mohicans Sexy, More Headbands and a Fringed Skirt...







Continuing with my Costume Recap of this final ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2012-2013 competition (before the Grand Prix Finals), it is now time to discuss the Pairs at the NHK Trophy and who stood out in terms of costumes. So, let's get started...





Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov of Russia: I've discussed the Gold-winning pair of Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov and their Free Skate costumes to Music from the Spartacus soundtrack by Aram Khatchaturian HERE. I thought these costumes were FABULOUS! I would say without a doubt, one of my favorite Pairs Costumes of the Season, by far. They could have gone "Halloween Spartacus Costumes from a plastic bag"-tickety tacky, but they didn't. They were the complete opposite; polished, theatrical, costume-y but with a dash of red carpet couture.




Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir of USA: Congrats to the US pairs of Castelli and Shnapir for getting Bronze at NHK Trophy 2012. These two skated their Free Skate to "Payadora" by Julian Plaza, an Argentinian Tango. The costumes were designed by Yumi Nakamura, Julie Marcotte and Paul Ginande. Since it is a tango, it makes sense they would go red and black with their costumes. I like his better than hers. I think it was great to add the crystal-encrusted bib to his black tuxedo shirt, therefore transforming the usually yawn-inducing black outfit so many of the male skaters tend to go for. Hers just didn't seem creative enough in my eyes and didn't really compliment his costume. They almost seem to not really belong together. Take a look at the Russians at the top of the post and how they BOTH work together, as an example of what I mean.





Lindsay Davis and Mark Ladwig of USA:  Davis and Ladwig skated their Short Program to Beethoven's "5 Secrets" by OneRepublic and The PianoGuys in these costumes. They were designed by Dawn Imperatore and Stephanie Handle. Now, here was a case in which I loved hers but not his. Lindsay's costume was pretty, classical and had elements of very on-trend "Grecian Goddess" draping. I LOVED the gold shoulder details and accents. You could take this costume, lengthen it just a bit, and voila: it's a pretty cocktail dress. Bring it to the floor: a Miss Universe-worth gown! But poor Mark, he looks like he stepped out of a 1987 figure skating show! I'm just not that much of a fan of the blouson tops on male figure skaters. They look dated. I'd rather see tight, fitted. These boys have got .000032 % fat so why not show it!





Nicole Della Monica Matteo Guarise of Italy: I've discussed Della Monica and Guarise's Short Program costumes which they wore to the music of "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica (seen above) HERE. Let's just say that I wasn't amused. It's a bit too Bad Night at the Disco. It's supposed to vibe Metallica, rock & roll and the 90's...not so mucheey. With that being said, Matteo looks MOLTO HOT!!




For their Free Skate to Music from The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, they wore these blue costumes with with white ruffle trim. I am so sorry but these look cheap. What is with that ruffle treatment? It screams "Arts & Crafty" and so something that one would find on a dress for a four-year old girl. This was a Costume Letdown. They didn't honor the music nor the fact that they come from a country so famous for its high quality fashion.




Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch of Canada:  Again, I've covered the above costumes this Canadian pair wore for their Free Skate to "Queen Medley". You can read it in full HERE. In short, I thought these costumes were very "retro" in terms of the styling and details;
including his blouson ombre-dyed top and her "flashy" diamante-studded
design. But they were too 1984-retro. I wished they were a bit more 21st Century, but still with a hint--just a hint--of the retro.






I have not discussed what Moore-Towers and Moscovitch wore for their Short Program seen above. They skated to "A Motley Crew" from the Micmacs soundtrack. "Micmacs" was a 2009 French comedy film was described as a "satire on the world arms trade" (go figure!). These very bold and colorful red, white and black costumes scream more "Cirque du Soleil" and less "Micmac". But, I still liked them. The asymmetry of his jacket/vest, bold print, red piping together with her costume which combined the same color and styling elements, worked. But still, someone out there reading this who is a "Micmac" aficionado might have to enlighten me on what harlequin black, white and red costumes have to do with this French film...because I still have NO IDEA.








Anastasia Martiusheva and Alexei Rogonov of Russia: For their Free Skate, Russians Martiusheva and Rogonov skated to Music from the soundtrack of The Mission by Ennio Morricone...







These were pretty great costumes which combine a little of the 18th century "Conquistador" look, a little bit of Reina Isabella II and some "Dancing With The Stars" sexiness. I liked how the "belt"-like detail and accents seen on her costume (above-bust neckline and arms) was then carried over--and more heightened--on his costume, trying to reproduce the heavy belts the men of those times would wear.





Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim of USA: For their Free Skate, this very cute American pair (who incidentally only announced their partnership in April of this year) skated to Music from The Last of the Mohicans soundtrack by Randy Edelman, "500 Nations" by Peter Buffett...






They took the rather drab costumes from the film and "Disney"-ized them. Alexa and Chris looked like characters from a "Disney On Ice" version of "Pocahontas". He was cute in a white top with neckline beading while Alexa was Pretty and Sexy in her turquoise blue one-shoulder sequined costume, the very "Figure Skating Costume" on-trend headband and in case you didn't notice, yes...






 A fringed "skirt". They get "Nick Costume" A's for these. 



***Next Up: My Final Costume Assessment of "NHK Trophy 2012"--The Ice Dance!