Costuming

[Calgary88]

Okay, is anyone else really tired of the tacky, elaborate and terribly distracting costumes that many skaters continue to wear? I see it more so with the Russian ladies and ice dance teams. They're either just downright tacky or so elaborate that it takes away from their performance. If they don't allow unitards why do they allow some of the other stuff we're seeing the skaters wear?

I'm sure many of you disagree with me, but surely I'm not the only one that feels this way?

[Roma]

Yes I hate the tackiness, and I think what is even worse is when there are beads and pieces of fabric all over the place but they don't bother to include enough fabric to cover the rear. Give me unitards any day, especially like the one Natalia Mishketuniuk (butchered the spelling) wore in the 92 Olympics. Covered everything, beautiful color, elegant, and flowed well with the elements: it enhanced her line, not detracted from it.

[anka]

can you be more specific. which russian skater or skaters wear tacky costume in 2003. i wonder why is it always russian costumes you people pick on. i can give you example of tacky: bolgarian dance team - pieces of fabric everywhere, dance team from israel, honda's costume is plain rip off(actually when Plush was wearing it it was critisized, but nobody critisises honda)... i can really go on and on

[Justine_R]

Hmmm i do think that alot of the Russian skaters costumes are tacky and definetly look it too.I think they go way over the top about there costumes, especially the ice dance teams.
For example:
Skate Canada-Totmina and Maxim?(russia)

I cant quite remember the teams names but i think the russians go all out on there costumes ( example- All frills and spills and fancy little sequins)
But i dont think they quite understand that there costume is more likely going to make them lose!

I think that there should be a law against what you can wear and what you can't.Cause i think it is becoming completly unaceptable.

[dbny]

Originally posted by anka
dance team from israel,

What was tacky about the Israeli costumes? I personally don't prefer obvious statements about religion/nationality, but we see skaters with crosses around their necks all the time, and skaters wearing national colors and skating to patriotic music.

[Justine_R]

True True...theres no crime in that is there now?

[ceceB]

I assumed that the isreal team's costumes that Anka was referring to were the clown ones from SC 2003. They were definetly tacky.

Anka, which ones did you mean?

[Justine_R]

Yes im getting confused, which one did you mean?

[blurrysarah]

I think you could count all 3 sets of team Israel's costumes at SC03 tacky actually.

[Justine_R]

I guess so...Russians are all takians...lol!

[Justine_R]

sorry i posted twice.

[Roma]

Originally posted by anka
i can give you example of tacky: bolgarian dance team - pieces of fabric everywhere

She actually is one skater who comes to mind - some of her previous costumes don't even come close to covering her butt. We in the U.S. haven't seen Skate Canada yet, but from what I've read on this board, their new costumes are excessive AND her butt isn't covered, which is IMO the worst combination of all.:(

[Justine_R]

It is quite true:roll:

[gandalf]

Originally posted by Justine_R
Hmmm i do think that alot of the Russian skaters costumes are tacky and definetly look it too.I think they go way over the top about there costumes, especially the ice dance teams.
For example:
Skate Canada-Totmina and Maxim?(russia)

Totmianina & Marinin are a pairs team, and I don't think they wore tacky costumes for either the SP or LP (or gala, for that matter). If we're sticking to 2003, I also didn't mind any of Navka & Kostamarov's costumes (the Russian ice dancers at SC), although some complained about her dress (or lack thereof - I think it fit well with their music). Neither of Sokolova's or Basova's costumes were noticeably tacky, and Plusy has worn far worse costumes than he showed up at SC with (Timchenko didn't have noticeably tacky costumes either). I guess I'd have to disagree that the Russians have more overtly tacky costumes than the rest of the competition (at least in 2003; previous years may well be a different story).

Chait & Sakhnovski, however, had horrible costumes, particularly for the OD and FD. And as much as the Bulgarian's FD rocks, they need to fix the costumes - too much costume on him, not enough on her. I also didn't care for Marie-France's "Minnie Mouse" dress in the OD, or either of Megan Wing's dresses in the OD and FD (far too frumpy, but not really tacky). I would agree that ice dance in general is notorious for tacky, over the top costumes.

[loveskating]

I totally disagree...usually I like the Russian costumes, maybe more than those of others. They are well researched, and have historical and theatrical meaning as to classical music, and I generally love the way they look on the ice. Of course, there are exceptions, failures, but in general, I like them a lot.

The Russian skaters' costumes reflect the culture of Europe and their own culture. Apparently, most of the population in Russia and Europe is well educated in classical music, opera and all the traditions and themes...so to expect them to reflect something else would be strange. Anyway, if everyone else tried to act like Americans, then where would that leave us?

As to simplicity being a virtue in and of itself, I would also disagree...different skaters have different characteristics and I think some look great skating in simple costumes, while others look great with more complex ones...and also it depends very much on the program. Hard to swallow music telling me something vastly different than the costume does.

Now, having said all that, at Skate Canada, I thought Buttle could use some costume help...very boring, meaningless costume, IMHO, and with no detail, while his skating had enormous detail??? With skating like that, one ought to have a costume with the same flair?

Otherwise, for the guys, with me they can always just skate in black pants and a white, flowing shirt...that will cover all bases.