Vancouver 2010 - Men's Figure Skating

Unless you do your best to ignore the media, you must have heard that many commentators have strong opinions about Men's Costumes in Figure Skating. Some say they are too feminine, that there is too much glitter and feathers. Me, it gives me something to show you, so why would I mind?

Once again, here are the Gwenyver Figure Skating Costumes Categories:

(Note: All pictures came from the Vancouver 2010 website)

Nice, but not all that memorable

Jeremy Abbott of the United States, Figure Skating

Stefan Lindemann of Germany - Figure Skating (Men's Free Skating)

Florent Amodio (France) - Figure Skating

Vaughn Chipeur of Canada - Figure Skating (Men's Free Skating)

Ooh! Nice! (Pretty is for girls.)

Vaughn Chipeur (Canada) - Figure Skating

I'm really sorry he fell, but look at the lovely design on the back of his shirt!

Tomas Verner of Czech Republic - Figure Skating (Men's Free Skating)

I especially like that the stripes are on the diagonal on half of his waistcoat and straight on the other half. I feel inspired to make myself something similar!

Przemyslaw Domanski (Poland) - Figure Skating

Patrick Chan of Canada, Figure Skating

Patrick Chan of Canada, Figure Skating

Got to love the 18th century feel of this one!

Paolo Bacchini of Italy - Figure Skating (Men's Free Skating)

Denis Ten (Kazakhstan) - Figure Skating

What did I tell you about graded dye being in fashion!

Brian Joubert of France, Figure Skating

Brian Joubert of France, Figure Skating

They are wearing what?

Javier Fernandez of Spain - Figure Skating (Men's Free Skating)

Ahoy matey!

Gregor Urbas (Slovenia) - Figure Skating

Maybe it's just me, but hot pink for a guy just seams strange.

Abzal Rakimgaliev (Kazakhstan) -Figure Skating

Where's Waldo meets Poison Ivy!

Artem Borodulin of Russia - Figure Skating

The whole disco-cowboy thing is not my cup of tea.

Artem Borodulin of Russia - Figure Skating (Men's Free Skating)

Ri Song Chol (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) - Figure Skating

It's not that bad, but I can't help but be reminded of Cher's dress at the 67th Golden Globes Awards.

Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland, Figure Skating

This is actually quite nice and interesting, but it makes this category due to its costumey look; it is very Elizabethan in style.

Viktor Pfeifer (Austria) - Figure Skating

Viktor Pfeifer of Austria - Figure Skating (Men's Free Skating)

Here, my problem is with the nude yoke; in my mind, it should be reserved for the women's dresses, to make them look sexy and skin bearing while really covering everything.

Nobunari Oda of Japan, Figure Skating

And again here (on an otherwise smashing costume).

Adrian Schultheiss of Sweden - Figure Skating (Men's Free Skating)

No offense to my friends in Germany, but what is it with the German skaters and really strange costumes?

Johnny Weir of the United States, Figure Skating

Nancy-Raven was asking me about the male skater who's been the talk of the media due to his feminine costumes: as you can see, he also found his inspiration in Cher's dress. But you can truly see why Alain Goldberg made the comments which where highly criticized in the next picture:

Johnny Weir of the United States, Figure Skating

I rest my case.

Podium

I didn't skip the Turquoise category, there are just none that fit in it, so why bother.

Bronze:

Daisuke Takahashi of Japan, Figure skating

Daisuke Takahashi of Japan, Figure skating

Daisuke, had you not been on the podium, this costume would find itself in the previous category. Who wears a sheer checkered shirt? But your first costume was awesome.

Silver:

Evgeni Plushenko (Russian Federation) - Figure Skating

Evgeni Plushenko of Russia, Figure Skating

Skate with attitude! Your costumes deserve Gold.

Gold:

Evan Lysacek of the United States, Figure Skating

Evgeni Plushenko of Russia, Evan Lysacek of the United States and Daisuke Takahashi of Japan, Figure Skating

Congratulations to all the male skaters. Up next: Ice Dance!

Note: Do you realize this is my first post featuring men only? The reference to Cher's dress doesn't count!

Vancouver 2010 - Pairs Figure Skating

I don’t know about you, but my favourite sport to watch at the Olympics is Figure Skating. I guess it helps that I was a figure skater for six years (pictures to come when my Sweetheart gets around to installing the scanner), but also, let’s face it, what other sport encourages glittery costumes!

Wait, I’m getting this mental image of a skier in a sequined leotard. Wish you could see it, it is hilarious! Picture Will Ferrell’s and Jon Heder’s outfit in Blades of Glory (2007), and now envision that costume with a helmet and skis. Oh, even worse, Snowboard Cross participants! That would be so very wrong!

Jon Heder as Jimmy MacElroy and Will Ferrell as Chazz Michael Michaels, Blades of Glory (2007)

Hmmm... On second thought, maybe I should have kept this picture for tomorrow's subject. Oh, well...

Okay, back to the current topic. Up to now, we have seen both Couple’s Short and Long program. Apparently the ice was slippery (hihi) because many couples fell, but not taking into account their performances, let’s have a look at what they wore.

(Note: All pictures came from the Vancouver 2010 website)

Here are the Gwenyver Figure Skating Costumes Categories:

Nice, but not all that memorable

Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov (Russia) - Figure Skating (Pairs Free Program)

Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig (United States) - Figure Skating (Pairs Short Program)

Vanessa James and Yannick Bonheur (France) - Figure Skating (Pairs Short Program)

Stacey Kemp and David King (Great Britain) - Figure Skating (Pairs Short Program)

Ooh! Pretty!

Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett of United States, Figure Skating

Beautiful details on her dress!

Vanessa James and Yannick Bonheur of France, Figure Skating

I love graded colour on a fabric. I really have to try my hand at that dyeing technique.

Anabellee Langlois and Cody Hay of Canada, Figure Skating

Graded dyes is not only a trend in fashion, it seams to be one in Figure Skating costumes too!

Stacey Kemp and David King of Great Britain, Figure Skating

I love the look of that dress: it looks adapted from some princess dress.

They are wearing what?

Jessica Dubé and Bryce Davison of Canada, Figure Skating

I love Dubé & Davison. How can anyone not feel for them, especially after that horrible accident? But to wear greenish grey military colours and a very plain dress for the Olympics just seems sad.

Having said that, I liked to neckline and collar on that dress and would very happily use them for a cocktail dress... in another colour.

Anais Morand and Antoine Dorsaz of Switzerland, Figure Skating

What the...?

Aliona Savcgenko, Robin Szolkowy (Germany) - Figure Skating

Oh dear... Taking the theatrical aspect too far, are we?

Maylin Hausch and Daniel Wende of Germany, Figure Skating

If this was a Cleopatra number in an Ice Show, these would be awesome costumes. I especially love the way his looks somewhat like a lorica. But for the Olympics? Really?

Maylin Hausch and Daniel Wende (Germany) - Figure Skating (Pairs Short Program)

This looks like a Disco Dance costume more than a Figure Skating costume (although I have to admit, the two can look pretty similar sometimes). It makes me want to sing Tico-tico!

Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett (United States) - Figure Skating (Pairs Short Program)

You know, just because you are USAns, you don't have to dress in Cow-Boy fringes! Otherwise, it looks nice.

Turquoise! (Yes, my favourite colour gets a category of its own.)

Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig of United States, Figure Skating

Anabellee Langlois and Cody Hay (Canada) - Figure Skating (Pairs Short Program)

Podium

And now for the couples who won medals, let's begin with Bronze:

Aliona Savcgenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany, Figure Skating

Boring, but better than your clown costume.

Silver...

Qing Pang and Jian Tong of China, Figure Skating

This was not only my favourite costume, I thought they skated better than anyone else. I was actually disappointed that they didn't get Gold.

Gold...

Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao (China) - Figure Skating (Pairs Short Program)

Hot pink, Black and white? You're doing good so far.

Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao of China, Figure Skating

Lovely!

Figure Skating podium

Congratulations to all the winners!

Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao of China win the gold medal in the Figure Skating Pairs

And congratulations to the winning couple!

Next Olympics Figure Skating event to be presented here: the men's singles. Stay tuned!