Old School Figure Skating Dresses

While I’m on the subject of figure skating, I thought I should mention Barbara-Ann Scott. After all, she was the first Canadian woman to win an Olympic Gold medal in figure skating at the 1948 Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Let’s look at what she wore, shall we?

Barbara Ann Scott

Simple, but gorgeous. I love the colour! Notice the trend: plain cut, relatively short skirt, high neckline, and a hat.

Apparently, it was the figure skating fashion of the 40’s.

1940's reflected the rationing necessity and the hemlines became higher in reflection of the fabric shortage which came to the end in late 1940's. In Europe, The Dior's New Look suit was frowned upon because it was long and wasted fabrics. In US and Canada simple and classic was the New Look and still have followers today. This look is reflected in a short classic dress worn in 1948 by Olympic champion Barbara Ann Scott doing her signature jump.

(Excerpt from Fashion Evolution of Figure Skating Dress, by Sabina Les of Fashionably Tied.)

Barbara Ann Scott doing her signature stag jump

It reminds me of Katie’s skating outfit in Blizzard (2003).

Zoe Warner as Katie Andrews, Blizzard (2003)

See, long plain dress and a hat! (Although I believe the movie was set in the late 50’s / early 60’s, but I’m not all that sure).

If evolution of skating dresses is something that you’re interested in, check out Fashion Evolution of Figure Skating Dress by Sabina Les of Fashionably Tied. It is very well done and illustrated and follows the look of figure skaters from the 20’s onward.

Vancouver 2010 - Ladies Figure Skating

No categories today: just a selection of my favourite Ladies Figure Skating Dresses as eye candy.

Enjoy!

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

Kiira Korpi of Finland, Figure Skating

Simple, but elegant.

Sarah Hecken of Germany, Figure Skating

Mirai Nagasu of the United States, Figure Skating

I love the black lace on red combination.

Miki Ando of Japan, Figure Skating

A darker red and black: I like it!

Alena Leonova of Russia, Figure Skating

This may be dumb of me, but gold and light red just equals Russia in my mind; and with the floral lace, it adds a classic touch.

Julia Sebestyen of Hungary, Figure Skating

Of course, you know me and blues... I especially like the long gloves.

Elene Gedevanishvili of Georgia, Figure skating

Alena Leonova of Russia, Figure Skating

Sonia Lafuente of Spain, Figure Skating

Of course, I also love black and white together!

Miki Ando of Japan, Figure Skating

Of all the dresses, this one is my favorite: it's an Egyptian Queen costume, and it's teal green!

Podium

Bronze:

Joannie Rochette of Canada, Figure Skating

Joannie Rochette of Canada, Figure Skating

Everyone in the world must have heard about Joannie's loss by now: I wish to add my condolences to this post. And without wanting to sound superficial in the face of such a life changing event, she did look gorgeous through it all!

Silver:

Mao Asada of Japan, Figure Skating

Love the black trim in the front. It has a little Gothic touch.

Mao Asada of Japan, Figure Skating

Yeah! More black and red!

Gold:

Kim Yu-Na of South Korea, Figure Skating

Kim Yu-Na of South Korea, Figure Skating

Kim Yu-Na of South Korea, Figure Skating

I love blue too.

Mao Asada of Japan, Kim Yu-Na of South Korea and Joannie Rochette of Canada, Figure Skating Podium

Great picture of their behinds: it shows details we would not usually see.

Mao Asada of Japan, Kim Yu-Na of South Korea and Joannie Rochette of Canada, Figure Skating Podium

Mao Asada of Japan, Kim Yu-Na of South Korea and Joannie Rochette of Canada, Figure Skating Podium

Congratulations to all of them.

Wait, now that skating competitions are over, what will I write about?

The Figure Skating Gala of course! Stay tuned... (but don't hold your breadth - the rule of Three says three minutes without air becomes a problem and as there are 24 hours in a day...)

Me and my "Water" Irish Dance Solo Dress

While we're on the subject of sports, and as you know, my sport is Irish Dancing, I recently took pictures of me wearing my "Water" Irish Dance Solo Dress. Since you've never seen me wearing it, it's about time I post these pictures!

Gwenyver wearing her "Water" Irish Dance Solo Dress - Front

Gwenyver wearing her "Water" Irish Dance Solo Dress - Side

Gwenyver wearing her "Water" Irish Dance Solo Dress - Back

Now my first reaction when I saw these pictures was "Darn, it's short!". So the original purple crinoline layer is back on the to-do list, and I need it before Montreal's St. Patrick day Parade on March 14.

Other than that, I love my dress.

Gwenyver wearing her "Water" Irish Dance Solo Dress - Self Portrait

Okay, I also need a new wig.

Wednesday Weekly Wishlist: Figure Skating inspired Irish Dance Solo Dress

When I was a kid and I did figure skating, one soloist’s dress really impressed me. Her name was Nadine Bergeron, and for our 1991 show, she wore a white dress with leg of mutton sleeves (again, it was the 90’s!). There were rectangles of pastel shiny materiel strewn all over the bodice and sleeves, and the skirt was made of gathered multicoloured organza triangles in those same pastel colours. Absolutely typical of the fashion of the time, but I loved it.

Unfortunately, the best I can offer is this picture which I took on my television (crappy, I know; you can actually see me reflected in the tele, taking the picture - please don't judge my week-end PJ wear).

Nadine Bergeron, "Mademoiselle Anne", Revue sur Glace 1991, CPA Lorraine

I’m not all that in love with the cut and the pattern nowadays, but the colour scheme still strikes me as pretty. I guess it speaks to my inner child. Therefore, it is my wish to one day make myself an Irish Dancing Solo dress in white with pastel coloured quilted design.

Here is what I have come up with:

Original design by Kay McKay

The original design is by Kay McKay and was offered for free use on the no longer existing Colleen of Canberra website. I have coloured it according to what I remember Nadine’s dress looked like (the video is old and the image is not all that clear). The light green was especially important for me because the song she skated to was Mademoiselle Anne by Mitsou (1990), and the first line goes "Mademoiselle Anne a mis ses beaux collants verts" (Miss Anne is wearing her lovely green tights). Hence my choice to use it for the pleats and for so many of the diamond shapes.

So if I ever make it to Prizewinner, this is the dress I’ll make myself.

And if I don’t make it that far, I’ll find some other excuse!

Vancouver 2010 - Ice Dance

I loved so many costumes worn by Ice Dance Skaters. And there were quite a good many. As I couldn't make up my mind and choose only a few, I've decided to present every one I could find a picture for, but instead of going with my usual categories, I've kept them by presentation.

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

Compulsory Dance

For neophytes, these are ice dances in which all the couples perform the same standard steps and holds to music of a specified tempo. (In Irish Dancing, we have something similar called a set.)

Anna Zadorozhniuk and Sergei Verbillo of Ukraine, Figure Skating Compulsory Ice Dance

Nora Hoffmann and Maxim Zavozin of Hungary, Figure Skating Compulsory Ice Dance

Sinead Kerr and John Kerr of Great Britain, Figure Skating Compulsory Ice Dance

Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto of United States, Figure Skating Compulsory Ice Dance

Beautiful! And I really like the asymmetrical design.

Original Dance

For the original dance, the International Skating Union designates a rhythm or set of rhythms each year that all dancers must perform to, but unlike the compulsory dances, the competitors choose their own music (within a specified tempo range) and choreography. The original dance could be compared to the short program in singles and pairs. (Source - Wikipedia: Ice Dancing)

I personally love Original dances the most because they have the most interesting costumes, usually very theatrical in design.

Alexandra Zaretsy and Roman Zaretsky, Figure Skating, Ice Dance

Anna Zadorozhniuk and Sergei Verbillo, Figure Skating, Ice Dance

Great Ukrainian dance costume, adapted for Ice Skater.

Chris Reed and Cathy Reed, Figure Skating, Ice Dance

I would have never thought it possible to skate in a kimono, but they pulled it off!

Dmitri Soloviev and Ekaterina Bobrova, Figure Skating, Ice Dance

I once wore something similar for a skating show, when I was six (I'll try to get you a picture).

Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates, Figure Skating

Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali, Figure Skating, Ice Dance

Isabelle Belobel and Olivier Schoenfelder, Figure Skating, Ice Dance

Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski, Figure Skating, Ice Dance

Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat, Figure Skating, Ice Dance

Nicholas Buckland and Penny Coomes, Figure Skating, Ice Dance

Sinead Kerr and John Kerr, Figure Skating, Ice Dance

Tanith Belbin and Agosto Benjamin, Figure Skating, Ice Dance

Incredible detailing!

William Beier and Christina Beier, Figure Skating, Ice Dance

Welcome to the luau!

Xintong Huang and Xun Zheng, Figure Skating, Ice Dance

Lovely classical Greek inspiration; plus it's turquoise!

Free Dance

Finally, there is the Free dance number. Couples can choose their own rhythm, theme and music, and creativity is strongly encouraged, but certain predetermined elements have to be included.

Anna Zadorozhniuk and Sergei Verbillo of Ukraine, Figure Skating

I was really impressed by how edgy this one was.

Christina Beier and William Beier of Germany, Figure Skating

Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev of Russia, Figure Skating

Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates of USA, Figure Skating

Irina Shtork and Taavi Rand of Estonia, Figure Skating

Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder of France, Figure Skating

Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski of Russia, Figure Skating

My absolute favourite of all the skating costumes I've presented these Olympics; she looks like a phoenix! I should make a Feather Fascinator in these colours.

Otar Japaridze and Allison Reed, Figure Skating

Penny Coomes and Nicholas Buckland of Great Britain, Figure Skating

Sinead Kerr and John Kerr of Great Britain, Figure Skating

Vanessa Crone and Paul Poirier of Canada, Figure Skating

Another example of Gradient dye; I told you it was in vogue!

Xintong Huang and Xun Zheng of China, Figure Skating

And another!

Podium

Bronze:

Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin of Russia, Figure Skating Compulsory Ice Dance

Oksana Dominina and Maxim Shabalin, Figure Skating, Ice Dance

Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin of Russia, Figure Skating

Silver:

Meryl Davis and Charlie White of United States, Figure Skating Compulsory Ice Dance

I love how gothic she looks.

Charlie White and Meryl Davis, Figure Skating, Ice Dance

I absolutely love the Bollywood look. And the mix of red with neon blue is one I adore!

Meryl Davies and Charlie White of USA, Figure Skating

Gold:

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada, Figure Skating Compulsory Ice Dance

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Figure Skating, Ice Dance

I guess she loves red and black. It might be just me, but these two red and black dresses strike me as having been inspired by some of Rose's dresses in Titanic (1997).

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada, Figure Skating

To quote my mom, "Their costumes were simple, but they looked like angels on that ice!".

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada, Figure Skating

Meryl Davies and Charlie White of USA, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada, Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin of Russia, Figure Skating

Congratulations to all of the Ice Dancers for they beautiful performances.

Only the Lady's single left!