Sochi Olympics Winter Games 2014: The Pants / Jeux Olympiques d'hiver de Sotchi 2014: Les Pantalons

(La version Française se trouve plus bas.)
 
Do you follow the pants? No? Well, for those of you who do not, or for those who do not know what the pants are, let me explain. If you have been avidly watching the Olympics as I have, you have seen a variety of winter sports presented, with some more popular than others, such as figure skating, hockey and skiing or snowboarding. Curling, as far as I know, is rarely seen as one of the most popular events. One men's team has however found a new way of drawing the public’s eye to their sport, by turning it into a fashion show of sorts: the Norwegians.

Suivez-vous les Pantalons? Non? Et bien, pour ceux d’entre vous qui ne les suivraient pas, ou qui ne les connaîtraient pas, laissez-moi vous expliquer. Si vous suivez les Olympiques aussi avidement que moi, vous aurez vu présentés une variété de sports d’hiver, comme le patinage artistique, le hockey, le ski ou la planche à neige. Le curling, en mon sens, ne fait pas vraiment parti des évènements les plus populaires. Une équipe masculine a par contre trouvé un nouveau moyen d’attirer l’attention du public sur son sport, en le transformant en une sorte de défilé de mode : les Norvégiens.

The Norwegian men's curling team / L'équipe Norvégienne de curling masculin

The curling uniform usually calls for black pants, but these guys have decided to break with tradition. Big time!

L’uniforme de curling demande normalement que l’on porte un pantalon noir, mais ces gars là sont en train de briser la tradition et pas qu’un peu.

Apparently, the crazy pants thing got started when the team, composed of Thomas Ulsrud, Christoffer Svae, Torger Nergård, Håvard Vad Petersson and Thomas Løvold, received the wrong uniform a few weeks before the Vancouver Olympics. Desperate for a uniform, the team mandated their second, Svae, with the task of finding them a new one. He searched online and found matching checkered pants for all the team members in the colours of the national flag, red, blue and white.

Apparemment, l’idée de porter des pantalons aux motifs criards fut lancée après que les membre de l’équipe, composée de Thomas Ulsrud, Christoffer Svae, Torger Nergård, Håvard Vad Petersson et Thomas Løvold, eurent reçu le mauvais uniforme quelques semaines avant les olympiques de Vancouver. Désespéré de se trouver un nouvel uniforme, l’équipe mandata son second, Svae, pour trouver un uniforme de remplacement. C’est en cherchant en ligne qu’il trouva des pantalons à damiers aux couleurs du drapeau Norvégien, rouge, bleu et blanc, pour toute son équipe.

The Norwegian men's curling team in Vancouver /

L'équipe Norvégienne de curling masculin à Vancouver

The media attention that the colourful bottoms brought them and the new found popularity it gave their sport back home was enough to encourage them to renew the experience these Olympics, with not just one, but 9 pairs of silly pants.

L’attention des media que leur apportèrent ces pantalons colorés ainsi que la nouvelle popularité qu’ils apportèrent à leur sport dans leur pays fut amplement pour les convaincre de renouveler l’expérience pour ces jeux-ci, avec non pas une, mais bien neuf pares de pantalons rigolos.

The Pants worn by the team, all from golf clothing company Loudmouth, are all in the Norwegian flag colour, except for the floral knickerbockers they wore to its first training session in Sochi.

Les pantalons portés par les membres de l’équipe, tous produit par la compagnie de vêtements de golf Loudmouth, sont tous aux couleurs du drapeau Norvégien, à l’exception des pantacourts qu’ils portèrent pour leur premier entraînement à Sotchi.

The floral pattern is of Norwegian origin though, and the team say their attire, complete with page boy cap and the knee high socks of the Norwegian Football (Soccer) team, was inspired by pictures of some of the first curling games in Scotland in the early 20th century. Isn’t that exactly what we costumers do?

Le motif floral est par contre d’origine Norvégienne, et l’équipe disent que leur ensemble, incluant une casquette de camelot et des bas aux genoux de l’équipe Norvégienne de football (Soccer), fut inspiré par des photos de match de curling en Écosse du début du 20e siècle. N’est-ce pas là exactement ce que nous costumiers faisons?

So, what do you think of the Pants? Would you dare wear the pants? I know I would, but I’m just crazy this way.

If you wish to see more Pants, you can always follow their unofficial Facebook Fan page here.

Alors, que pensez-vous des Pantalons? Oseriez-vous porter les Pantalons? Moi si, mais je suis cinglée comme ça.

Si vous aimeriez voir plus de Pantalons, vous pouvez suivre la page non-officielle des fans des Pantalons sur Facebook ici.

London 2012 Closing Ceremonies Costume Podium

The London 2012 Summer Olympics came to an end yesterday, in a 3 hour show of music, colour and yes, costumes. I will not review each and every one of them, but I wanted to share my top 3 favourites with you, or as I call it, my own Olympics Podium.

Bronze Medal / 3rd place: Ginger Spice

Ginger Spice at the 2012 London Olympics Closing Ceremonies - Dress by Suzanne Neville

I will openly admit it: I was a huge Spice Girls fan in the late 1990’s. At a time where fashion was all about grey, browns, tiny plaids and neutral preppy looks, those girls wore crazy outfits and plenty of colour. Of course most of their clothes back then were very revealing and I was glad last night to see that 15 years later, they managed to be a little more covered (more age appropriate for them) and yet regain their crazy colourful look. My favourite of all the girl’s costumes was Gerri’s. She may be 40, bu she looks amazing! I seriously want her red burlesque dress with gold accent and Union Jack bustle. I thought it was a nice reference to her infamous Union Jack dress of back then.

Silver Medal / 2^nd place: Phoenix Ballet Dancers

A photo shows dancers performing during the extinguishing of the Olympic flame at the Olympic stadium in London during the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games on August 12, 2012 (AFP Photo / Olivier Morin)

I know I’ve said it before, but I love dancing and dance as an art in general. I also love the costumes that are worn for dancing performances. Although I cannot claim to have ever been a Ballerina (a dream I hope to achieve one day, even if I’m 40 by then), I love tutus. That is probably why I was so impressed by the Phoenix Ballet number. 200 ballerinas dressed as phoenixes! I loved the fiery colours of their tutus and the fact that they were open in the front and still poufy in the back.

 

Gold Medal / 1st place: Annie Lennox

British singer Annie Lennox performs during the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games on August 12, 2012. (AFP Photo/Leon Neal)

During the entire ceremony, I was chatting on Facebook with my friend Marie-Ange-the-Celt, and when Annie Lennox came out with her entourage on that boat, our reaction was “what is that?”. I called it “Hell’s Ball”, imagining the brain storming session that had given birth to that tableau. The mixture of historical inspirations with tattered looks and dark make-up was very well done and impressive. Just don’t ask me what song she sang; I was not paying attention to sound.

Honorary Mention: Volunteers

 Crowd-control volunteers were dressed in blue hats with working light bulbs on top (Patrick Semansky/AP)

During the show, the athletes were surrounded by volunteers dressed in royal blue, wearing royal blue hats with a light atop them. These uniforms sort of made me think of the Tardis; what about you?

How about you? Did any of the costumes in the show tickle your fancy? Which one(s)?

Vancouver 2010 - Closing Ceremony

It had to come to an end. Sunday night, I watched the Closing Ceremony for the 2010 Winter Olympics. It wasn't as bad as the Opening Ceremony. The place made to French wasn't really all that great, but there was a tiny little effort (you had to pay attention).

The Olympic Flame - Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremony

Costume wise, my eyed were stimulated as well. First, there were white clad preppy dancing snowboards.

Dancing Snowboarders - Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremony

Okay, honestly, their outfits were a little on the boring side. Cute, but not all that interesting.

IOC Representatives Angela Ruggiero (USA) and Adam Pengilly (UK), with volunteers - Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremony

We also got to see up close what the volunteers' outfits looked like. The padded parka skirt is an interesting look. It reminds me of an inflatable beach bag I have.

Team Canada - Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremony

I know that the Athletes were dressed by the Hudson Bay Co., but why, oh why did they have to make them wear granny sweaters and hats with ear flaps!

Team Canada - Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremony

They looked ridiculous!

At least the show was better.

Hockey Puck Kid - Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremony

We were shown a real Vegas skit, à la Canada.

Hockey Players - Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremony

Although I did not really relate to the themes, I did find it hilarious that they took all the stereotypes circulating about Canada and used them in this big parody dance skit.

Sexy Mounties - Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremony

The sexy Mounties' costumes were kind of fun. I'm sure the RCMP will take offense, but still.

Maple Leaves - Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremony

The Maple Leaves impressed me the most: here are back pieces reminiscent of what you might find in Rio at Carnival.

Maple Leaf - Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremony

I'm not so sure about the green hunter's cap though...

My favourite part of the show came with the performances of Sochi, the next city to hold the Winter Olympics.

Bubble - Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremony

Led lights clad acrobats in transparent zorbs: it was just dreamy.

Bubbles - Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremony

Led lights are used more and more often in performance costumes of this scale, but I think this was the best effect I have seen to date.

Opera singer Anna Netrebko - Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremony

Then there was Opera singer Anna Netrebko: she looked like she had borrowed her dress from Queen Amidala's wardrobe!

Opera singer Anna Netrebko - Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremony

The "wings" were especially impressive.

Ballet Dancers - Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremony

Finally, what is Russia without Ballet, and ballet costumes are always beautiful. I only wish I could have seen more of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky ballets.

So there you have it. Olympics are over. What will I talk about now? Hmm... How about Ballet?

Vancouver 2010 - Figure Skating Gala

The Olympics are almost over. All that is left after today is the closing ceremonies. In the meantime, let’s look at some costumes from the Figure Skating Gala, shall we? (And the in a few days, I'll get back to talking about something else!)

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

Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany, Figure Skating Exhibition Gala

Love the silver sparkly vest she wears! Very retro.

Charlie White and Meryl Davis of the United States, Figure Skating Exhibition Gala

Careful! Skate blades are a killer when it comes to making wholes in tights, especially fishnet!

Kim Yu-Na of Korea, Figure Skating Exhibition Gala

Yu-na looks like a swan in this dress. She is simply gorgeous.

Mao Asada of Japan, Figure Skating Exhibition Gala

I love this very architectural look. The fan is reminiscent of Japan of course, but what I like the most is the black and hot pin combination.

Miki Ando of Japan, Figure Skating Exhibition Gala

Beautiful ombre dye skirt! She looks like she is dressed in flower petals.

Mirai Nagasu of the United States, Figure Skating Exhibition Gala

Turquoise! (Well, ocean blue, really.) Do I need to say anymore?

Oksana Domina and Maxim Shabalin of Russia, Figure Skating Exhibition Gala

Straight out of the Matrix!

Patrick Chan of Canada, Figure Skating Exhibition Gala

Yeah... Hmmm. Sorry Pat, you look kind of boring mate!

Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao of China, Figure Skating Exhibition Gala

Angels on Ice!

Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto of the United States, Figure Skating Exhibition Gala

Raise your hand if you are reminded of the "Sexy Devil" costume found in every pattern books' Halloween section!

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada, Figure Skating Exhibition Gala

Canadians love their Hockey! Even figure skaters know that.

Seeing the a hockey jerseyed man paired with a tutued woman kind of reminds me of Battle of the Blades...

Joannie Rochette of Canada, Figure Skating Exhibition Gala

I could not end these two weeks of of Figure Skating posts without speaking one last time of Joannie Rochette. She has become Canada's Sweetheart, a strong young woman that is an example for us all. For this last performance, she skated to Céline Dion's "Vole", originally dedicated to Dion's niece Karine who died of cystic fibrosis at the age of 16 (I remember seeing aunt and niece on Le Club des 100 watts (1988), a kids TV show - they had talked about her disease). So you see, skating to that song had an especially poignant meaning.

Clad in royal purple velvet covered in sparkly rhinestones like so many tears caught on the fabric, she was regal, divine and wonderful.

Let us see her performance one more time, for posterity's sake.

And now, a blogger's moment of silence translated to written form:

...

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...)