Nick Verreos Blogs from Universal Sports and the Grand Prix Figure Skating Costumes

Figure Skating is BAAACK!!! And so are my Costume Hits and Misses...

Yes, it's Figure Skating Grand Prix Season and you know what that means: I am looking at the Costumes!!! As you may know, I am a big Figure Skating fan (I love you Michelle!!!) and during the last Olympics, I had the pleasure of doing some TV Commentary on the Figure Skating Costumes for Universal Sports. They have invited me again to give my "Nick Verreos Two Cents" on their Universal Sports Figure Skating Blog. After every Grand Prix city, I will be posting my thoughts on the site HERE, as well as of course, adding a couple extra ones here on my blog---

Enjoy and let's hope for More Sequins, More Color and More Male Plunging Necklines!

Lilac Flower: Mao Asada at NHK Grand Prix

Mao may have shocked her hometown by not doing well in this Grand Prix NHK Trophy but I think that in terms of her costume, she’s still has some magic…fashion magic that is. This was a “Softer/Gentler Mao”; I loved the lilac color and light beading. New Coach…New Costume Attitude…but lackluster scores unfortunately.

Havana by way of Tokyo: Daisuke Takahashi at NHK Grand Prix

Daisuke did a Mambo-inspired Short Program and chose to go the "Ricky Ricardo" route with his costume. Loved the multi-colored sequined print shirt with a very plunging neckline and he kept it simple with the black pants (good choice). BTW: Figure Skating Trend Alert: Men's PLUNGING necklines (Jeremy Abbott also did it! JEREMY ABBOTT!!!!!)

Spray Tan Illusion Mesh: Carolina Kostner at NHK Grand Prix

Carolina Kostner won the NHK Trophy skating to “L’Apres-Midi D’un Faune” and she (almost) wins here in terms of her fashion. I’m a fan of the asymmetrical details and of course, the lilacs and pinks. I just wished her illusion mesh was lighter (was she tan when she had her fitting? No more laying out in Positano Miss Kostner!) and the colors of her costume were STRONGER!

Don't Cry For Me Finland: Kiira Korpi at NHK Grand Prix

Kiira is just a Nordic Princess; absolutely doll-like beauty. She could wear a Hefty trash bag and look GORGEOUS! She skated to "Evita" and evoked every bit of the DIVA in this violet Ombre side-pleated costume. An 8.5 out of 10 in my book.

Mummy Muscle: Kevin Van Der Perren at NHK Grand Prix

Kevin skated to "The Mummy Soundtrack". His costume was all a bit of a mish-mash, from the one-armed flutter to the "taped-up" accents. At the same time, those BIG muscles of his did make me forget that his costume was less Pharaoh more "Abbott and Costello Mummy" movie.

Plunging Passion: Cappellini-Lanotte at NHK Grand Prix

Italian Ice Dance couple Cappellini-Lanotte skated to a romantic soundtrack and therefore chose to keep their costumes on the sublime and "traditional" side. They were pretty standard and not exciting in terms of Ice Dance. I liked hers but didn't like the color of his shirt. Dirty Creme? Really? And once again, we see the Male PLUNGING Neckline! I told you it was a TREND!

Click HERE for MORE of my Figure Skating Costume Review, including what I thought of Jeremy Abbott, and Reed and Reed's "Addams Family" costumes!!!!

Skatin' Nick: Scoring the Ladies Short Program Costumes

Thursday night was the US Nationals Ladies Short Program and it marked the return of Miss Sasha Cohen...
She returned to Figure Skating after a four year absence. This was her FIRST competition this season (due to injury) and since taking a hiatus back in 2006. Nobody even knew if she would arrive, until Wednesday afternoon! As you can see from the video of her practice, EVERYONE was following her EVERY MOVE, jump, and footwork sequence. In the end, she did great, considering the extreme pressure she was under, with very minor mistakes. There are very few people in the professional figure skating world who could do that (Michelle Kwan comes to mind but after that, I can't really think of anyone). Sasha is currently in second place.In terms of her costume: I loved it! It was perfect for her Paso Doble Short Program. It featured a caviar-beaded embroidered bodice with skin-colored stretch netting cut-outs and a mini fluttery skirt, all in a deep Sevillana red. I could have done without those gloves, they're too 1984 Senior Prom for me.
Costume Score: 8.8 out of 10!

One of the favorites to make it onto the Olympic Team (only two spots this year kiddies!) Rachael Flatt, did not dissapoint. In what many people have regarded as one of her strongest programs ever, Rachael skated very well. Her fun personality came through while at the same time, "nailing" all the jumps. One of the only ladies to land a triple-triple at the Grand prix season, this time she garnered 3rd Place for the short program (very close to Sasha). Her rose-pink sequined costume fitted her bubbly exuberance perfectly. There was nothing "shocking", too "Couture" or too "costume high-brow". It was Figure Skating 101 done well.
Costume Score: 7.5 out of 10.

Mirai Nagasu placed 1st Place (!!) after a near flawless Short Program. Wish I could say the same for her choice of costume. I know that sometimes Short Program Costumes are not as "showy" as the Long Program ones but even with that, I just wasn't a fan of this velvet and gold beaded concoction. It looked old. Not old as in an 80 year-old Grandma would wear, but old as in it had been in a closet since 1962 and suddenly it was dusted off and brought out for "a new life".
Score: 4.5 out of 10.

2008 US Bronze Medalist Ashley Wagner placed 4th Place after a shakey Short Program in Spokane Washington. Her costume was an ombre violet-blue number featuring side leaf-like beading. I loved the asymmetrical skirt, the one-sleeve-like detail with one lone feather sticking out of the beading... but I DID NOT like how high the bodice was cut--it really BUGGED me for some reason. I give her--and her costume designer--points for a very interesting costume design that was pretty but yet directional.
Score: 7.5 out of 10.

See you next time for the much-anticipated US National Ladies Long Program---loking forward to seeing some more Figure Skating COUTURE!!!