Reviewing the Ladies: Nick Verreos Scores the US National Figure Skating Championship Finals

Rating The Figure Skating Finals...Costumes!
Congratulations to the delightful Rachael Flatt, who landed SEVEN (I know!!!) triple jumps including a triple flip-triple toe loop combination. Translation (to those non-figure skating fans): She did REALLY REALLY well! As a result, she garnered the Gold at this year's U. S. National Figure Skating Championships and a spot on the 2010 U. S. Olympics Team. Go Rachael!
I am so happy for her--I had the privilege of meeting Rachael last year and even discussed designing a costume for her. Who knows? But I am sure she's already "taken care of" and wouldn't need "little ol' me" to design and create her Olympic-worthy costume. Speaking of her costumes, for her Long--Rachmaninoff-program, Rachael wore a red beaded number featuring a flirty skirt, and gold embroidered bodice. So perfect for her ivory skin-tone and amber-blond hair. Pretty and elegant yet still youthful and un-fussy.
Score: 8.5 out of 10.

Coming in Second Place was Mirai Nagasu. Along with Rachael Flatt, Nagasu will also be heading North--to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. She also wore a red costume for her Long Program (red was popular!) but hers was a deeper, more "Spanish" red, reflecting Bizet's "Carmen"--which is what she skated to. It was a "sweet" Carmen.
I, for one, love the drama and sexuality of Katarina Witt's Carmen (in which she won the Gold Medal) I would have loved to have seen Bolero-esque shoulder treatments (like a fighting Toreador)but I realize that's not really what Mirai is about. So for that, the costume design was on the safe route: It did not detract from her program but it didn't add anything either.
Score: 6.5 out of 10.

Most years, THREE women head to the Olympics for the chance of winning that Gold Medal, but because it is based on the placements from the previous World Championships (and the US Women did not do so well--oops!), there will only be TWO heading to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. With that in mind the dreaded Third Spot went to...Ashley Wagner. In regards to her Ombre-Purple re-embroidered costume--you can read HERE what I thought about it back in December when she came in Third at the ISU Grand Prix in Tokyo Japan Here's a hint: On the fence.
Score: 6 out of 10.

One of my Season 2 Project Runway Guest Judges and Challenge Subjects, Sasha Cohen, struggled throughout her Moonlight Sonata Free Skate. I SO wanted her to BRING IT! She kinda did--and kinda did not. She was credited with only one clean triple jump (in the program) and got Fourth Place and (obviously) no position to go to this 2010 Vancouver Winter's U.S. Olympic Team. In terms of her costume, I really liked the "Kool-Aid" grape-colored Ombre dyed (an theme?) color. I LOVED the crystal-beaded neck but that over-sized shirred bust was a tad bit to wide and I must admit, bothered me.
Score: 7 out of 10.

Well, now were off to Vancouver...maybe not me, Ashley or Sasha...but I cannot wait for our next "Rate The Figure Skating Costumes"...LIVE from Los Angeles California!

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!!!

Sasha Cohen Arrives!! Video of her First Practice and Short Program

Miss Sasha Is Back

Yes, darlings, that is Sasha Cohen, and in case you haven't been following figure skating in the last few years, she's been on the "DL". But...just today, she showed up to the 2010 US National Figure Skating Championships in Spokane Washington ready to compete for a shot at the Olympics. As you may remember, Sasha was a Guest Judge and the inspiration for my Project Runway Season 2 Figure Skating Costume Design Challenge, so you know I have been following her. Skating Queen: Uncle Nick rocks the Unitard

Her Short Program music is España Cañí: a Spanish Pasodoble by Pascual Marquina Narro. This is the perfect dramatic style of music that Sasha loves to skate to in her short programs and in many ways reminiscent of her 2006 Olympic Program in which she skated to Dark Eyes. It will be hard to match the brilliance of her SP performance in Torino but by the looks of this video she seems to be well on her way. Yes, she did fall, but hey, it was just a practice and it looks like she has not lost anything from her spins and spirals. Go Sasha can't wait to see the costume tomorrow!!!!

And just for fun let's stroll down memory lane, shall we?!

Nick Verreos Weighs In on the Men's Figure Skating Championship Costumes!

Costume Change...

OK, first of all, Evan Lysacek is KILLING ME! Did he just change his costume AGAIN????? I just can't keep up! Both me--and Vera Wang---must be dizzy! Over the weekend, I just watched the 2010 AT & T US National Figure Skating Championships (I couldn't go--I was too busy doing my Golden Globes stuff kiddies) and I just about coughed up my popcorn and nachos (from my home, not from the actual Arena!). He busted out (did I just say that?) a brand new costume (it's like his FIFTH Costume Change of the Season!) for his Free Skate (or Long Program) where he performed to--yet again, Scheherazade (shouldn't Michelle Kwan have rights to this? Michelle??). Evan wore a gray center-front shirred stretch top with black shoulder beaded accents (Say what?) with black pants featuring side sequined panels (Say what, Part Deux?). I liked it for it's "Where did that come from" aesthetic and give Vera Wang props for her ongoing effort to influencing--stylistically, the world of Figure Skating costumes. Evan placed 2nd and received the Silver Medal. He fell on his quad and had a labored program but still managed to make the Olympic Team.

Johnny Weir, bless his heart--also showcased a brand new costume. It had sequins (naturally) and white feathers (double naturally). Johnny's costumes always teeter on the edge of: Either someone's mother in Siberia made them or was it from a NY/LA-based designer with a $5,000 budget--Nevertheless, Johnny ended up in 3rd place but for me, placed FIRST...--in Feathers and Flash!!


Jeremy Abbott won the Gold Medal, deservedly, but looked more like a Cast Member from "Glee" as opposed to a potential Olympic Medalist. That stretch-silk blue dress shirt was SOOO Show Choir. Sorry Jeremy. I absolutely commend you on the most AMAZING performance (it made my arm hairs stand on end!) but that ensemble of yours was High School and guess what Jeremy, you have GRADUATED!!!!!

Next: The Women!!!! Stay tuned.

Nick Verreos reviews Figure Skating Costumes at the 2010 US Nationals

Sequins, Straps, lots of Mesh and Costume Changes: US Nationals Costumes

Pairs Fashion:The US Nationals of Figure Skating are happening right now in Spokane Washington and of course "Uncle Nicky" is all over it--at least in terms of the costumes! To begin with, Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett won 2010 US National Pairs Championship. Caydee is only 16 years old and she and her partner only started skating together 18 months ago and now, they will be going to Vancouver for the Olympics. They skated to Sheherazade, which ironically is the same music Michelle Kwan used when she competed at the Salt Lake City Olympic Games in 2002.
In terms of their costumes, I actually liked them! Caydee wore deep violet shirred outfit featuring lots of interesting and original draping and all very asymmetrical--a theme of Figure Skating costumes--very similar incidentally to the costume I designed for the "Sasha Cohen Challenge" back in my season of Project Runway. I also liked her partner, Jeremy Barrett's costume. It was a clean, elegant black stretch jumpsuit featuring details taken from Caydee's costume, such as the beaded violet arm criss-cross straps and gold sequined deep-V neck "buckles".

The Men:
Jeremy Abbott was in the lead after the Men's Short Program at the AT&T US National Championships...but his costume was so boring I'm not even going to discuss it. Thank You very much. He looked like he was in a local high school play and his aunt from Poughkeepsie made it (no disrespect to aunts from Poughkeepsie, I am sure there are some wonderful seamstresses there!).

Evan Lysacek (2nd after the short program) debuted yet another Vera Wang creation:Slowly as the season progresses he seems to be losing more and more feathers. Let's hope his routines aren't moulting like his costumes! I like it for it's dark, almost Gothic tendency but still loved that first one he originally wore early in the season at a Grand Prix event.

Johnny Weir currently in 3rd place "Rocked the tassel" as seen here:Leave it to "Miss " Johnny. Love that he just doesn't care and as always, has been consistent in not wanting to please anyone or follow any rules. It totally works for him since HE OWNS it.

The New York Times had strong commentary on the new trend of over-the-top costumes.

Now on to the Men's Finals and the Women's Costumes next weekend!--and of course, feel free to leave me your comments which I love reading, especially from fellow Figure Skating fans!