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I was there to discuss the Ladies Figure Skating Short Program Costumes...













I had a blast being back on "Olympic Ice" and to see who else I discussed on the show, 

Click HERE to watch the entire episode "Olympic Ice" Day 13, Feb 19th Edition--Discussing Ladies Short Program Costumes.

A couple of days ago, I was invited to give my "Nick Two Cents" on Figure Skating Costumes at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at a very special L.A. Times Google+ Hang Out On Air. I didn't know what to expect in terms of what even a Google+ Hang Out On Air even was...but as always "I am game" and up for anything. As it turned it, I had a FABULOUS time and so much fun! PS: Love me some Google+ Hang Out On Air!












I spoke about Figure Skating Costumes/Fashion with the wonderful Laura Davis, L.A. Time Deputy Mobile Editor (she is ALL THINGS Social Media with the L.A. Times!). She's also a former figure skater herself! And for the segment, she even brought two of her costumes from "back in the day":















For the Los Angeles Times Article Click HERE

Kim Yuna of South Korea, Short Program to "Send In The Clowns": Her costume was FLAWLESS. Exquisite, beautifully made, gorgeous. Yuna Kim wore a chartreuse-colored costume with fitted-yet-fluttery sleeves , a sequined torso and chiffon skirt. 








Ashley Wagner of the U.S, , Short Program to "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" by Pink Floyd:
The costume featured black stretch chiffon, double-layer "skirt" and
panels with silver crystal trimmed details. I really liked this costume
because it really reflected the theme of her music. She also could have
easily worn this if she was skating to say, Tchaikovsky "Swan Lake"
as well! I especially loved the various sizes of the jeweled crystals
and how the neck detail looked like a built-in diamond necklace (that
was probably the point!).




Gracie Gold of the U.S., Short Program to "Piano Concerto" by Edvard Grieg: The costume was designed by Gale Johnson and Denise Gold and
I LOVE it! It's elegant, classic but with a sexy "red carpet" edge and
also works really well with her music and program; it's like a "mini-me"
gown one could see at a late 19th Century/early 20th Century Ball in
Europe. The off-the-shoulder look seems very "Moulin Rouge"-like as well.





Julia Lipnitskaia of Russia Short Program to "You Don't Give Up on Love" by Mark Minkov: I thought this was a very nice costume for Julia and this program. I loved the deep violet blue and baby blue combination and the torso/bodice sequin work looked beautiful. My favorite detail of this costume were the back straps. Also, I am usually not a fan of the pull-the-nude-tights-over-the-skates look but here it worked. Such a shame that little Julia fell, however. You could just hear the shock-and-awe from the mostly Russian audience.






Mao Asada of Japan, Short Program to "Nocturne in E flat major, Op. 9, No. 2" by Frederic Chopin: This beautiful costume is a change from what Asada wore for the Team Competition several weEks ago at the beginning of the Sochi Olympics:




I like both costumes but if I had to pick, I like what she wore tonight at the Sochi 2014 Olympics Ladies Short Program better; it's little more delicate, the gathering/draping in the front/torso seems more refined and overall, it looks softer. Poor Mao...








Carolina Kostner of Italy, Short Program to Ave Maria by Franz Schubert: The sky blue
colored costume featured a "plunging" neckline (in illusion) with gorgeously strewn
sequins throughout. It was beautiful, classic and "Ice Princess" perfect. Her skate was almost like a religious experience; the music, the skate, the costume...she seemed Angelic.




Adelina Sotnikova of Russia, Short Program to "Habanera" from the "Carmen" Suite by Georges Bizet: I thought this costume was simple yet nice for her; it was clean and bold to grab the audience and judges' attention.  She wore this costume at the 2014 Russian Nationals but before, she had worn this:











Polina Edmuds of the U.S., Short Program to "Pink Cherries Cha-Cha-Cha," "Besame Mucho" and "Another Cha-Cha" by Ballroom Orchestra: The costume is designed by Lilya Dukler and
I think it's pretty fabulous! I love the light lemon yellow color, the
"shredded" skirt and emphasis on the neckline and all those panels in
the torso. I especially like how no "costume stone was left unturned" in
that it is a complete look; the hairstyle, details in the hair...it is
all in synch with the rest of the costume. Very nice!



Finally, I want to talk abut Akiko Suzuki of Japan:


Akiko Suzuki of Japan, Short Program to "Hymne à l'amour": This above was one of the most intricately beaded/sequined costumes of all the Ladies. You cannot really tell in the picture above but it truly was exquisite! The silver sequins at the neckline (and back) were Top Notch!. This red costume, by the way, was a costume change from what she had worn in the most recent 2013 Grand Prix series Short Dance:







**Next Up: The Ladies Free Skate Costumes Recap of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics!

Let's get started:




Meryl Davis and Charlie White, USA, Short Dance: The favorites to win the Gold for the Ice Dance competition--USA's Davis and White skated their Short Dance to My Fair Lady by Frederic Loewe. Meryl changed her costume to this pink blouson sleeved chiffon with sequin applique look. This was elegant if not a little "mature"--but in a good way. I actually liked the change. It was more intricate than what she last wore for this same Short Dance:









Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada, Free Dance: For their Free Dance to Petit Adagio Waltz and from Seasons by Alexander Glazunov and "Piano Concerto in F-sharp minor" by Alexander Scriabin, Tessa changed the costume she had last worn in her previous competitions. She wore a red look with Faberge Egg-inspired gold and red bustier with neck band and above-the-knee flared skirt. I liked the strong color choice but felt that the skirt was too long; it looked mumsy. This is what she last wore for the same Free Dance at...








And in case you are wondering, this was also a Costume Change from what they BOTH wore at the  ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2013/2014 at Marine Messe Fukuoka on December 7, 2013 in Fukuoka, Japan (above photo).




Tatsuki Machida of Japan, Free Program: Machida's costume choice for his Free Program to Music from The Firebird by Igor Stravinsky seen above at the Sochi Olympics Figure Skating Team competition was a return to what he had last worn at Skate America 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. This costume was one of my favorites from last year and I am glad he went back to this, as opposed to wearing what he last wore for this same Free Skate:








Gracie Gold of the USA, Free Skate: Gracie skated wonderfully at tonight's Sochi Olympics Figure Skating Team Finals to Music from Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky. This was not a costume change but there was a wardrobe malfunction. Her costume--designed by Brad Griffies Gale Johnson and Denise Gold--is beautiful and one of my favorites of the ladies. But the neckband snapped open during her skate:





Olympic Wardrobe Malfunction: Gracie Gold of the USA and her costume malfunction--her sequined neckband snapped off--this did not affect her skate at all, but as a fashion designer, I was holding my breath for sure!





Kaetlyn Osmond of Canada, Free Skate: Osmond wore one of my favorite costumes of the night--this mauve colored look with oversized jeweled crystal neckline and back. This costume was worn for her Free Skate to Music from the Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre soundtrack by Philippe Chany and music from Claude-Michel Schönberg & David Nixon's Cleopatra. I LOVED this costume; absolutely one of my faves of the Olympics. It reminded me of...








Carolina Kostner Italy, Short Program: This costume, worn by Italy's figure skating Fashion Diva, Carolina Kostner for her SP to "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert. It's a beautiful costume--a light lilac chiffon look with nude illusion plunging neckline and crystals throughout. This--I've already said--is much better than her last costume choice for this same program: