0 Figure Skating Fashion Minute: ISU Grand Prix Final--The Ladies!!

Outfit Changes aren't just for Miss Universe Contestants, Drag Queens or for Fabulous Brides at their Weddings...Add: Ladies Figure Skaters to the mix!

First: It's 1988 All Over Again...

2011: Eat Your Disco Heart Out Donna Summer--Italy's Carolina Kostner in her brand new (and surprising) Free Skate costume, Grand Prix Final 2011 Quebec City Quebec Canada vs. ...

1988: Debi Thomas at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics---Jumpsuits are BACK!! I think...Read on kids...

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2011-2012 was held over the weekend at the Pavillon de la Jeunesse in gorgeous (I've never been but it looks that way in photos!) and historic Quebec City, Quebec Canada.

For months now, the top figure skaters, pairs and ice dancers in the world competed in the Grand Prix 2011-2012 events including Skate America, Skate Canada, Cup of China, NHK Trophy (Japan), Trophee Eric Bompard (France) and Cup of Russia. The six highest ranking skaters/teams qualified for spots at this Grand Prix Final (it's like "Miss Universe", in beauty pageant terms).

Top Three: (Left to right) Silver Medalist Akiko Suzuki of Japan, Gold Medal Winner Carolina Kostner and Russia's Alena Leonova with her Bronze Medal, Grand Prix Final 2011-2012 Quebec City Quebec Canada

Speaking of Miss Universe and beauty pageants, here's another similarity: sometimes for the Live Telecast Final, a "Miss Venezuela" or "Miss USA" changes her Evening gown (as opposed to the same one she wore for the "Preliminaries" ) therefore "busting out" a new gown, surprising everyone (including fellow competing contestants and of course, pageant fanatics). Well, it seems that some of the top Ladies Figure Skaters did (kind of ) the same thing...and changed their costumes for this Grand Prix Final. To be more precise THREE Ladies--Japan's Akiko Suzuki, Russia's Elizaveta Tuktamysheva and Italy's Carolina Kostner, changed their Free Skate costumes. Let's just get right to it and analyze the changes and if they were for better...or Disco Krazee worse...

First up:

Akiko Suzuki of Japan: Akiko skated to Johann Strauss II's "Die Fledermaus" for her Free Skate. The costume above was her new costume. It was a "strapless" silhouette (I put it in quotes since there was a nude illusion mesh neck piece) in a degrade pink with crystals and sequins strewn throughout the costume in an irregular pattern. The photo below is the costume she had worn before (to the same music) during her NHK Trophy 2011 Free Skate:

A lilac-colored costume featuring a "one-sleeve" look, swirly torso detail and ribbon-like "ties" in her other arm--as well as crystals throughout. I like this costume change. The lilac one wasn't so bad but I admit, I wasn't necessarily a fan of it. The color was a bit "blah" and something about it definitely needed a "Costume Punch".

Akiko Costume Change: Her new Free Skate costume did add that color "punch" yet still retained elegance and a simplicity to the silhouette. What do you guys think? Do you like the old LILAC one or the new degrade pink one above? Make sure to let me know at the end of this post in the "Comments" section--

From Red Hot Latina to Apple Green J. Lo at the Grammys Homage?

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva of Russia: Almost 15-year-old Elizaveta (her birthday is December 17th--Happy Early Birthday Elizaveta!) also changed her Free Skate costume for this weekend's Grand Prix Final 2011-2012. For her Latin-inspired Grand Prix Final Free Program to "Besame Mucho" and "Caravan" , little jumping whippersnapper Elizaveta, wore an apple-green, (I feel uncomfortable even typing this, considering she's FOURTEEN!) sexy costume that had a...

"J.Lo in Versace at the 2000 Grammy Awards" look to it, in terms of the dropped bust torso section. It was also very "Dancing With The Stars" in its daring and colorful style. This new costume was something you would see the female Ice Dancer wear for their Latin "Mambo Rhumba" Short Dance program...

Besides that front dropped bust section, the rest of the costume featured crystals, a flirty little "skirt", LOTS of illusion nude mesh and back "straps". It was a far cry from what she had been wearing throughout this Grand Prix season for the same Free Program:

This red-and-silver sequin number above that was feminine and age-appropriate. But DEFINITELY not J Lo sexy. While I liked the new apple-green costume, I just thought that maybe...just maybe, it might be too "mature and sexy" for little Elizaveta. I didn't have a problem with her original red flutter-sleeved outfit other than yes, it looked a little "young" and well UN-Couture in terms of its styling. I just never realized her "costume advisers" would take it to the extreme and give her Apple Green J LO Sexi-licious! Again, PLEASE let me know what you guys think!!!

Finally, it's Disco Ball Time:

Carolina Kostner of Italy: Always the Figure Skating Costume Fashionista, Miss Carolina Kostner decided to change her Free Skate Grand Prix 2011-2012 costume. But kids, she didn't just change the sleeve, the color or neckline...no! She done GAVE YOU:

1978 Donna Summer Disco Unitard Jumpsuit! And (wait for it), do you know what she skated to? Mozart's "Concerto No. 23". I know! For a minute there, I thought she had changed her music to Sister Sledge's "He's The Greatest Dancer"! Below was her "old" costume for her Grand Prix Free Skate:

I thought the costume above was very pretty, elegant and appropriate for a Mozart soundtrack. But...Kostner--and her team--decided to REALLY change it up and she switched to a one-shoulder, degrade, grey-silver sequined jumpsuit. Now, at first I thought "Oh My!". And then of course, I thought, "Is this really right for Mozart?". And then (as I looked closer), I also realized :

I think she's got Camel-toe: I know, it is so unprofessional of me to even bring this up, but seriously guys, whether her jumpsuit is too tight or too loose, but...she's got CAMEL-TOE! As a Fashion Designer, as a Fan of Figure Skating and Figure Skating Costumes, I like the "I'm going to take it to A WHOLE OTHER LEVEL"--Costume-wise. I am just not sure if this was the right level. It was sort of distracting as she did her Free Program (which won the Gold by the way, so obviously, it did not matter!). All I kept focusing on was THAT Disco Ball degrade Swarovski-crystal jumpsuit. I LOVE the costume changes, but was this the right one? I do give her "Nick Points" for going there though! I always love a Figure Skating Costume Diva!

Finally, let's discuss the originator of the Unitard/Jumpsuit during a World-class Competition:

Presenting Miss Debi Thomas at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics-- Thomas was the first African-American to hold U.S. National titles in ladies' singles figure skating (in 1986 and 1988). And she got the Bronze at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics where she famously brought out THAT black and silver sequined JUMPSUIT!!! It was ESCANDALOSO! (and yes, every Gay in the audience and watching on TV was jumpin' for Costume Joy!). This might have been the last time one saw a jumpsuit in world class competition...until now, with Carolina Kostner.
Here's the Question: Are jumpsuits back for Ladies Figure Skating? And which one do we like better? Carolina's or Debi's? Let me know for sure!!!

*Up Next: MORE Grand Prix 2011 Costume Reviews!!!