• Intelligencer
  • The Cut
  • Vulture
  • The Strategist
  • Curbed
  • Grub Street
  • Subscribe to the Magazine Give a Gift Subscription Buy Back Issues Current Issue Contents
    Subscribe to New York Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Profile
    Sign Out
The Cut
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
Style
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Parties & Red Carpet
  • Fashion Shows
  • Cathy Horyn
  • The Cut Shop
Self
  • Health & Wellness
  • The State of the Uterus
  • Parenting
  • Advice
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Horoscopes
Culture
  • Books
  • Television
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Celebrity
Power
  • Politics
  • Work
  • Money
  • Rebecca Traister
More
  • Latest Stories
  • Video
  • About Us
  • nymag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
  • Curbed
superlatives
February 21, 2014

The Best and Worst of Olympic Figure Skating Costumes

By Allison P. Davis

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
Photo: JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images

Now that the ice has been Zambonied a final time, the medals handed out to few and the dreams of many dashed, it’s time to take a look back at the spectacular style we saw on the ice. Female figure skaters chose outfits that sent clear messages to the judges. Ice dancers offered a tour de force of ridiculous character-based costumes. Men dominated in sheers and sequins.

From fake tuxedos to spandex to potential eye damage, here are our Olympic figure skating fashion superlatives.

Related

The Best Men’s Hair at the Olympics
View
1 / 21 Photos
Best Ability to Wear Sheer Without Showing Nipples: Evengi Plushenko Sochi may have marked his last loop around the rink, but find a man who can ... Best Ability to Wear Sheer Without Showing Nipples: Evengi Plushenko Sochi may have marked his last loop around the rink, but find a man who can pull off being naked while clothed better than this Russian. Photo: Al Tielemans
Most Prince-Approved Onesie: Jason Brown Purple-velvet vest? Check. Studded crotch-seam? Check. Sleek and sultry ponytail? Check. Prince gives hi... Most Prince-Approved Onesie: Jason Brown Purple-velvet vest? Check. Studded crotch-seam? Check. Sleek and sultry ponytail? Check. Prince gives his blessings. Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Biggest Hunger Games Fanboy: Tatsuki Machida Just call him "The Boy on Fire." May the odds be ever in your favor, Tribute Machida. Ph... Biggest Hunger Games Fanboy: Tatsuki Machida Just call him "The Boy on Fire." May the odds be ever in your favor, Tribute Machida. Photo: 2014 NBCUniversal Media, LLC.
Color Combination Most Likely to Cause Ocular Damage: Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy The same rules of a solar eclipse apply to hot-pink lyr... Color Combination Most Likely to Cause Ocular Damage: Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy The same rules of a solar eclipse apply to hot-pink lyrca: Do not stare directly at the pants. Photo: 2014 AFP
Most Evil Black Swan: Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapo At least four other skaters were inspired by Black Swan. Maybe it's those insidious blac... Most Evil Black Swan: Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapo At least four other skaters were inspired by Black Swan. Maybe it's those insidious black gloves, but this was definitely the most terrifying of them all. Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Worst Color Choice for Athletic Men: Danielle Obrien and Gregory Merriman That mustard hides absolutely nothing. Especially not pit stains. Phot... Worst Color Choice for Athletic Men: Danielle Obrien and Gregory Merriman That mustard hides absolutely nothing. Especially not pit stains. Photo: YURI KADOBNOV/2014 AFP
Most Realistic Portrayl of Weird Science: Nelli Zhiganshina and Alexander Gazsi The pitch-perfect sweater vest almost distracts from the boob gr... Most Realistic Portrayl of Weird Science: Nelli Zhiganshina and Alexander Gazsi The pitch-perfect sweater vest almost distracts from the boob grab-and-gape — almost. Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Least Rebellious Rebels: Alex Shibutani and Maia Shibutani The "edgy" black leather and velvet costumes lose some intimidation factor w... Least Rebellious Rebels: Alex Shibutani and Maia Shibutani The "edgy" black leather and velvet costumes lose some intimidation factor with all the sparkle. Photo: 2014 AFP
Costume That Would Have Been More Welcome at Burning Man: Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat This is Ice Palace not La Playa, hippes! Photo: 2... Costume That Would Have Been More Welcome at Burning Man: Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat This is Ice Palace not La Playa, hippes! Photo: 2014 AFP
Most Likely to Double As Street Clothes: Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev So casual, it's like they went to Theory and stumbled onto an Olym... Most Likely to Double As Street Clothes: Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev So casual, it's like they went to Theory and stumbled onto an Olympic skating rink.
Costume With the Least Give and Comfort: Isabella Tobias and  Deividas Stagniunas It can't be comfortable to lunge into a jump in a three-pi... Costume With the Least Give and Comfort: Isabella Tobias and  Deividas Stagniunas It can't be comfortable to lunge into a jump in a three-piece suit — no matter how sharp you look. Photo: 2014 AFP
Most Appropriate for Pretentious 'Fart' School Students: Sara Hurtado and Adria Diaz He's dressed like a mime. That's probably Picasso on her bac... Most Appropriate for Pretentious 'Fart' School Students: Sara Hurtado and Adria Diaz He's dressed like a mime. That's probably Picasso on her back. They only drink espresso and smoke Gauloises. Photo: 2014 Getty Images
Stolen From the Costume Department of Disney World: Gregory Merriman and Danielle Obrien The Happiest Gobos! Photo: 2014 AFP
Worst Fake Tuxedo: Penny Coomes and Nicholas Buckland You aren't foolin' anyone, man! Photo: 2014 Getty Images
The Costume Your Grandma Would Love: Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte They both are welcome at Sunday dinner. Photo: 2014 MCT
Best Concentrated Bedazzling: Vanessa James and Morgan Cipr ès In an emergency her sleeve can also be used to direct air traffic. Photo: ... Best Concentrated Bedazzling: Vanessa James and Morgan Cipr ès In an emergency her sleeve can also be used to direct air traffic. Photo: 2014 John Berry
Most Angelic: Polina Edumunds You can almost hear heaven's choir. Photo: 2014 MCT
Most Classic Ice-Skater Skating Costume: Gracie Gold It's like Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, and Nancy Kerrigan had a baby. Photo: 2014 MCT
Best Pantsuit: Maé Bérénice Méité Hillary Clinton would be proud. Photo: 2014 John Berry
Least Subtle Skating Ensemble: Ashley Wagner Ashley "Bitch Face" Wagner holds nothing back and the same goes for her costume. Bold yell... Least Subtle Skating Ensemble: Ashley Wagner Ashley "Bitch Face" Wagner holds nothing back and the same goes for her costume. Bold yellow, bare stomach, cleavage for days. Her sassy costume is all: "I'm sexy, ruthless, and going for Gold (Gracie or otherwise)." Photo: 2014 MCT
Most Effortlessly Elegant: Kim Yuna Queen Yuna regally graces the ice with her presence. Photo: Al Tielemans
1 / 21

Tags:

  • sochi 2014
  • sochi fashion
  • ice skating
  • figure skating
  • ice dancing
  • sochi olympics 2014
  • ice cold style
  • superlatives
  • More

More Galleries

oscars 2023 Mar. 12, 2023
Oscars Red Carpet 2023: Every Look  Rihanna! Florence Pugh! Michelle Yeoh! They’re all here. 
celebrity Feb. 19, 2023
All the Best Looks From the 2023 BAFTAs Red Carpet  Florence Pugh, Barry Keoghan, and Angela Bassett brought color to the red carpet. 
grammys 2023 Feb. 5, 2023
Every Look From the 2023 Grammys Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Lizzo, Bad Bunny, Adele, Doja Cat, Jack Harlow, Mary J. Blige, Sam Smith, and more.
By Brooke LaMantia
Jan. 10, 2023
All the Looks From the 2023 Golden Globes  Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jenna Ortega, Jessica Chastain, Julia Garner, Jeremy Allen White, Angela Bassett, and more. 
parties! Sept. 23, 2022
Katie Holmes, Chloë Sevigny, and More of the Bestest Party Pics This Week  Chanel, Mejuri, and more celebrate. 
parties! Sept. 16, 2022
Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, and More of the Bestest Party Pics This Week  Fendi, Frame, and Coach all celebrated NYFW. 
emmys 2022 Sept. 12, 2022
Emmys 2022: All the Red Carpet Looks  Updating: What Hollywood is wearing to the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards. 
By Olivia Luppino
nyfw spring 2023 Sept. 9, 2022
Gigi Hadid, Chlöe Bailey, and More of the Bestest Party Pics of the Week  Saks Fifth Avenue, Longchamp, and more celebrate the beginning of NYFW. 
rip Sept. 9, 2022
The Queen Sure Did Love to Color-Coordinate  Monochrome for decades. 
red carpet Sept. 6, 2022
The Venice Film Festival Is a Major Fashion Event  Valentino and Gucci and Armani, oh my. 
red carpet June 5, 2022
All the Best Looks at the 2022 MTV Movie and TV Awards  Sydney Sweeney, Vanessa Hudgens, Jay Ellis, and more! 
parties! May 20, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Harry Styles > everyone! 
parties! May 13, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Bury me in Dove Cameron’s Saint Sintra skirt. 
parties! May 6, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Cue the Met Gala after-party FOMO. 
met gala 2022 May 2, 2022
Met Gala 2022: All the Looks [Photos]  Billie Eilish, Kim Kardashian, Michelle Yeoh, Hailey Bieber, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Blake Lively, and more. 
parties! Apr. 29, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  This one goes to Olivia Rodrigo and her sweater vest. 
parties! Apr. 22, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  “Fuck those Zoom tops.” 
celebrity style Apr. 18, 2022
The Best Looks From Coachella 2022  From Harry Styles’s sparkling Gucci set to Megan Thee Stallion’s metallic bodysuit. 
style Apr. 13, 2022
A Look Inside the New Museum’s Spring Gala  Featuring all the best looks. 
grammys 2022 Apr. 3, 2022
Grammy Awards 2022 Red Carpet: All the Looks  Lady Gaga, Olivia Rodrigo, Lenny Kravitz, Lil Nas X, Billie Eilish, and more. 
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
  • About The Cut
  • About New York Magazine
  • Newsletters
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • We’re Hiring
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Ad Choices
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Accessibility
The Cut is a Vox Media Network. © 2023 Vox Media, LLC. All rights reserved.