Women’s figure skating subtle fashion moments

The back of the Russian one-season wonders
Anna Scherabakova, Kamila Valieva, and Alexandra Trusova were the falling and rising stars of this year. Behind the spider-web-inspired lacing hide the fragile backs of teenage athletes. To be able to perform many of the ultra C elements (the squads which they are known for) they put a huge restrain on their back, pre-rotating before jumping off the ice. These tricks do not only rely on the dangerous twist of their tiny frame but also on their pre-puberty lightweight ‒ the reason for the short-term career of these skaters, forcing them to constantly look behind their back for the new (younger) skating star. Keep an eye on these girls’ backs as they take off.

Eteri Tutberizi’s style development

Even without diving into the backstory (though we do recommend diving into the backstory) the presence of this woman makes us tense. She’s been the coach of Anna Scherabakova, Kamila Valieva and Alexandra Trusova, and numerous other skating stars since 2014. So interesting to witness her personal brand building and style development that happened simultaneously to her successful (and brutal) coaching evolution.

The warm-up outfits

In such a highly curated performance there is something so beautiful about the often accidental mixture of lace, diamonds, and down jackets visible at the warm-up.

The not so invisible gloves
We love how coloured gloves can highlight the movements of the hands and the alignment of the body. These beige coloured ones, however, are supposed to be almost invisible, reminding us that dancing on ice is actually very cold and you have to wear gloves even if they ruin your outfit.

The even less invisible hints of injuries

Injuries and falling are a part of athletes pushing the boundaries. The marks of these efforts are particularly visible now that the female figure skaters have been attempting (and succeeding at) tricks previously thought impossible.

 Stuffed animals

On the ice, in the ceremonies, sitting on the ring during competitions, hugged for emotional support. Stuffed animals were everywhere in Beijing.

The coaches’ gear
Similar to the athletes during warm-up, the coaches often wear a contrasting (dare we say, deconstructivist?) mix of practical gear, Olympic merch and formal attire.

Adam Rippon’s Kiss & Cry outfits

Now that we covered a few more subtle elements of the figure skating fashion world, we do appreciate the choices of the most stylish person on the ice: former ice skater Adam Rippon’s outfits, to be seen in Maria Bell’s Kiss & Cry.

Trusova’s dog’s outfit
Stealing the scene in the 2019 Grand Prix, there is something about this tiny and scared creature dressed up in a matching figure skating outfit. We would like to see more of these alternative bodies hitting the ice.