So sorry for the delay in this fashion post but consider it my holiday present!  Here is my advice to the skaters, based on the Grand Prix season:

Don't:  Be a man with a cleavage issue.  But if you are, at least there is help these days:

The bandeau for him, modeled by Hao Zhang
The corset with hot pink laces, a new Johnny Weir signature
The circle bra. Ok, so it doesn't provide much coverage, but doesn't Brent Bommentre sell it?

And if all else fails, let it all hang out with torso mesh.  Thank you, Evan Lysacek, for creating an online fervor over whether certain parts of your anatomy were visible through your  various outfits.

Continue reading this post »

Figure skating continues to have a hold on the fashion industry, as designer Jack McCollough said Proenza Schouler's spring 2010 line was inspired by "skating, surfing, sports," according to www.girlawhirl.com:

Though there was not one blade in the collection, ice princesses did stream down the catwalk, with micro short skirts that looked like training jackets wrapped around the hip, worn with boyish blazers. There was a sense of athlete returning from the sports stadium about many looks – running track pants in high tech nylons and taut chemises, ideal for gymnastics - and a chic lunch.

McCollough and partner Lazaro Hernandez – the design duo that launched the label six years ago – also reinvented their famous corset silhouette. Gone were the laced bustiers; in came colorful athletic bras.

The pair carefully avoided any too literal an interpretation of active sports, especially for evening, when they raised the tempo with a delightful series of tropical print skirts and dresses, though again cut as wrapped around the waist. They even added feathers, sequins and ribbons to some fabulous curvy minis and drew gasps from many members of the audience with a final trio of sexy dresses in hues worthy of tropical Balinese fish.

You can check out some of the fashions at New York Magazine's website. What do you think?

I just had to wake myself up from the REM cycle that was induced by the blah-ness of the dresses worn by Kristi Yamaguchi and Michelle Kwan at Wednesday's ESPY awards, seen at website Fashpack. Both dresses are gorgeous and both ladies are gorgeous as always...but I would love to see some color!

Do figure skaters wear tube tops? Because, I feel like that would be....unadvisable. Really, Urban Outfitters. Come on!

I have done one other fashion blog this season so if it seems like anything is missing, you might find it there. Here are some observations on the outfits we were privileged to see at the world championships.

Elena Gedevanishvili of Georgia had a great free skate at the world championships this year, and she ended up the night in 10th place. Unfortunately, she did all of this wearing my neon pink and green tap costume from 1990. Day-glo was cooler then, but I appreciate her attempts to bring it back.

Best quick change from maitre-d to Rico Suave: Your 2009 World Champion Evan Lysacek. I will admit I didn't love the cushy blue tuxedo, but who knew that two days later at the ladies free skate Evan would be stepping out in a v-necked shirt that showed off his various gold necklaces, a blazer, and some sort of floppy 1970s hair-do? Not me. I think he's performing at the Copa Cabana all week.

Best nail/costume coordination: Japan's Mao Asada. I especially like how her nails reflect the sparklies on her costume. And I feel like I've seen this before from her. Well done.

Alex P. Keaton impersonation I can most get behind: Ice dancer Matthieu Jost of France. There were several other vests donned in this figure skating competition, but his was the only one I saw that appeared to be an argyle sweater vest. I am a sucker for a sweater vest.

Couple with the most egregious crucifix obsession: Tanith Belbin and Evan Lysacek. No, they didn't skate together. But Lysacek wore a cross during his short program and Belbin rocked a rather large one during her free skate. Way to ward off vampires, guys.

Dear Jana Khokhlova: Tinkerbell called and would like her dress and hair color back. However, you can keep the hat. Toodles!

Too Cool for School Award: Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir in the free skate. I don't know if I saw any sequins at all, and I feel like maybe I've worn each of their outfits to yoga or something. I loved their free skate but I was quite distracted by her pants leg warmers and how low on the boot they were. I'm fairly certain that if I tried to skate in those pants I would face plant. Which would be more entertaining than my skating anyway. They definitely fit the Pink Floyd vibe.

I loved Belbin and Agosto's original dance and her outfit was superb. But Agosto? Maybe next time, a little less Saturday night fever.

Speaking of Saturday night fever, there is going to be a South Beach club dance-off! In one corner, Canadian Vaughn "What do you mean I'm not on the VIP list? Have you SEEN my shirt?" Chipeur. In the other corner, Brian "mesh is the new black" Joubert. But, there is word that Joubert will only dance if the club plays the Matrix soundtrack. Sigh...why is he being so difficult!? Don't forget the glow sticks!

Skeletor Award: Kevin van der Perren reminds me of the Halloween scene in Karate Kid where the "bad guys" are dressed as skeletons and they chase down our hero, Daniel LaRusso, who is dressed as a...shower. Note to van der Perren: bad guys wear visible bones! Don't be a bad guy.

When I was younger and I read the book Heidi, I always thought that Heidi would stay in the mountains with the grandfather and marry the goat herder Peter and be happy. I did not think that Heidi would grow up to join a brothel. But Maria Mukhortova has proved me wrong. Damn you, Maria!

One of my old journalism school classmates, Andrew Harmon, has a great article in the Los Angeles Times today about the evolution of U.S. male figure skating fashion. Here's an excerpt:

Skaters used to be threatened with point deductions for outlandish costumes. Not so under the sport's current scoring system, implemented after a judging scandal at the 2002 Winter Olympics. "I think a lot of male skaters see [embellished costumes] as part of the whole package, that it will enhance their marks," says Evan Lysacek, a two-time U.S. champion. "Maybe it's helping. If you don't skate very fast, and you have a shiny outfit, it looks like you're going faster. With a simple costume, you can't hide behind much."

There are also some quotes from Jeremy Abbott and of course, the king of figure skating fashion, Johnny Weir. Be sure to check it out!

Michelle Kwan was at the Grammy Awards this weekend, per this Celebs Fashion blog. And she looked lovely as usual. I'm not sure I love the dress on her but I think it depends on the photo.

Per the Seattle Times (via Kwantifiable), designer Vera Wang will be inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame on Jan. 23 during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Cleveland. I am assuming she is being inducted for her design contributions to the sport.

"The only thing that I loved as much as skating were clothes," Wang once said.

Wang began skating when she was 8 and twice reached the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, finishing fifth in junior pairs with James Stuart in 1968. She worked at Vogue — where she was the youngest-ever fashion editor — and Ralph Lauren before opening her own boutique in 1990, selling her trademark wedding dresses and couture gowns.