NBC Los Angeles: Figure skating is a sport filled with beauty and artistry. But beyond their stunning performances, Olympic figure skaters also rely on what they wear to make a statement on the ice. Two designers from Southern California are helping dress some of the figure skaters competing at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
5 comments:
I’ve been a fan of figure skating for years now. I usually manage to find the time to watch at least one or two live events in the Olympics, though I often end up watching the reels. It's quite gorgeous what they do, and it takes an unbelievable amount of effort to get to where these athletes are. The sketches are gorgeous, and the building process for them is impressive. It’s a point of contention in the community, but judges give points to “presentation” which is why costumes are such a big deal for the skaters and why designers play such a particular role in their performances. I have a friend who did figure skating growing up -- now mostly retired -- and who has told me countless stories of watching the dresses and jumpsuits rise and fall with the athletes, describing in detail the theatrics of it all. I know as a viewer that it is much more fun to watch a skater fly enveloped in silk than fluorescent nylon, which I hope attests to the importance of costume design during these events.
The costumes are, to me, half the fun of watching the olympic figure skating. The crystals, the colors, the absolute balance between beauty, elegance, and function has always been stunning. Knowing now where some of the designs and costumes come from is so much fun. I love the idea that some of the skaters have superstitions about colors and about some other specifics. It makes the meaning behind the colors that are chosen so much more fun. It makes me wonder what all of the colors mean and what thought went into the difference decisions about the costumes. I would love to find an article that goes more in-depth about the process of designing the costumes. And a whole separate one on the incredible construction. The tiny details that go into each garment would be so interesting to learn more about. The hand made aspect is incredible. Absolutely stunning. I love everything about these designers and their wonderful, wonderful creation.
As someone in the technical theatre industry, I immediately pay attention to details such as these when engaging with any sort of performance. In this case, the Olympics is no different. I always wonder about how this costume or that hair style was decided upon and how practicality had to be kept in mind as the main goal is to be able to do the actual performance. It is interesting even in the most unique industries that collaboration is the foundation for a successful outcome. In this case, these costumes are designed with input from the skaters, coach, costume designers, and choreographer. I see a lot of parallels between this and how this system works in the theatre industry because everything is a collaboration with designers, the director, the choreographer, etc. similarly to the skaters’ costume process. A component here that I am sure is considered is that these skaters are performing on ice, which could influence what they are wearing as they do not want to be washed out by the shiny white floor they are on.
I think athletic costuming is hugely underrated. The skill it takes to engineer and create something as beautiful, yet resilient is incredible. It has to stand the test of an extreme amount of stress and wear, and yet it is not the main show. When she says, “the fit must be a perfect fit” I feel that is very telling. It demonstrates just how much skill and accuracy the piece requires, and also how it must fit the design of the athlete and their performance. In competition sports like figure skating or gymnastics, aesthetics and presentation truly matter. It has the ability to elevate the performance to a feat, or bring it down and make it look messy. Ultimately, the team (coaches, athletes, directors, sponsors alike) is putting a huge amount of trust into the hands of the designer. I love that this article was written in the lens of an artist having passion and love for furthering another artist’s vision.
I remember watching the Winter Olympics as a kid and always enjoying watching how the costumes reflected the routine of the ice skaters. I am impressed with how much thought and detail goes into each costume; I never realized how individually tailored each costume is. I thought they were similar to dance school costumes, which typically come from a catalog. It is sweet that some skaters have superstitions about certain colors, but every industry has their own special quirks. The red costume sketch reminds me a lot of the costume from Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir's Moulin Rouge ice dance routine from the 2018 Olympics, which is a great way to see how arts and sports can melt together. I wish the article went into more detail on the production of the costumes; I want to know more about how they pick different fabrics, how they make sure all embellishments stay securely attached and if there are functional reasons behind certain design features.
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