Figure skating. How to create a champion suit

Figure skating is one of the most popular and spectacular sports, both in Russia and around the world. Each performance of the athletes resembles a small theatrical performance, where a great role is given not only to the impeccable performance of the program, but also clothing for the competition. For a long time passed those times when faceless, not reflecting the mood and content of the performance, men's and women's costumes were considered to be generally accepted and established norm. Now, with the beginning of the new century, fashion trends in figure skating have changed significantly.

Particular attention, both from judges and spectators, is paid to women's costumes for performances. And it is not surprising, because the dresses of the skaters are whole works of art, comparable in complexity to the design only with leotards for rhythmic gymnastics. This is especially noticeable in the dresses of girls performing in an arbitrary program.

In modern figure skating, as in any other sport, specific and rather stringent requirements are put on the clothes for performances:

• Excess nudity is unacceptable. It's no secret that many skaters often use a flesh-colored net to open certain areas of the body, and also to emphasize the figure. But the area of the breast and the inguinal zone must necessarily be covered with an opaque tissue.
• Comfort is  first. The costume simply has to be comfortable, and this, in the first place, depends on how thoroughly the athlete's clothes are decorated with accessories and other decor elements. If during the performance something flies to the ice or breaks, the referee team is guaranteed to reduce the rating.
• Excessive pretentiousness and theatricality of the dress will also not add points to the rental. Everything should be in moderation.

The designer has a huge task: to create an original and stylish costume for performances, reflecting not only the music and creative intentions of the program director, but also the character and image of the athlete himself. The design of clothes directly depends on the composition and artistic image of the figure skater, which she reveals on the ice. The most popular are fitted dresses and leotards with flying skirts of chiffon, mesh, fringe or other materials. Add rhinestones with accessories, and the clothes will look just amazing.

A striking example is the dress of the two-time European and European champion Evgeniya Medvedeva, in which she performed an arbitrary program at the 2018 European Under the soundtrack to the film Anna Karenina. The original dress-sarafan with lacing on the back of a deep burgundy color emphasizes the fragile and feminine figure of the girl, and the rich ornament of beads and pearls on the neck and short gloves quite plausibly recreate the spirit of that era and make the image complete.

Also, huge popularity is gained by leotard on straps with a ballet tutu instead of a skirt. Suffice it to look at the costume of Alina Zagitova, the young figure skating star who, after an arbitrary program in women's single skating, took the gold at the last European Championships held in Moscow.

Exquisite, fiery red with gold floral ornament skater costume not only fits perfectly to the classical composition "Don Quixote - Pas de deux" by Ludwig Minkus, but also emphasizes the outstanding appearance and character of the girl. In addition to the basic leotard with a pack as an accessory gloves are used to the elbow, complementing the image of the prima ballerina on the ice. In general, to the choice of any accessories all skaters are treated with special trepidation. Every detail matters here.

For sewing competitive costumes, fabrics with good stretchability (stretch net, lycra, supplex, stretch velvet, holography, oil and others) are used mainly to make it easier for the athletes to move and perform elements of varying complexity. And for decoration, various applications are used, acrylic colors with sparkles, beads, rhinestones, sequins, stones and so on. The top of professionalism in the dressing of the dress is considered to be sticking out the rhinestones in such a way that they seemed more than they really are. The main thing is to place the accents correctly.

To date, there is a huge selection of costumes, leotards and dresses for performances in figure skating. However, not every model meets all established requirements. Online store danceplus.ru offers a wide selection of quality and original costumes for figure skating at an affordable price for current and future champions! Bright and juicy colors, unique design and non-standard styles of our clothes for performances will be exactly to the liking of both young and experienced athletes. Speak with pleasure, and the champion's suit will take care of “Gymnastics Fantastic”!