2009-2010 Season in Review: Part 9 of 16
Pairs: Part 1 of 4
Mylene Brodeur/John Matatall. Current World
Ranking: #14
Short Program: What A Wonderful World by Weiss
These are nice, basic costumes for us to start our pairs review with. We really like Brodeur's dress, particularly the color. We're not so sure about Matatall (velvet onesies aren't really our thing) but the costumes tie together without being exactly the same.
These are nice, basic costumes for us to start our pairs review with. We really like Brodeur's dress, particularly the color. We're not so sure about Matatall (velvet onesies aren't really our thing) but the costumes tie together without being exactly the same.
Free Skate: Have Lunch With Me / Singin' In The Rain
So Brodeur and Matatall went with the typical strategy for men's pairs costumes, which is using menswear with a little twist to tie it into the woman's costume. It's a nice strategy that usually works fine, because usually men don't do it by sporting an old Limited Too print. All that really needs to be said about this costume is that, in our notes on these costumes, both of us completely forgot to mention Brodeur's dress. And that can't be a good sign.
So Brodeur and Matatall went with the typical strategy for men's pairs costumes, which is using menswear with a little twist to tie it into the woman's costume. It's a nice strategy that usually works fine, because usually men don't do it by sporting an old Limited Too print. All that really needs to be said about this costume is that, in our notes on these costumes, both of us completely forgot to mention Brodeur's dress. And that can't be a good sign.
Annabelle Langlois/Cody Hay. Current World
Ranking: #32
Short Program: Fascination Waltz by Filippo Marchetti
When we started discussing the costumes in this post, Bee said to Elle, "All of the costumes for the next post are hideous except for one program." Elle agreed, and then there was a very tense moment while we each wondered which costumes the other was thinking of, and if our friendship was about to be torn apart. Luckily, we were both thinking of these. We totally love these costumes. In fact, this exemplifies what we're looking for in good pairs costumes. Langlois's dress is perfect, both beautiful on its own and understated enough to work well with a partner's costume. We adore the color, especially since it works for both of them. They look clean, put-together, and classic. Well done.
When we started discussing the costumes in this post, Bee said to Elle, "All of the costumes for the next post are hideous except for one program." Elle agreed, and then there was a very tense moment while we each wondered which costumes the other was thinking of, and if our friendship was about to be torn apart. Luckily, we were both thinking of these. We totally love these costumes. In fact, this exemplifies what we're looking for in good pairs costumes. Langlois's dress is perfect, both beautiful on its own and understated enough to work well with a partner's costume. We adore the color, especially since it works for both of them. They look clean, put-together, and classic. Well done.
Free Skate: Grand Canyon Suite by Ferde Grofé
Unfortunately, Langlois and Hay used up all their good ideas on that one program. This is a total disaster. Elle's reaction to these costumes was sad disbelief. "But they're pairs skaters," she said. "They don't have to do this. All they have to do is find a nice dress and, like, a matching tie. That's it." Bee's reaction was a rambling anecdote about about watching summer sunsets with her dad, and the way he would compare the sky to the cover of the Allman Brothers album "Eat A Peach". Clearly, the horror of seeing these costumes left her unbalanced.
Unfortunately, Langlois and Hay used up all their good ideas on that one program. This is a total disaster. Elle's reaction to these costumes was sad disbelief. "But they're pairs skaters," she said. "They don't have to do this. All they have to do is find a nice dress and, like, a matching tie. That's it." Bee's reaction was a rambling anecdote about about watching summer sunsets with her dad, and the way he would compare the sky to the cover of the Allman Brothers album "Eat A Peach". Clearly, the horror of seeing these costumes left her unbalanced.
Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett. Current World Ranking: #13
Short Program: Firebird by Igor Stravinski
Firebird is the Freebird of figure skating programs. When you're really drunk, it seems like a good idea to suggest it, but then you sober up and you're left with costumes like this. Just once, we'd like to see someone skate to this and wear blue or green, but that's a lot to ask of skaters. Evan Lysacek wore black, but then again, of course he did.
Firebird is the Freebird of figure skating programs. When you're really drunk, it seems like a good idea to suggest it, but then you sober up and you're left with costumes like this. Just once, we'd like to see someone skate to this and wear blue or green, but that's a lot to ask of skaters. Evan Lysacek wore black, but then again, of course he did.
Free Skate: Sheherazade by Nikolai Rimski Korsakov
We hold pairs to different standards than we hold singles skaters, and let them get away with a lot of things we would rip singles skaters apart for. But this is just bad. Denney's costume falls victim to the same problem that Carolina Kostner's Olympics free skate costume did. It's not alright to cover your chest with a big X and then fill in the rest with illusion mesh. You can actually afford to buy more fabric.
We hold pairs to different standards than we hold singles skaters, and let them get away with a lot of things we would rip singles skaters apart for. But this is just bad. Denney's costume falls victim to the same problem that Carolina Kostner's Olympics free skate costume did. It's not alright to cover your chest with a big X and then fill in the rest with illusion mesh. You can actually afford to buy more fabric.
Stacey Kemp and David King. Current World Ranking: #24
Short Program: Numb by Linkin Park & Jay Z
We really like Kemp's dress. In fact, if Kemp skated singles, we'd congratulate her for picking a dress that is class and not too flashy. It has rhinestones and purple mesh and it's not hideous. However, instead of coordinating outfits, like most pairs do, Kemp and King decided to wear the same thing and the purple mesh sleeved shirt is a little bit gross on him.
We really like Kemp's dress. In fact, if Kemp skated singles, we'd congratulate her for picking a dress that is class and not too flashy. It has rhinestones and purple mesh and it's not hideous. However, instead of coordinating outfits, like most pairs do, Kemp and King decided to wear the same thing and the purple mesh sleeved shirt is a little bit gross on him.
Free Skate: Fantasie for Piano and Orchestra by M. Kaplan
Apparently, Kemp and King spend all of their costuming effort designing something for her and then just making it into a shirt for him. Which doesn't actually work. We are pretty much in love with Kemp's dress. It would be amazing for her as a singles skater, but paired with King's red shirt, it's too much. We just want King to put on a white shirt and let her dress really stand out.
Apparently, Kemp and King spend all of their costuming effort designing something for her and then just making it into a shirt for him. Which doesn't actually work. We are pretty much in love with Kemp's dress. It would be amazing for her as a singles skater, but paired with King's red shirt, it's too much. We just want King to put on a white shirt and let her dress really stand out.
Nicole Della Monica and Yannick Kocon. Current
World Ranking: #17
Short Program: Angels and Demons (soundtrack) by Hans Zimmer
Bee is absolutely in love with the sweetheart neckline on Della Monica's dress, but the one-sleeve look puts Elle off to the point where she can't enjoy it. We spent too long arguing over the dress to properly pay attention to Kocon.
Bee is absolutely in love with the sweetheart neckline on Della Monica's dress, but the one-sleeve look puts Elle off to the point where she can't enjoy it. We spent too long arguing over the dress to properly pay attention to Kocon.
Free Skate: The Mission (soundtrack) by Ennio Morricone
We don't ask for a lot in pairs skating costumes. In fact, we think this might be a good example of pairs costumes that we don't love, but are fine with. Our criteria is as follows: Is the lady's dress pretty? Is the color acceptable? Do the costumes go together without looking too much like the same costume? These costumes meet all of our requirements.
We don't ask for a lot in pairs skating costumes. In fact, we think this might be a good example of pairs costumes that we don't love, but are fine with. Our criteria is as follows: Is the lady's dress pretty? Is the color acceptable? Do the costumes go together without looking too much like the same costume? These costumes meet all of our requirements.
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