2009-2010 Pairs: Part Four

2009-2010 Season in Review: Part 12 of 16

Pairs: Part 4 of 4

 

Maria Mukhortova/Maxim Trankov. Current World Ranking: #5

Short Program: Appassionata by Secret Garden

Bee and Elle's long-standing fight over dip-dying took an unexpected turn when Elle admitted that even she couldn't defend this look. The Jesus look is also not something we really get behind. We agree that changing Mukhortova's dress was probably a good idea, but Bee thinks the newer version of the dress looks like something you'd wear to an eighth grade dance. The sleeves on the earlier version just looked like they'd get in the way, and that should never be a concern during a program.

Free Skate: Love Story (soundtrack) by Francis Lai

Trankov might have looked good in the original version of this costume, but Mukhortova looked like she was just stepping out of ballet class. Bee is kinda obsessed with gray though and loves all gray pants by default. We're glad that he used this costume again for gala performances, because he looks great. We like the newer version of these. We could do without the giant heart on Murkortova's chest, but otherwise her dress is stunning. We're in awe of the lack of illusion mesh she has going on. Very brave. Trankov looks wonderful again.

 

Zhang Dan/Zhang Hao. Current World Ranking: #4

Short Program: Piano Fantasy by William Joesph performed by Maksim Mrvica

We don't understand why Zhang and Zhang changed these costumes. The Cup of China ones were flattering on both of them, and just the perfect amount of flash. The changed costumes look messy and ragged. That said, Elle does really love Zhang Dan's haircut.

Free Skate: Sheherazade by Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov

We are speechless on the topic of the Skate America costumes. Elle really likes the changed ones, Bee thinks they're too 2002 and mall goth. She also hates the big gold wrestling belts. Elle thinks they're a little dumb, but overall she's so glad they changed their costumes she doesn't care.

Yuko Kavaguti/Alexander Smirnov. Current World Ranking: #3

Short Program: The Swan by Camille Saint-Saens

It's really tempting for us to say that our problem with these costumes is that they're too literal. But considering how much we both loved Johnny Weir's 2005-2006 SP costume, that probably shouldn't be the wording we use. There's just something awkward about the mesh and giant swan cut-out look that Kavaguti and Smirnov are rocking. Yes, in case you couldn't tell, both of them have a giant, sparkly swan silhouette on the front of their costumes.

 

Free Skate: Valse Sentimentale by P. I. Tchaikovsky/The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss

We've talked about how much we hate skating versions of real clothes a handful of times now, but Alexander Smirnov's costume here is a good example of this travesty. Men basically have three costume options: a onesie, pants and a shirt, or lycra pants and a shirt. These stretchy gems don't even have a waist band. As for Kavaguti? We're not sure why some skaters like to stick giant symbols on their chests (Hearts, crosses, swans...) but we've seen quite enough of it. Bee really likes the trim at the waist of Kavaguti's skirt, but we're both confused by her little bolero. The sperm costumes were kinda creepy, but at least Smirnov was wearing something resembling clothes and you didn't have to fight back the urge to sew Kavaguti's sleeves to her costume.

 

Pang Qing/Tong Jian. Current World Ranking: #2

Short Program: Je crois entendre encore from "The Pearl Fishers" by Georges Bizet

This is one of the few times where the man's costume was a bigger trainwreck than the woman's. In fact, we're sort of impressed. Bee called this "so bad it's almost good again", and Elle said it gave her warm feelings to see the man subjected to an abuse of illusion mesh and useless froofy decorations. At least it's equal opportunity! Bee just wishes they'd skated to the Jurassic Park soundtrack, because the ruffle down Tong's pant leg reminds her of a stegosaurus.

Free Skate: Impossible Dream from "Man of La Mancha" by Joe Hisaishi

These costumes remind Elle of Amy Sarabi's Project Runway clownfish pants. She likes the later ones more than the Cup of Russia version, although we both think that Pang's dress at Cup of Russia went better with Tong's shirt. Overall, Elle thinks the changed dress is visually interesting, but not actually very pretty. Bee likes Pang's Cup of Russia dress, especially since it's similar to the Nicole Della Monica dress that we fought over.

 

Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy. Current World Ranking: #1

Short Program: Send in the Clowns by Stephen Sondheim performed by Danny Wright

These are bad, but it's kind of dumb to criticize them because they're clearly not supposed to be classy or beautiful. They're clown costumes. We actually sort of like the fact that their giant buttons are made of rhinestones. Szolkowy looks like a stoplight and Bee had those rhinestone-hemmed flare pants in fifth grade. (Doing these reviews leads to us referencing our elementary/middle school wardrobes a lot. What does that say about figure skaters?)

Free Skate: Out of Africa (soundtrack) by John Barry/You'll Never Walk Alone (Carousel Soundtrack) by Richard Rodgers, performed by Andre Rieu

Bee is in love with Savchenko's dress. "I would wear this off the ice," she said, and Elle agreed. It's exactly her personal style. Elle likes the dress, too, although she was annoyed by these costumes because it was so hard to find pictures where the white didn't blend into the ice. We're not sure why so many skaters do that. Szolkowy looks fine.

[Photo Credits: Mukhortova/Trankov SP1, FS1,2,&3; Zhang/Zhang SP3, FS4; Kavaguti/Smirnov SP2, FS1; Pang/Tong SP2, FS1; Savchenko/Szolkowy SP3, FS1: Reuters. Mukhortova/Trankov FS4: AP. Mukhortova/Trankov SP 2&3; Zhang/Zhang SP1&2, FS1,2,&3; Kavaguti/Smirnov SP1, FS2&3; Pang/Tong SP2&3, FS2; Savchenko/Szolkowy SP1&2, FS2: Getty.]