Get ready todiscoverfestivals, must-see performances, and hidden gallery shows. Part of HuffPost Style & Beauty. Philippe Candeloro of France in a pirate-esque costume at the 1998 Olympics. 5. At the peak of her professional skating career, Katarina Witt could have expected to earn in the region $1.5 million a year. From Sports Illustrated: Perhaps it's not an accident that the rules for the skaters' costumes are kept relatively lax after all, there's a lot to keep in mind when you're on the ice, and whether your butt cheeks are showing or not. Kerrigan, of the U.S., performing at the 1994 Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway, where she won the silver medal. For all its glamour, figure skating is one of the toughest sports to master. Katarina Witt, a competitor from East Germany, performed in a blue costume, adorned at the waist with feathers instead of a skirt, the likes of which barely covered her posterior as she moved. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The 23-year-old took to the ice in black leggings that appeared to be attached to a gold and black sparkly sleeveless top. There was one scandalous moment at the 1988 Winter Olympics that changed the rules of competitive figure skating costumery for a decade-and-a-half, anyways. This is the calendar that will keep you at the forefront of the cultural scene this [], Welcome to this interview with Johannes Breyer, Co-Founder and Creative Director at Dinamo. The American skater performing during the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. Her colorful and vibrant artwork celebrates diversity, representation, and equality. July 26, 2001 -- When Katarina Witt glided onto the ice, the world watched every move of the beautiful East German figure skater. These Twitter reactions sum it up. According to the NBC Olympics page, Ladies in singles and pairs can wear a skirt, pants or tights. However, that wasnt always the rule. Both of these hardcore costume bans were lifted in 2003, and since then, the ISU has kept the Olympic figure skating dress code rules relatively subjective at least for women. The rule is you have to be 50 percent covered with material, which I was but, it depends on how tastefully you do it. The Ukrainian athlete competing in the free skate portion of the ladies singles event at the 1994 Winter Olympic Games on Feb. 25, 1994, at the Hamar Olympic Amphitheatre in Lillehammer, Norway. Arakawa, of Japan, performing during the free skating program of the ladies singles event during the 2006 Winter Olympics on Feb. 23, 2006, at Palavela in Turin, Italy. Mit might prefer pants; she competed in the same costume at the womens short program dance during the Internationaux de France ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Grenoble, France, in November. The award-winning film I, Tonya in which Margot Robbie portrays the life of American skater Tonya Hardingrecreated the pleated teal outfit Harding wore for the U.S. Albright of the United States displaying her grace and technique during her free skating program at the 1956 Winter Olympics. Ito, of Japan, performing at the 1992 Olympic Games in Albertville, France. She won her first at the 1984 Sarajevo games and her second four years later at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. But behind the curtain, her East . Sarah Hughes wore a lavender dress with a beaded bodice for the Salt Lake City Olympics, at which she won a gold medal in the ladies free program. Part of HuffPost Style & Beauty. Cohen refers to the red velvet and gold embroidered dress that she won her silver medal in at the Turin Olympics as her "Romeo and Juliet dress.". So much so that after television network CBS lost the rights to broadcast NFL football games, they turned to figure skating (and the Gone With the Wind sequel miniseries Scarlett, because frankly my dear, lots of people dont give a damn about football) to save their November sweeps. She was also paid seven figures to pose, making her one of the highest paid models for Playboy in the 1990s. Johnny Weir selected a V-neck embellished jumpsuit complete with white gloves for his routine at the Vancouver Olympics. Photo: Getty Images Brian Boitano of the United States in a billowing, V-neck blouse and skintight pants at the 1988 Olympics. Katarina Witt, (born December 3, 1965, Karl-Marx-Stadt, East Germany [now Chemnitz, Germany]), German figure skater who was the first woman to win consecutive Olympic gold medals (1984 and 1988) in singles figure skating since Sonja Henie in 1936. German skater Katarina Witt in a red design with a low-cut sheer panel and very '80s sleeves at the 1988 Games. The American skater competing in the free skate portion of the ladies singles event at the 1994 Winter Olympics on Feb. 25, 1994, at the Hamar Olympic Hall in Lillehammer, Norway. Or as Bustle put it, Katarina Wittts butt cheek single-handedly changed the figure skating dress code for over a decade. That is how serious it is. Graceful figure skating twists and turns against a backdrop of NYC skyscrapers pair with Ella Fitzgerald crooning Autumn in New York, then suddenly break way to John Mellencamps and Meshell Ndegeocellos Wild Night and eight figure skaters going absolutely bananas on the ice, with Katarina Witt wearing a Robin Hood outfit. Yes, long before anyone would break the internet, Witt and her butt cheeks broke the magazine racks. And they have. Competing for her 9th consecutive U.S. Champion title, Michelle Kwan wore a one-shouldered gold sequin dress. But back in 1988 . This French Figure Skater May Not Have Won A Medal, But Her Pants Took People's Choice. You've hit your max! Lynn, representing the U.S. at 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France. I'm with it. Gracie Gold represented the United States at the Sochi Olympic Games in a theatrical red velvet dress with an embellished necklace and rosebud detail. "If youre going for strapless, it's nice to have that nude in there, to make everything stay," he told Slate,suggesting that flesh-colored panels help ensure modesty, but also a better, more flexible fit. Sparkles reign supreme today, but they weren't always the norm. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Beatrix Schuba represented Austria in a bejeweled blazer-like design when she won an Olympic gold medal in Sapporo, Japan. not to mention a backflipping Surya Bonaly! The skater from East Germany skating during the 1984 Winter Olympics held in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, on Feb. 18, 1984. Katarina Witt performs on stage during the 'Jedermann' dress rehearsal at the Berlin Cathedral Church on October 13, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. Her blue figure skating dress had feathers adorned at the waist instead of a skirt and was barely covering her posterior. As soon as the skirt-only ice age melted away, Russian skater Irina Slutskaya wore a fiery bodysuit at the 2006 Olympics. Dinamo is not just a design practice, it is a way of thinking that applies interesting concepts to a wide range of production areas, from typography and design to research and consulting. Ice skating costumes have often been a great example of what constitutes "sexy" attire maybe it's just the chill thrill of the rink, but skaters' attire has often been boundary-pushing (and, in olden times, modesty-pushing too). The three medal winners Lynn of the U.S., Schuba of Austria, Magnussen of Canada in ladies singles figure skating at the Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan, Feb. 7, 1972. She was of course up against Thomas, and the drama was high as both Witt and Thomas chose music from Carmen to skate to, letting the media bill this like a professional wrestling bout: The Battle of the Carmens. The East German Stasi (secret police) kept 3,500 pages of files on her, as they monitored her every move in the late 70s/80s, ensuring she could be seen as the most beautiful face of socialism. The East German government even got involved in Witts first relationship, forcibly stationing her boyfriend at a military post far away to make sure Witt wasnt distracted by a boy in her pursuit for Olympic gold. Including some of the best from the games in Beijing. Sweet dreams of rhythm and triple lutzes! Accessories and props are not permitted. American figure skater Gretchen Merrill in a button-down shirt and pleated skirt at the 1948 Winter Games. When the first Olympic figure skating competition launched in the 1920s, costumes were designed with the cold weather in mind. Performing during the ladies short program as part of the figure skating team event at the 2018 Winter Olympics at the Gangneung Ice Arena. Cosmopolitan participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Unlike the dress code, the actual rules of competitive figure skating which has been around for over 100 years are complicated enough to make your head spin. And Witt wasn't the only who'd offended the delicate sensibilities of the judges, either. And then you wait for CBS to call and say two magical words: Ice Wars.. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. The French skater performing her free program during the Winter Olympics Feb. 21, 1992, in Albertville. ESPN dove deep into this moment in a documentary called The Diplomat which, if you can get your hands on a copy, is a great journey into the intersection of sports, politics, and the Cold War. South Korea's Yuna Kim performs in the Ladies' Free skating program at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, during the 2010 Winter Olympics on Feb. 25, 2010. Katarina Witt performs on stage during the 'Jedermann' (Everyman) dress rehearsal at the Berlin Cathedral Church (Berliner Dom) on October 13, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. I Was a Teenage Catfish and I Regret Nothing. AP But after Katarina Witt famously competed in the 1998 Olympics in a scandalously short, feathery blue costume that officials deemed too revealing, the International Skating Union stepped in and put official dress code regulations in place. Russian team Oksana Grichtchuk (in a steamy mesh-illusion crop top) and Evgeni Platov (in a suit) at the 1994 Olympics. Then why dont more women wear pants? I'd be walking through an airport and I'd see someone with the issue of Playboy in their hands, and they'd see me, and their eyes would go right to my chest. . Create an account and youll be able to save and revisit articles. As the New York Times recently noted, two-time gold medalist Katarina Witt has written about how, in 1987, her costume slipped during a competition and she was forced to finish the routine with. Yes, most competitors stick to the glitzy, skirted bodysuit situations that our brains automatically associate with figure skating but over the years, many have put variations on the classics. Janet Lynn, Beatrix Schuba and Karin Magnussen, 1972. The event led to a change of costume-rules, which got their latest update in 2016. Wish she'd done a whole program to Beyonce songs. As difficult as it is, Olympic figure skaters make it look effortless, and their intricately designed dresses are all part of the illusion. French skater Philippe Candeloro in a Braveheart-inspired costume at the Goodwill Games in 2000. Town & Country participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. SI Staff Dec 2, 2015 Rare Photos of. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. For real. 1988: Katarina Witt Although it looks relatively tame today, this was the look heard around the figure skating world.

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