Canada's Joannie Rochette in the ladies figure skating event at the 2010 Winter Olympics at Pacific Coliseum on Feb. 23, 2010, in Vancouver, Canada. Gracie Gold represented the United States at the Sochi Olympic Games in a theatrical red velvet dress with an embellished necklace and rosebud detail. , She might have had no intention of making this into a spectacle, but it certainly will arouse the judges, Dr. Ruth said. Real good. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Womens figure skating is, hands down, one of the most visually stunning events to watch at the Olympics. The American athlete competing in the Winter Olympics at the Zetra Ice Stadium in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, February 1984. A Canadian coach called it practically a g-string (one has to wonder if this Canadian coach ever saw a g-string), and even Dr. Ruth was contacted by Reuters to comment on the dress. Sweet dreams of rhythm and triple lutzes! Michelle Kwan, for example, popularized a look that was more swimsuit than skating, eschewing beaded sleeves for spaghetti straps. Yes, you read that right: A figure skater competed at the PyeongChang Olympics sans skirt. The American skater performing during the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. and even more daring ensemble. Evgeni Plushenko of Russia in a silver disco outfit with a sheer panel down the front at the 2002 Games. The following is Rule 501 in the [ISU Special Regulations & Technical Rules handbook, last updated in 2016: In short, women's costumes don't have to follow a specific formula. 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). Ivanova, of the Soviet Union, at the 1984 Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. My dressmaker loaded up my dress with sparkles so you never knew when the dress ended. 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. has collaborated with many Olympic figure skaters, Olympic bronze medalist and two-time national champion. And that right there feels worth at least another gold medal for Witt. Meite, of France, competing at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics on Feb. 8, 2014. Blue feather costume that shows off too much butt cheek sold separately. Her response? The Winter Olympics in Beijing are in full swing, and let's face it, the global event brings out the inner sports fan in everyone. The best part is that figure skating fashion just keeps getting better. The American skater performing her free skating program during the ladies singles event at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. As a result, the ISU changed dress code rules and introduced The Katarina Rule, which stated that womens hips, midriffs and buttocks had to be covered with a skirt, as noted by The Atlantic. American skater Dorothy Hamill in a black and gold fringey design with a deep neckline in 1980. She has gained international recognition for her unique and empowering style, which combines bold colors, whimsical patterns, and positive messaging. Katarina Witt's infamous blue dress at the 1988 Olympics is the reason figure skating now has a dress code. The French skater performing her free program during the Winter Olympics Feb. 21, 1992, in Albertville. 2. 5. At the beginning of her career, Dorothy Hamill stood out among her competitors with the understated and simple designs she chose for her skating costumes. Laetitia Hubert of France in a yellow skirt and some strategically-placed flames at the 1998 Games. And they have. When the first Olympic figure skating competition launched in the 1920s, costumes were designed with the cold weather in mind. Sumners won the silver medal in the event. They dont just sit and drink coffee and they move the bottom half of their bodies well, which is very beneficial. Paging Gus Kenworthy. but alas, Dr. Ruths vision for a dress code came true, and the Katarina Rule was born requiring skaters to (in the words of Jurassic Park) cover their butts. Kwan won the silver medal. Of course were talking about Katarina Witt, the Olympic powerhouse who helped make figure skating among the most iconic sports during the last 40 years. 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. Brian Boitano of the United States in a billowing, V-neck blouse and skintight pants at the 1988 Olympics. A skater named Debi Thomas hit the ice the same year in a black, beaded, full-body unitard and no skirt a move that put a temporary ban on costumes without skirts. And her performance was just as dazzling as it would have been in a frilly, flouncy skirt, if not more so, because it was so bold. 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. American skater Hayes Alan Jenkins in a chunky sweater and pants at the 1956 Olympics. 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. The judge, who once stripped for Playboy, now says she will change her. Figure Skating Championships. Katarina Witt's Net Worth and Career Earnings. Basically, the flesh colored panels make itseem like skaters are showing a lot of skin, without actually showing any and thus breaking the rules. The West German skater performing at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. The Russian skater performing in the women's free program of the figure skating event at the Olympic Ice Center, Feb. 21, 2002, during the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. But back in 1988 . The Norwegian skater on the ice at Chamonix during the Winter Olympics in 1924 when. While dresses have to be lightweight to not create too much drag, each one is unique. American skater Debi Thomas in a very sheer leotard during a 1989 performance. For one, it seems not everyone is up to date on the new rules. Through the 50s and 60s, womens costumes were still quite basic and generally featured high necklines with flared skirts. Katarina Witt's blue costume caused a stir. These Winter Cocktails Will Warm Ya Right Up. Ilia Kulik of Russia in a flowing, see-through costume at the 1998 Olympics. Philippe Candeloro of France in a pirate-esque costume at the 1998 Olympics. See more ideas about katarina witt, figure skater, figure skating. These days, embellishments are still popular as ever and short skirts are still No. The design process usually starts with the music, says Pat Pearsal, who has been designing costumes for years. Then the 80s rolled around, and spandex, sparkles, chiffon, sequins and beads reigned supreme. 1988: Katarina Witt Although it looks relatively tame today, this was the look heard around the figure skating world. Then why dont more women wear pants? If it checks off all of those boxes, for me, thats a wonderful costume., Aurelia Durand is a talented illustrator and artist who hails from France but currently lives in Copenhagen. And it must have worked, because Witt and company propelled Ice Wars into a 13-year phenomenon. Adelina Sotnikova, gold medalist of the 2014 Olympic Games, modeled modern and edgy outfits that varied from the traditional figure skating costume like this red cut-out dress. Performing at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. One outfit, a feathered blue number worn by East Germany's Katarina Witt at the 1988 Olympic games (pictured below), was deemed too scandalous by the International Skating Union. At the 88 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Witt was attempting to do what very few people have done: become a back-to-back Olympic gold medal winner. And then you wait for CBS to call and say two magical words: Ice Wars.. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. These Twitter reactions sum it up. Yes, long before anyone would break the internet, Witt and her butt cheeks broke the magazine racks. From wearing tighter-fitting suits in the early 1900s to showing a little kneecap in the 1930s, then flirting with fringe-y miniskirts and skintight catsuits in the 1980s to going all-out with cutouts in the 2000s. The Forward Calendar March is bursting with the most vibrant and inspiring cultural events. Russian ice dancers Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin fueled controversy with their stereotyped "aboriginal" costumes. In this interview, we will delve into what makes Dinamo []. As the years progressed, figure skating fashion evolved both men and women's costumes got shorter, more embellished, and more dramatic. Photo: Getty Images 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. The Russian athlete competing in the figure skating team event during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics on Feb. 11, 2018. While there's no official explanation for the rule, one could speculate that the mandatory pants-not-leggings rule may have something to do with controlling the presence of bulge. British pairs dancers Christopher Colin Dean (in a sheer black crop top) and partner Jayne Torvill in a fringed costume during a 1986 performance. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Unlike many other athletes at the winter Olympics, figure skaters aren't required to don official Olympics uniforms; instead, they're tasked with finding an outfit that is both artistically expressive and breathable and that's in addition to the pressure of executing a perfect routine. "I have been close for being docked points but, it has never happened," Marissa Castelli, an Olympic bronze medalist and two-time national champion tells Bustle. The American athlete skating her short program at the 1988 Winter Olympics on Feb. 25, 1988, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Not possible. Get ready todiscoverfestivals, must-see performances, and hidden gallery shows. Then the '80s rolled around, and spandex, sparkles, chiffon, sequins and beads reigned supreme. 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. Sonja Henie in a dark dress with an embellished hem at the 1936 Games. 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 Lily Lyoonjung Lee in a cute, short-skirted, pink piece at the 1994 Winter Olympics. Dubravcic, representing Yugoslavia, skating her long program during the Winter Olympics on Feb. 18, 1984, in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. German figure skater Katarina Witt is known as one of the greatest of all time in her sport, thanks in part to her back-to-back Olympic gold medals. 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. Rare Photos of Katarina Witt Here are some rare and classic photos of two-time Olympic gold medalist skater Katarina Witt, who turned 50 on Dec. 3, 2015. American figure skater Gretchen Merrill in a button-down shirt and pleated skirt at the 1948 Winter Games. 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. Katarina Witt, Wladimir Klitschko, Countess Mariella von Faber-Castell Ahrens and Henry Maske attend the after show party to 'Tribute To Bambi 2009'. Part of HuffPost Style & Beauty. Tonya Harding's red dress at the Lillehammer Olympic Games has become infamous when the figure skater was controversially allowed to re-do her routine because of a broken lace. 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. Shaun White and Nina Dobrevs Cutest Moments, Meet Naomi Osakas Incredibly Supportive Parents, 16 Pics of Olympians the Moment They Knew They Won, You Def Wanna See Funny Tweets About the Olympics, This 15-Year-Old Ice Skater Just Made History, Dont Let Maame Bineys Smiling Face Fool You, Meet Olympian Chloe Kims Skateboarder Boyfriend, Wondering When the Next Olympics Games Are? See more ideas about katarina witt, figure skater, hot figure skaters. Did she lose points for her pants? Witt's blue dress at the 1988 Olympics is the reason figure skating now has a dress code. Figure skating competitors often make headlines for their extravagant outfits as much as they do for their athletic abilities.