Nick Verreos Reviews the Olympic Men's Figure Skating Finals

Golden Boy: Olympic Gold Medalist Evan Lysacek with Evgeni Plushenko and Daisuke Takahashi

So, of course, I couldn't let the Olympic Men's Figure Skating Finals slip by without a review of the Costumes! And, as always, in Figure Skating, their was DRAMA on the ice and in the costumes!

Congratulations to Evan Lysacek for delivering a Gold Medal worthy performance! Lysacek became the first American man since Brian Boitano to win the Olympic gold.

Though Lysacek is the world champion, it was a rare upset for the world of Figure Skating. Plushenko, who ended a three-year retirement with the sole goal of winning gold, hadn't finished anywhere but first since the 2004 European championships. He was the defending Olympic gold medalist and silver medalist in 2002, and a three-time world champion.

I was honored to be asked to comment on the Men's Costumes for the AP Associated Press alongside Hal Rubenstein the Fashion Director of InStyle Magazine and Jef Billings, one of the sports most famous Costume Designers.

Below are my comments on all the top Men's Skating Costumes, and click HERE to read all our comments.
Evan Lysacek: Dark and dramatic. Just like Evans artistic skate, Vera Wang created a masterful costume complete with Swarovski crystal-encrusted King Cobra Snakes. The costume was worthy of a Gold Medal in its own right!
Evgeni Plushenko: Liza Minnelli-shenko is what I thought when I first saw this bedazzled nightmare. It was a High School Musical costume that matched his High School Musical performance.
Daisuke Takahashi: Cirque de Soleil gone wrong! I give Takahashi points for always bringing us over the top costumes, but this one looked like a tablecloth from a cheap Greek Taverna.
Johnny Weir: I’m happy (and I’m sure PETA is too) that Johnny lost the fur. This silver, crystal embroidered costume was actually a toned down Johnny Weir. It showed his elegant restraint and maturity mirroring his almost flawless performance.
Stephane Lambiel: The Swiss may be famous for their couture laces and embroidery, but Stephane’s Tea Cozy shoulder pads were a definite miss.
Patrick Chan: Although the Phantom of the Opera has been done one too many times for my taste, his costume was a refreshing twist on an overused theme. A directional costume featuring an asymmetrical corseted waistcoat with gold button detail and (thank goodness) no Andrew Lloyd Weber mask in sight!
Nobunari Oda: Can you please give me a couple sequins?! I get the Charlie Chaplin reference but I was falling asleep until the lace snapped. Never before have I been so excited about a wardrobe malfunction!

Figure Skaters in Rodarte: Rachael Flatt, Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir!

Fashion Triple Axle
In light of the upcoming 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics (they begin THIS Friday!!!), New York Times Magazine recently published this great "Photo Essay" by Ryan McGinley entitled "The High Flyers" showing US Olympians and capturing them mid-flight in an exhilarating ski jump, or a snow-filled moment of close-up repose. Skiers, snowboarders and (my favorite) Figure Skaters. Included in this photo essay is our US Nationals Champion, Rachael Flatt, photographed mid-turn wearing a braided/crochet design by Rodarte. 2009 World Champion Evan Lysacek (can't really see if it's a Rodarte or a Vera Wang, his current favorite) is seen from behind--in silhouette-- while he looks to be in mid-Camel Spin.My favorite, however, is the one of Johnny Weir. Always a risk taker when it comes to fashion, Johnny is fresh off a new controversy involving PETA and for this NY Times Magazine photo essay, he is wearing a custom Rodarte "spiderweb" red and black yarn jumpsuit. The design is very similar to what the Pasadena, California-reared Mulleavy sisters showed for Spring 2010.
It's like her male partner-in-crime! Somehow I cannot see Evan Lysacek in that same ensemble...but Miss Johnny: Huney, done and done!

Reviewing the Ladies: Nick Verreos Scores the US National Figure Skating Championship Finals

Rating The Figure Skating Finals...Costumes!
Congratulations to the delightful Rachael Flatt, who landed SEVEN (I know!!!) triple jumps including a triple flip-triple toe loop combination. Translation (to those non-figure skating fans): She did REALLY REALLY well! As a result, she garnered the Gold at this year's U. S. National Figure Skating Championships and a spot on the 2010 U. S. Olympics Team. Go Rachael!
I am so happy for her--I had the privilege of meeting Rachael last year and even discussed designing a costume for her. Who knows? But I am sure she's already "taken care of" and wouldn't need "little ol' me" to design and create her Olympic-worthy costume. Speaking of her costumes, for her Long--Rachmaninoff-program, Rachael wore a red beaded number featuring a flirty skirt, and gold embroidered bodice. So perfect for her ivory skin-tone and amber-blond hair. Pretty and elegant yet still youthful and un-fussy.
Score: 8.5 out of 10.

Coming in Second Place was Mirai Nagasu. Along with Rachael Flatt, Nagasu will also be heading North--to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. She also wore a red costume for her Long Program (red was popular!) but hers was a deeper, more "Spanish" red, reflecting Bizet's "Carmen"--which is what she skated to. It was a "sweet" Carmen.
I, for one, love the drama and sexuality of Katarina Witt's Carmen (in which she won the Gold Medal) I would have loved to have seen Bolero-esque shoulder treatments (like a fighting Toreador)but I realize that's not really what Mirai is about. So for that, the costume design was on the safe route: It did not detract from her program but it didn't add anything either.
Score: 6.5 out of 10.

Most years, THREE women head to the Olympics for the chance of winning that Gold Medal, but because it is based on the placements from the previous World Championships (and the US Women did not do so well--oops!), there will only be TWO heading to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. With that in mind the dreaded Third Spot went to...Ashley Wagner. In regards to her Ombre-Purple re-embroidered costume--you can read HERE what I thought about it back in December when she came in Third at the ISU Grand Prix in Tokyo Japan Here's a hint: On the fence.
Score: 6 out of 10.

One of my Season 2 Project Runway Guest Judges and Challenge Subjects, Sasha Cohen, struggled throughout her Moonlight Sonata Free Skate. I SO wanted her to BRING IT! She kinda did--and kinda did not. She was credited with only one clean triple jump (in the program) and got Fourth Place and (obviously) no position to go to this 2010 Vancouver Winter's U.S. Olympic Team. In terms of her costume, I really liked the "Kool-Aid" grape-colored Ombre dyed (an theme?) color. I LOVED the crystal-beaded neck but that over-sized shirred bust was a tad bit to wide and I must admit, bothered me.
Score: 7 out of 10.

Well, now were off to Vancouver...maybe not me, Ashley or Sasha...but I cannot wait for our next "Rate The Figure Skating Costumes"...LIVE from Los Angeles California!

Johnny Weir Looks FAB in Heels! Take that Evan Lysacek!

The MOST FABULOUS...and the GAYEST...thing I have seen in a LONG time! And I LOVE IT!!!!


Yes, that's Johnny Weir, three-time US Nationals Champion, 2008 World's Bronze Medalist, and two-time Grand Prix Finalist in a fabulous--with a Capital "F" ad for his TV show "Be Good Johnny Weir", which is debuting on the Sundance Channel tomorrow, Monday January 18Th. Great timing since the AT&T US National Figure Skating Championship is occurring as we speak. The show will be an eight-part documentary following Johnny--and his heels I hope. I saw that promo clip above while watching the US Nationals today and I almost did a triple flip on my couch! Someone spent A LOT of money making that and it showed huney: It's glossy, well-produced, well-edited and very GAY!!!

Nick Verreos and US Figure Skater Rachael Flatt

Ice Capades: Nick Verreos and Rachael Flatt, and his illustrations

Back in March, I attended the World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles at the fabulous (and very cold) Staples Center. In case you have been living under a rock--or haven't seen my Season 2 of Project Runway--I love me some figure skating! It was kind of funny to go to this event because a lot of people there recognized me. I didn't realize how many fans of figure skating are also fans of Project Runway.

The night of the Ladies Final, as I was leaving, a group of people came up to me and introduced themselves. They were Rachael Flatt's family! Rachael Flatt was the Silver Medalist at the 2009 US Figure Skating Champisonships and placed 5th at the World Figure Skating Championships just moments before. They then proceeded to call her and handed me the phone so I could say "Hello" and "Congrats!". Get me a pen and paper: Nick Verreos sketches for US Figure Skating Silver Medalist Rachael Flatt

Then about a couple of months ago, I got a call from her PR person asking if I would like to come to Universal Studios where they were holding a special Media Event to promote American athletes for the upcoming Winter Olympics on NBC. Of course, I ran over there and finally got to meet Rachael (she looked so cute in apple green and flower print dress, very "Lily Pulitzer"). For fun, I proceeded to sketch some ideas for her costumes. We were both hoping I might design her costume for this current Olympic Season, but with both of our crazy schedules, it did not work out. But it was still such a pleasure meeting her and sketching for her---and giving her some dish on Project Runway!

Click HERE to watch a fun video of Rachel and the quick 30 second sketches I did.