ICE STYLE.....Best Costumes of ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2013: Men, Ice Dance

Classic Figure Skating Couture: Ice Dance Team of Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the USA...

Winged Fab: Ice Dance Team of Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev of Russia, and...

Firebird Perfect: Tatsuki Machida of Japan

FIGURE SKATING FANS: I discussed my favorite costumes from this season's ISU Grand Prix Figure Skating Costumes from the LADIES and PAIRS HERE so...it's time to talk about my Top Picks for "Best Costumes" of the MEN and ICE DANCE...

Let's start with my favorites of the Men:

Sergei Voronov of Russia, Short Program: Voronov skated his Short Program to "Two Guitars". I thought this was a good look for Sergei; clean, vibrant with the black and white and I really appreciated the designs/print in the jacket--are those peacocks? fish? abstract paisleys? Whatever it is, it is kind of a cool jacket--something I would see at Men's Paris Fashion Week.

Tatsuki Machida of Japan, Free Skate: Machida skated his Free Program to Music from The Firebird by Igor Stravinsky. He wore this FABULOUS costume that was all things GREAT at Hilton HHonors Skate America 2013. I loved all the color, detail, sequin work, multidimensional feathers. All in all, it was pretty outstanding and perfect for the music and skate. You knew IMMEDIATELY that he was skating to The Firebird the minute he stepped onto the ice. If you think you have seen this before on Machida, you were right: last season (2012-2013), he also skated his Free program to this music and wore THE SAME COSTUME. And for some reason, he changed this costume when he skated later on in the season at the 2013 Rostelecom Cup/Cup of Russia to a variation of it which I didn't like as much. You can see that one HERE.

Alexander Majorov of Sweden, Short Program: Majorov skated his SP to Khorobushka by Bond. I liked the intricacy of his jacket and all the detail. He looked like a Toreador combined with a Russian soldier. It was an impressive powerful costume.

Max Aaron of the US, Free Skate: First of all, I LOVE his haircut! So 80s and so NOW! And perfect for his beautiful curls. OK, enough gushing on about his hair--now back to the costume. 2013 US Champion Max Aaron skated his Free Skate to Music from Carmen performed by Rodion Shchedrin and the Boston Pops Orchestra...and what a surprise and shocker: NO Toreador Costume! No red! No bejeweled bolero in sight! Kudos to Max and his costume designer for coming up with such a directional and modern look for his been there-done that music. If you don't know by now, I really liked this: I liked how perfectly it fit him and I loved the juxtaposition of the semi-nude stretch chiffon with the solid stretch velvet. Good job!

Joshua Farris of the US, Free Skate: Farris skated his Free Skate to Music from Schindler's List by John Williams in this Pat Pearsall-designed costume. I loved the drape of the top, the asymmetrical hemline and cowl neckline. I also appreciated the feminine vs. masculine lines of the fluid top and fitted pants.

Daisuke Takahashi Japan, Free Skate: For his Free Skate to Medley of Music by The Beatles, he wore this draped jersey cowl-neck top with black stretch velvet pants, similar in silhouette and style to Joshua Farris' costume. It's nice to see male figure skaters take on a more "softer"/feminine approach to their costumes. If this is a Male Figure Skating Costume Trend, I'm all for it!

 Ice Dance:

Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev of Russia, Short Dance: Bobrova and Soloviev wore some of my favorite Ice Dance costumes so far this season for both their Short and Free Dance. For their SD to "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" by Jule Styne, "I Will Wait For You" by Michel Legrand and "Swing, Swing, Swing My Baby", they stuck to the theme of the music--she was very Marilyn Monroe and he looked like a 50s Hollywood actor. I loved the bright strawberry red color of her dress and its feathered and sequin detail.

Free Dance:  For their FD to Music from The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi and "Lacrimosa" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, they wore these spectacular bird-like costumes. If you can't tell by now, I LOVED THEM! They looked like Paris Runway Ravens ready to take off into an amazing ornithological pas des deux. They thought about everything--from her chic runway-like hairstyle to the unusual "feathered wings" that were attached through her arms and back (and how it continued onto his costume). These were simply outstanding! Unfortunately, they changed these costumes later in the season to something that was less spectacular.

Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the US, Short Dance: US dance team of Chock and Bates skated their Short Dance this season to "Hollywood" by Puppini Sisters, "There's No Business Like Show Business" by Irving Berlin. The beautiful Madison wore long white gloves with her shimmering and fringed costume. Fantastic!

Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier Canada, Free Dance: For their Free Dance to Music from the Hitchcock soundtrack by Danny Elfman and "The Rainstorm" by Bernard Hermann, they wore these costumes. First of all: I really liked this Free Dance: it was original, creative and taking Ice Dance to a more adventuresome and directional level, I was intrigued and wanted to see what more they could do. In terms of their costumes: I liked! They were dark yet glitzy; interesting and went with the Hitchcock music.

Elena KIlinykh and Nikita Katsalapov of Russia, Free Dance: Well I wonder what these two very good-looking Ice Dancers from Russia skated to for their Free Dance? If you answered "Swan Lake", yep, you are correct! (it's not so difficult). I thought these costumes were marvelous! She was "Classic Swan Lake" and he was "Punk Roller Disco Swan Lake". And they went together beautifully: modern, retro, classic, a little Fashion Runway. Oh and yes, it does kind of help that both of them are GORGEOUS!

Meryl Davis and Charlie White USA, Short Dance: Meryl and Charlie skated their 2013-2014 Season Short Dance to My Fair Lady by Frederic Loewe. I thought these costumes were beautiful, elegant and just right for the music. Charlie looked dapper and very old-school luxe in his tails, vest and cravat. I would have liked his floppy surfer-boy hair to be (at the very least) slicked back, but I know I am barking up the wrong tree trying to get Charlie to put any product in that hair of his! Meryl's pink dress was so pretty. I loved the simplicity of it but it still packed a strong elegant punch with  those correctly placed silver stones in the neckline and waist.

Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the US, Free Dance: For the Free Dance to "Scheherazade" by Nikoli Rimsky-Korsakov, Davis and White wore these costumes above. We all know the story of Scheherazade of course and besides the fact that their FD illustrated it masterfully, their costumes were also complimentary to it. I admired Meryl's teal costume which featured a draped front section, halter wrap top and bejeweled waist; she looked very Near East Princess.

Finally, my other Top Favorite Ice Dance Costumes were worn by the US brother-and-sister team of...

Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani of the US, Free Dance: For their Free Dance to a Michael Jackson medley, the Shibutani's wore these costumes above. Love. love, and Love! It would have been so predictable for their costume designer to go for the typical Michael Jackson look, whether it be a red leather motorcycle jacket or a Billie Jean suspenders, hi-water pants and penny loafers look, but these were anything but. I liked the modernity of Maia's sleek dress featuring black illusion and solid fabric with crystals throughout. And Alex's jacket was cool and very complimentary with Maia's dress and a fun little pop of color when he opens it up to reveal a bit of red!