The design process usually starts with the music, says Pat Pearsal, who has been designing costumes for years. Katarina Witt of Germany in a strapless, arm-baring number at the 1988 Olympics. Figure Skating Championship. Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. For all its glamour, figure skating is one of the toughest sports to master. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Figure skating competitors often make headlines for their extravagant outfits as much as they do for their athletic abilities. The Katarina rule dictates that women's hips, midriffs and butt are covered. 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. However, those glimmering crystals and sheer panels aren't just deployed for ornamental purposes they actually serve as bulwarks against immodesty and point deductions. 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. Lia Beck. Male figure skater, Adam Rippon kept his pants simple and stole the show with his skin tight sequin shirt while competing at the Pyeongchang Olympics. We're not really sure why people have been complaining. 1988: Katarina Witt Although it looks relatively tame today, this was the look heard around the figure skating world. The Russian skater competing in the figure skating team event during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics at Gangneung Ice Arena on Feb. 12, 2018. 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. Photo: Getty Images Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. I Was a Teenage Catfish and I Regret Nothing. Witt, a German double Olympic gold medal-winning skater, was said to be upset over the criticism about her low-cut outfits. During the Winter Olympic Games in St. Moritz, American skater, Gretchen Merrill, opted for an all white ensemble complete with a beaded cap. While dresses have to be lightweight to not create too much drag, each one is unique. 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. 55 Outdoor Date Ideas You Won't Actually Hate, Turns Out, We're All Really Pissed About Money, The Very Best High-Waisted Jeans on the Internet, 30 Spring Cocktails to Shake Up This Weekend, 39 of the Best Bubble Butts, Bulges, and VPLs From the Rio Olympics. French ice-dancing couple Gwendal Peizerat (in a billowy blouse) and Marina Anissina (in a dress that gave the illusion that her whole side was naked) at a competition in 2001. Evgeni Plushenko of Russia in a silver disco outfit with a sheer panel down the front at the 2002 Games. So scroll on for the steamiest figure-skating costume looks of all time. Through the 50s and 60s, womens costumes were still quite basic and generally featured high necklines with flared skirts. The presence of glaring Olympian butt cheek scandalized the International Skating Union, the governing body for competitive figure skating including the Olympics. And that right there feels worth at least another gold medal for Witt. . American skater Dorothy Hamill in a black and gold fringey design with a deep neckline in 1980. Real good. The South Korean skater competing at the 2014 Winter Olympics at Iceberg Skating Palace on Feb. 19, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. Kwan won the silver medal. 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 across the ice. She won her first at the 1984 Sarajevo games and her second four years later at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. Debi Thomas dazzled in an embellished bubblegum pink outfit as she placed second at the U.S. It takes grit, stamina and a willingness to throw yourself onto a slab of solid ice over and over again and look beautiful while doing it. Katarina Witt Evening Dress. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. 33 Best Ice Skating Outfits - Iconic Outfits Worn by Famous Figure Skaters Style Fashion 33 Famous Ice Skating Outfits Worthy of Their Very Own Gold Medal Including some of the best from the. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. 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. Skaters like Nancy Kerrigan and Frances Surya Bonaly skated in costumes designed by Vera Wang and Christian Lacroix, respectively. Blue feather costume that shows off too much butt cheek sold separately. Without giving too much away, lets just say that if you like your double toe-loops with a dose of snipers and car chases, this movies for you. Including some of the best from the games in Beijing. Ptzsch, of East Germany, performing at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. The 23-year-old took to the ice in black leggings that appeared to be attached to a gold and black sparkly sleeveless top. The American skater during the Winter Olympics skating competition in 1976 in Innsbruck, Austria. Albright of the United States displaying her grace and technique during her free skating program at the 1956 Winter Olympics. That same year, American skater Debi Thomas made waves by wearing a full unitard for competition, which led to a ban on costumes without skirts. The event led to a change of costume-rules, which got their latest update in 2016. Katarina Witt's infamous blue dress at the 1988 Olympics is the reason figure skating now has a dress code. 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. Saaame, Leslie Jones Is Narrating the Olympics and Its , 70 of the Sexiest Figure-Skating Costumes of All Time. Calgary, Alberta, CANADA - 1988 Winter Games, Ladies' Short Program - Re-posting another one of the videos the IOC had filed copyright infringement and had me taking it down. Michelle Kwan opted for an understated lilac velvet spaghetti-strap dress (which was super on-trend at the time) when she won silver at the 1998 Winter Olympics, a stark contrast to the ruffles and bedazzled outfits of her competitive counterparts. 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. Brian Boitano of the United States in a billowing, V-neck blouse and skintight pants at the 1988 Olympics. The odd badass bodysuit happens from time to time, and many use their costumes as an opportunity to express themselves. Get ready for sheer mesh, catsuits, and a whole lotta plunging necklines. By most standards today it was basically a blue dress with some feathers. German skater Katarina Witt in a red design with a low-cut sheer panel and very '80s sleeves at the 1988 Games. Its absolutely nightmarish!, says runway designer Vera Wang, who custom designed the outfit of US competitor Nathan Chen. Sign up here to get INSIDER's favorite stories straight to your inbox. Witt was a high-profile sporting star and landed tv and film cameo roles. Now that is some ooey-gooey dance pop music bliss that may or may not make any sense, but just try not listening to this song and feeling like you can land a double salchow right in the middle of Limelight or Palladium. These Twitter reactions sum it up. 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. "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. I would say that in order to keep a certain decorum there should be some regulations on what type of dress is appropriate., Oddly enough in that same interview Dr. Ruth went on to describe how skiers make the best lovers. has collaborated with many Olympic figure skaters, Olympic bronze medalist and two-time national champion. #Olympics, I dont care about how the skate goes, but Mae-Berenice Meit wearing pants and skating to Beyonc is a powerful thing. Lu, of China, in the free skate portion of the ladies singles figure skating competition at the 1994 Winter Olympics on Feb. 25, 1994, in Lillehammer, Norway. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. If one strap were to break, or if the beading on the sleeve gets caught when they turn, their whole Olympics is over. After Katarina Witt came out on the ice in a few feathers barely covering her behind in 1988, the International Skating Union enacted a rule that women had to wear skirts. 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. And speaking of dresses, Witt's '88 Olympics blue dress made history itself. However, at the 1988 Olympics, the official Olympic dress code rules changed in response to the "scandalous" outfit worn by a competitor from East Germany named Katarina Witt. Wish she could've done better #Olympics. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Which Olympic Figure Skaters Are Actually Dating? 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. Katarina Witt, Wladimir Klitschko, Countess Mariella von Faber-Castell Ahrens and Henry Maske attend the after show party to 'Tribute To Bambi 2009'. 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. Osmond, from Canada, competing in figure skating team event during the 2014 Winter Olympics at Iceberg Skating Palace on Feb. 8, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. Katarina Witt's outfit caused the ISU to institute "The Katarina Rule." Associated Press "The Katarina Rule" dictates that women's hips, midriffs, and behinds are covered. The American athlete skating her short program at the 1988 Winter Olympics on Feb. 25, 1988, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (in a fringed zebra-print dress with side cut-outs) and Chuen Gun Lee (in black . And Katarina Witt caused a stir with her 1988 feather-trimmed getup that. Altwegg, from Great Britain, after winning a gold medal in the Women's Figure Skating Competition in the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway. Katarina Witt's blue costume caused a stir. The year American figure skater, Peggy Fleming, won an Olympic gold medal in Grenoble she donned a chartreuse dress with a high neck and white beaded trim. Her blue figure skating dress had feathers adorned at the waist instead of a skirt and was barely covering her posterior. Yes, you read that right: A figure skater competed at the PyeongChang Olympics sans skirt. The Russian skater Irina Slutskaya's embellished black dress stood out with it's jagged neckline during the Salt Lake City Olympics. Long before ESPN would release their annual Body issue showing off naked Gronk or chiseled Ronda Rousey or the of Jerry Rice, Witt appeared on the December 1998 cover of Playboy Magazine and in a spread that delivered all the body positivity. And it must have worked, because Witt and company propelled Ice Wars into a 13-year phenomenon. Tonya Harding in a sparkly red number at the 1994 Winter Games. The World, where four figure skaters from the U.S. battled four figure skaters from well, the world. Planck-Szabo of Austria, Muckelt of Great Britain and Loughran of the United States at the 1924 winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, Jan. 30, 1924. With designing the outfits comes great resposibility. Ilia Kulik of Russia in a flowing, see-through costume at the 1998 Olympics. Michelle Kwan, for example, popularized a look that was more swimsuit than skating, eschewing beaded sleeves for spaghetti straps. Sasha Cohen wowed the crowd at the Salt Lake City Olympic Games in a red dress with sunburst yellow and orange hemline. That rule was overturned in the early 2000s, bringing back the pants. Janet Lynn, Beatrix Schuba and Karin Magnussen, 1972. 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. 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. I had a few judges question it but, after a year of wearing it I still never received any costume violations.". Figure skating fashion just keeps getting better. In fact, at the 1924 games in Chamonix, France, women wore full skirts with sweaters and hats that didnt look much different from their everyday clothes (which makes sense, considering Olympic skating rinks used to be outdoors). When East-German figure skating competitor Katarina Witt performed in an outfit that resembled a bathing suit at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, she shocked audiences around the world. As Bustle notes, because the ISU rules apply to men and women, sheer panels and embellishments can be seen on both genders. Well first you win an Emmy for a performance of Carmen on ice aptly called Carmen on Ice. And what's an Olympic figure skating competition without controversy? 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. The Ukrainian skater performing during the 2014 Winter Olympics at Iceberg Skating Palace on Feb. 8, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. Witt, and the only woman to beat her since winning. The American athlete competing in the Winter Olympics at the Zetra Ice Stadium in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, February 1984. Performing at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. 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. Become a Cosmo member to read and save unlimited articles. Beatrix Schuba represented Austria in a bejeweled blazer-like design when she won an Olympic gold medal in Sapporo, Japan. American skater Heiss at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Shortly after the games concluded, figure skating implemented a dress code and dubbed it "The Katarina Rule.". For $5.95 you could catch Katarina Witt baring it all or, if you were one of those who bought Playboy for the articles, you could read the latest story from Joyce Carol Oates or read 20 questions with Gore Vidal! 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. I loved the French skater (Ma-Brnice Mit)'s awesome pants outfit and the Bey song. The American skater competing at the 2014 Winter Olympics at Iceberg Skating Palace on Feb. 8, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. Just like that time Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey showed up at the VMAs wearing the same dress. Decades later, the niece of outgoing President Donald Trump would write that her uncle also noticed Katarina Witt, but hated her because Witt rebuffed his advances. British figure skater John Curry in a disco-worthy jumpsuit at the Olympics in 1976. During her figure skating routine at the 1936 Winter Olympic Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. American figure skater Debi Thomas in a black jumpsuit at the 1988 Olympics. 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. Yep, in 1995, Witt joined with Melanie Thornton (the voice behind 90s dance sensation La Bouche) as well as singers Joan Faulkner and Linda Rocco who sang back-up for acts like Milli Vanilli, for the most 90s dance track imaginable: Skate With Me.. In the 1990s, another trend that emerged was designer costumes. For her routine, Shizuka Arakawa wore a unique dual-toned blue dress with sheer sleeves and low neckline. In the words of Beyonc, the pants-clad and badass skater is repping for the girls who taking over the world.. Her response? Thus was born Ice Wars: The USA vs. The crowds at the Nagano Olympics cheered on the-then-15-year-old as she won the gold medal in a stylish and sweet blue dress. But back in 1988 . "[Men] can wear a tapered pant, but if it is a tight, that's a reduction in your score," two-time Olympian Johnny Weir told Cosmopolitan. Sparkly and pants . The charismatic Witt defined the sport in the 1980s with her flirtatious and graceful performances. ), The 80s may have set the rink stage, but the 90s are where Katarina Witt really gets her pop culture creds. 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? And when you do, you are sure to notice that the sport offers the rare combination of athleticism and fashion sensibility. She won the gold medal. The American skater performing her routine during the free skate at White Ring Arena during the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan. 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. This past year when Mary Trump dropped her book Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man, she included an anecdote about how Trump once tried to hit on Katarina Witt. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Christopher Morris - Corbis via Getty Images, competed in a skirt with a comparatively short hemline, lower necklines were making their way onto the ice, womens hips, midriffs and buttocks had to be covered with a skirt. The figure skater won Japan its first gold medal in the sport during the Turin, Italy Olympics. and even more daring ensemble. Aug 12, 2022 - Explore Randy Lantz's board "Katarina Witt", followed by 399 people on Pinterest. American skater Hayes Alan Jenkins in a chunky sweater and pants at the 1956 Olympics. Sep 8, 2021 - Katarina Witt Evening Dress - Katarina Witt attended the Echo Klassik in a dazzling royal blue evening dress. Katarina Witt's bejewelled blue costume at the 1988 Olympics, with feathers where a skirt should be, conjured images of a Vegas showgirl, and prompted the International Skating Union to write. And sure, a certain Nancy and Tonya helped with that too (not to mention a backflipping Surya Bonaly! Lynn, representing the U.S. at 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France. Katarina Witt's Net Worth and Career Earnings. Then the 80s rolled around, and spandex, sparkles, chiffon, sequins and beads reigned supreme. Kerrigan, of the U.S., performing at the 1994 Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway, where she won the silver medal. The American skater performing during the women's free skating program at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games on Feb. 23, 2006, at Palavela in Turin, Italy. 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. 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. Competing for her 9th consecutive U.S. Champion title, Michelle Kwan wore a one-shouldered gold sequin dress. , She might have had no intention of making this into a spectacle, but it certainly will arouse the judges, Dr. Ruth said. Katarina Witt's outfit caused the ISU to institute "The Katarina Rule.". You know, the kind that punctuate songs by Cathy Dennis, The Real McCoy, Le Click, etc. 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. 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. Gracie Gold represented the United States at the Sochi Olympic Games in a theatrical red velvet dress with an embellished necklace and rosebud detail. Aside from winning a gold medal for East Germany at the Calgary Olympics, Katarina Witt caused quite the uproar over the short hemline on her blue feathered dress. Last week, costume designer Jan Longmire told InStyle, The guidelines change every now and then, but every girl always has to wear a skirt she cant come out in a leotard on its own.. Then why dont more women wear pants? 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). 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. Laetitia Hubert of France in a yellow skirt and some strategically-placed flames at the 1998 Games. The Forward Calendar March is bursting with the most vibrant and inspiring cultural events. Straight downzap, Witt says in her memoir Only With Passion. 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. A bodysuit full of rhinestones can weigh up to two pounds. See how figure skating dresses have evolved over the years, from vintage 1920s costumes to the outfits Olympians wear today. Chin, of the U.S., performing at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. From some of the earliest modern Olympic games to this week's events in Beijing, here are the most iconic figure skating outfits to have ever graced the ice. The controversy here was how short and skimpy the \"skirt\" part of Katarina's outfit was, especially in the front. 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. South Korea's Lily Lyoonjung Lee in a cute, short-skirted, pink piece at the 1994 Winter Olympics. Sign up for notifications from Insider! The judge, who once stripped for Playboy, now says she will change her. 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.". Keep scrolling to see the stunning evolution of womens figure skating costumes through the years. She was also paid seven figures to pose, making her one of the highest paid models for Playboy in the 1990s. Prev 5 of 8 Next . Showing Editorial results for katarina witt. Womens figure skating is, hands down, one of the most visually stunning events to watch at the Olympics. The ISU instituted " The Katarina Rule, " which dictated that women's hips, midriffs, and butt were covered. Norwegian skater Sonja Henie in a knee-length, long-sleeve silk dress in 1932. Dubravcic, representing Yugoslavia, skating her long program during the Winter Olympics on Feb. 18, 1984, in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. By most standards today it was basically a blue dress with some feathers. 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. And hey, if you have an extra $7.50 USD lying around, you can always head on over to eBay and grab yourself a Katarina Witt action figure. East Germany's Katarina Witt won the 1984 Olympic gold medal and sought a back-to-back victory four years later at the 1988 Calgary Games. The issue was so popular it became the first issue of Playboy to sell out since the 1950s, flying off the racks of Hudson News, truck stop shelves, or your local Borders or Media Play (RIP).