Nick Verreos's Blog, page 14

ICE STYLE.....Skate Canada International 2019 COSTUMES RECAP: LADIES & MEN!

Costume Razzle Dazzle--(L to R) Evgenia Medvedeva of Russia, Rika Kihira of Japan, Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan--Skate Canada International 2019


This past weekend was the second of the Grand Prix of Figure Skating competition events for the 2019-2020 season-- Skate Canada International 2019 . Which means it's time to discuss the FIGURE SKATING COSTUMES here on my "Ice Style" blog. In case you missed my "Skate America" recaps, just click HERE for the Ladies, HERE for the Men, HERE for Ice Dance & HERE for Pairs. Now, it is time for the LADIES and MEN'S Costumes Highlights of Skate Canada International 2019:







Evgenia Medvedeva Russia Short Program--The two-time Olympic silver medalist skated her Short Program at the 2019 Skate Canada International to Exogenesis Symphony Part 3 by Muse. She wore this black and blue sequined jumpsuit. I thought it was very fashionable, directional and a lovely "new" look for her. Even though she didn't do too well here, I really liked this costume.











Free Skate to Memoirs of a Geisha (soundtrack) by John Williams--For her Free Skate, Evgenia wore this. It was STUNNING! I loved everything about this costume. This was Skating Couture on another level! I loved the kimono-like silhouette, the white neckband, the gorgeous sequin applique, the extra-long sleeves and last but not least, the red Obi with gold waist-tie. And that deep-red lipstick: Wow. Just gorgeous. I bow down to whoever designed it and made it.







You Young South Korea Short Program--For her Short Program to O Verona (from "Romeo and Juliet" soundtrack) by Craig Armstrong; Slow Movement (from "Romeo and Juliet" soundtrack) by Craig Armstrong; Morning (from "Romeo and Juliet" soundtrack) by Craig Armstrong, Korean skater You Young wore this pretty blue sequined costume to play "Juliet". I liked the lovely flower-like neckline applique, lightly gathered torso, and the trickle-down effect of the rhinestones.







Rika Kihira Japan Short Program--For her Short program to Breakfast in Baghdad by Ulf Wakenius performed by Youn Sun Nah, Japan's Rika Kihira wore this royal blue costume featuring gold applique and silver rhinestones. The design had Middle East inspirations with the embroidery and flouncy extra long sleeves, evoking an exotic Sheikha perhaps. I liked the bold color and how the sequin work on the torso mirrored the construction work of an actual corset/bustier. I also thought it was refreshing to see her loose ponytail as the hairstyle choice as opposed to the typical figure skating lady perfect chignon-like bun. 











Alexandra Trusova Russia Short Program--Skating her Short Program to Solveig's Song (from "Peer Gynt") by Edvard Grieg performed by Meav; In the Hall of the Mountain King (from "Peer Gynt") by Edvard Grieg, this very young (15 years old) Russian wore this costume above. The design began innocently enough, with a tie-dye light lilac look with raw/pointed edges/hems and some "hints" of dark coloring. But then...





She flipped the top of the costume down and did one of those on-the-spot "Costume Changes" that we have seen as of late in these Figure Skating Competitions to expose something different. The "new" costume became darker, more "mysterious". To be honest, I am not sure if I am a fan of either the first or the "costume change" evolution. It looks a little too "Witchy"/cheap Halloween costume for me.











Free Skate to Pray (High Valyrian) (from “Game of Thrones” soundtrack) by

Matthew Bellamy and The Night King (from “Game of Thrones” soundtrack) by
Ramin Djawadi--For her amazing Free Skate for "Game of Thrones" music featuring like FIFTEEN Quads (OK, just THREE!), she wore this costume. I think she was trying to vibe Daenarys "Khaleesi" Mother of Dragon's Season 3 costume, with the blue color and gray-ish tights. I get it, it was a nice attempt but it still looked a bit "Junior"-like. But in the end, who cares...








Alexandra Trusova got the Gold with those FIFTEEN--I mean, THREE!--incredible quads.


And now, the MEN!!!





Nam Nguyen Canada Free Skate--For his Free Skate to Come Together, Let It Be, and

Get Back by John Lennon, Paul McCartney performed by The Beatles, Nam looked every bit one of the Fab Four in this 60's inspired costume featuring a skin-tight red shirt, black pants, and skinny tie. It was a nice costume interpretation in the spirit of the music and looked fresh and right for now....and especially on Nam's little body.









Yuzuru Hanyu Japan Short Program--Yuzuru Hanyu rehashed his same Short program music from last season for this 2019-2010 season--Otonal by Raul di Blasio--you would not be faulted in thinking that since you might have recognized the music, his costume might have also been the same. For a hot second, I thought it was...until...it wasn't...This is what he wore last season to the same music: 








Yuzuru 2018--Same Music, Different Costume. Same blue shades of color and icicle-like details, but yes, different costume. 


I like this season's costume (above) with its jaggedy edges and beautiful rhinestones. It all makes for a striking design on the torso. I am still not a fan of the neck ruffles though.







Free Skate to Origin ("Art on Ice")  by Edvin Marton--This was a STUNNING costume worn by Yuzuru Hanyu. The subtle purple shading, the beautiful gold curved rhinestone design, the juxtaposition of the solid vs. the sheer, the 3D effect of the applique...all details that add up to a very Couture-like design that is right for such a Couture-like figure skater.






Pooh Bear Love--Yuzuru Hanyu at Skate Canada International 2019




**UP NEXT: The ICE DANCE and PAIRS COSTUMES HIGHLIGHTS of 2019 Skate Canada International! 

SASHES AND TIARAS....Miss Grand International 2019 EVENING GOWNS: My TOP 15 BEST & OH DEAR!

Gown Gorgeous--Best of the 2019 Miss Grand International Evening Gowns (L to R) Miss Grand Thailand Coco Arayha Suparurk, Miss Grand Peru Camila Escribens, Miss Grand Venezuela Valentina Figueroa, Miss Grand Vietnam Nguyen Ha Kieu Loan--Miss Grand International 2019 Preliminary Competition


The Finals of the 2019 Miss Grand International beauty pageant took place this past Friday in Caracas, Venezuela at the Poliedro Area of Caracas. The winner--beating out 59 other contestants from all over the world--was the host nation, VENEZUELA!






The New Miss Grand International--Miss Grand Venezuela Valentina Figueroa


Model and student of architecture, Valentina Figueroa took the crown. She stands 1.84 M (6' tall), is 19 years old and was born in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. Since the pageant took place in Venezuela, and it was announced that it will return there next year, it was exciting that she had won...






Miss Grand Venezuela (and new Miss Grand International) Valentina Figueroa with the outgoing Miss Grand International, Paraguay's Clara Sosa--Miss Grand International 2019 Finals, Caracas Venezuela


I am sure many pageant fans might have been a little bit perplexed by her win but...I watched the pageant and yeah, she was FABULOUS; well-spoken, looked gorgeous, statuesque, semi-natural and approachable enough. Well deserved. 
















Valentina Venezuela--Miss Grand Venezuela Valentina Figueroa


And now, time to discuss the EVENING GOWNS!!!




Top Gowns (L top R):   Miss Grand Thailand Coco Arayha Suparurk, Miss Grand Peru Camila Escribens, Miss Grand Venezuela Valentina Figueroa, Miss Grand Vietnam Nguyen Ha Kieu Loan--Miss Grand International 2019 Preliminary Competition







More Top Gowns: (L to R) Miss Grand Mexico Maria Malo, Miss Grand India Shivani Javhad, Miss Grand Ecuador Mara Topic, and Miss Grand Brazil Marjorie Marcelle--Miss Grand International 2019 Finals, Caracas Venezuela


Below are my TOP 15 PICKS for the Evening Gowns seen during the 2019 Miss Grand International Preliminaries, and in addition, I included some of the gown changes that occurred from the Preliminaries to the Final Night within my Top 15 Picks...Let's begin with the eventual winner of the top crown:







1. Miss Grand Venezuela Valentina Figueroa--Winner of the 2019 Miss Grand International crown, Venezuela's Valentina Figueroa was also my top choice for Evening Gown. Designed by Venezuelan designer Nidal Nouaihed, the gown was on trend with the slew of "nude gowns" that have been a favorite of late, for beauty pageant contestants as well as celebs on the red carpet. This particular gown featured a nude tulle illusion base with striking silver sequins throughout. The dress also had a center front slit and interesting horsehair netting shoulder detail. During the Preliminaries, she wore the gown with a back overskirt in peach iridescent organza (with crystals on it) to add drama, but it was removed for the Finals. I think this was a good move to remove it; it was definitely Too Mucheeey!

9.92



2. Miss Grand Peru Camila Escribens--My second favorite gown was worn by the Peruvian beauty, Camila Escribens. She actually received the trophy for Best Gown. This golden encrusted gown was certainly a stage-impacting design and well-deserved of the trophy (even if it was my very-close 2nd Best). This was another one of those "Nude Gowns", with the gold sequin applique and silver rhinestones. It also had gold beading falling from her shoulders. With her straight dark center-parted hair, she was very "Bob Mackie Cher" in this, which means I LOVED IT! If there was any critique, I am just not a fan of the "sistahs" being so...well...on display.

9.80









3. Miss Grand Ecuador Mara Topic--Mara looked elegant and very beautiful in this gold sequined gown. It was dramatic, figure-flattering and I especially loved the back golden cape. I also liked that the entire gown (for once!) wasn't all sheer and that the length was perfect (no sight of those tacky platform heels!).

9.75





4. Miss Grand Mexico Maria Malo--If I have to be honest, Maria was probably my favorite to take the top crown, but I get it, the pageant was in Venezuela and that country's contestant was gorgeous and well, it was their night! But moving on...Maria wore the strapless lilac-colored sequined gown in the top photo. I liked its Old Hollywood Glamour simplicity and especially the lovely side drape. But then, for the Finals, she changed to another lilac-colored sequined gown (above photos) which I REALLY LIKED! The column shape fit her well, making her look TEN FEET TALL, and as a Fashionista, I really appreciated the unique sleeve. Muy Bien!

9.65 (For both!)









5. Miss Grand Vietnam Nguyen Ha Kieu Loan--Miss Grand Vietnam triumphed the Evening Gown Preliminaries with wearing the only jumpsuit "gown". And I loved it! It was designed by Do Long and featured a stunning golden/nude sequined jumpsuit with hand-applied yellow feathered exaggerated sleeves. It was dramatic, stage-worthy and fashion unique! When she appeared on stage, all I could say was "You Go Girl!".

9.50





6. Miss Grand India Shivani Jadhav--In a gorgeous gown designed by Falguni Shane Peacock, Shivani certainly made a strong gown impact. This gold sequined dress fit her to perfection and featured a v-neck, sequined belt, and side front slit. It was very Red Carpet Fab! It there was any critique, it would be the shoes; I wished she would have worn strappy NON-PLATFORM ones.

9.40





7. Miss Grand Thailand Coco Arayha Suparurk--I absolutely LOVED Miss Grand Thailand! She had personality, realness and was ready for her close-up....every time! For her evening gown, she wore this red and blue sequined one-shoulder design from Unkuniya. The gown was super sexy, featuring the red-and-blue sequined panel with a nude leg-and-torso-exposing side, as well as iridescent organza back cape detail. Was it probably A LOT? Maybe. But I loved it. She SOLD IT like her rent was due!

9.25





8. Miss Grand Colombia Genesis Andrea Quintero Perez--Genesis wore this golden/nude sequin gown (yes kids, another one!), but I have to say, it fit her perfectly, looked nice and respectable and looked expensive. Nothing wrong here; this was Golden/Nude Gown Design 101.

9.10







9. Miss Grand Brazil Marjorie Marcelle--The sexy-beautiful Marjorie Marcelle wore the silver gown in the top photo for the Preliminaries but changed for the Finals to another silver sequined one (in the photo above). I really liked the first one better (the Finals one was a bit of a hot tackylicious mess), and therefore this is the one I am judging. The Preliminaries gown was designed by Helcio Junior. It fit her gorgeously, I loved the degrade of the sequins--from heavy to light--as well as the bust/neckline scroll-like details. I almost didn't mind the somewhat tacky nude illusion panel on her side thigh. I repeat: ON HER SIDE THIGH! I really tried to ignore that.

8.99 (for the Preliminaries Gown)







10. Miss Grand Panama Carmen Drayton--Carmen was another "Gown Changer" who wore one gown for the Preliminaries (top photo) yet changed for the Finals (above photo). And once again, my favorite of the two was the Preliminaries one. First off, the second one (Finals) was too Las Vegas Showgirl in Copacabana; the purple feathers were not necessary and between the super-high side slit and super low plunging neckline, I just couldn't even focus. Here's a design lesson: PICK ONE! Now that we have gotten that out of the way, I liked her Preliminaries gown. The pink-backed sequined design wasn't too Hoochielicious and really made her looked pretty, elegant, and statuesque.





8.98 (For the Preliminaries Gown)





11. Miss Grand Ireland Sudawan Kumdee--Sudawan wore this "Nude Gown" style featuring pearl, amethyst and silver sequins throughout. The fit was nice and I thought the crystal work was excellent. Overall, this was a lovely sequined gown that made her look like a Star.

8.95





12. Miss Grand Germany Lalaine Desiree Mahler--Lalaine wore this lavender-colored sequins-and-satin gown, which was a nice choice. The design featured a "Nude-and-Sequined" silver/lavender column dress with a lavender-colored satin overskirt. The dress was dramatic and very pretty. It checked off all those traditional Beauty Pageant Gown boxes. As a fashion-lover, I have to say that it was just a bit too 1990s in its design and I just love it when designers take evening gowns to another place....that isn't the 90s decade.

8.90





13. Miss Grand Chile Francisca Lavandero--Francisca wore this golden/nude gown that featured gold sequined "strips" along with radiating crystals throughout. The sequin work was nice and it was a different take on the "Nude Gown" theme. It fit her nicely but I just wished she would have chosen non-platform gold strappy heels.

8.75





14. Miss Grand Dominican Republic Stephanie Bustamante--Designed by Nidal Nouaihed, this violet-colored gown featured a nude illusion top section, silver rhinestone "necklace", silver degrade sequin work, a side chiffon cape and...(yes, there's more!), feathered skirt. Needless to say, it was MUCHO! But, here's the deal, I kinda liked it. At least there was no Hoochie side slit! And, at least, she styled herself with an elegant up-do. I loved that she looked like the Hostess of a "Carnival Cannes Festival" if there was ever such a thing.

8.50





15. Miss Grand Puerto Rico Hazel Marie Ortiz--Last on my Top 15 is this red dress worn by Miss Grand Puerto Rico. Designed by Angel Guzman, this red sequined gown featured a nude illusion front piece, one-shoulder design, back chiffon accent and high side front slit (of course!). The red color was perfect for Hazel and she looked like the perfect Beauty Pagent contestant. But that's the thing, it was a tad too 1990s/early 2000s Pageant retro for me. And then she really styled it wrong with those nude platform heels. Oh well. At least the rest was striking.

8.50



And...The "Oh Dear" Top 4:

Yes, kids, there were some hot messes in terms of Evening Gowns so here are my Top 4...



Miss Grand Belarus Karina Kiseleva--This is straight-up "Lion King" Gown Madness. The feathers, the nude vs. solid paneling, the sequins...why are there crystals on her shoulders and draped down her back??? And then, she thinks it's fine to wear a diamante necklace to finish it all off. And then (Part 2), her hair!!! It's like she's going to Happy Hour after work.





Miss Grand Costa Rica Brenda Castro Madrigal--The beautiful Miss Grand Costa Rica chose to wear this white gown that would have been OK if it wasn't for the gold chain detail that messed it all up! I just don't get it. I am trying to think of being a "fashion fly on the wall" in the fittings with her (and her Pageant Glam Squad) thinking "Ummmm, maybe we should remove those gold chains. Por favor!" I am, also so not a fan of the rhinestone "button" earrings. It's so mature.





Miss Grand Italy Mirea Sorrentino--Looks like someone is ready for a Gay Parade! Part of me loves this (the Gay Parade part) but then, I clear my eyes and realize that yes, this is like 100 tiers of gathered tulle ruffles, there's a side front opening and then nude/black sequined lace top, and she's got a top bun that will withstand a nuclear war. Wow. Maybe this might work at, say, a Eurovision contest.





Miss Grand Nigeria Ocheche Favour--Lastly, I wanted to discuss the lovely Ocheche Favour, Miss Grand Nigeria. This purple gown was a bit confusing. There's the sequined asymmetrical base, the satin back skirt, the nude illusion backing....it was a lot. But more distressing was the placement of the sequins ON THE BUST. One word: No. Oh and yes, then there are those blush pink heels. Oh Dear!



That's it!




CONGRATULATIONS to the new Miss Grand International and her Runners-up! And Congrats to the Miss Grand International Organization for yet another, fabulously produced show and pageant.

ICE STYLE.....Skate America 2019 Figure Skating Costumes Recap: PAIRS!

Sequined Pairs--USA's Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc skating to their Free Skate--Skate America 2019 Las Vegas




In my final post of last weekend's 2019 Skate America, it's time to talk about the final discipline, PAIRS! If you missed my other Skate America 2019 Costumes Recaps, Click HERE for LADIES, HERE for MEN, and HERE for ICE DANCE. But for now, let's talk about PAIRS:







Cheng Peng and Yang Jin China Free Skate--China's Pairs team skated their Free Skate to Cloud Atlas (soundtrack) wearing these pretty costumes. The varying shades of blue were beautiful and while I liked his "different" vest/jacket with rhinestone trim, it was Cheng Peng who was the obvious costume STAR! Her dress featured a pale blue chiffon base with deep lilac and silver paillettes and sequined applique, along with a silver sequin "belt".








Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2019


The design was gorgeous, expensive-looking and effective for the skate. Her look was very much inspired (I think) by Lebanese Couturier Elie Saab. The gorgeous gown above (worth about $80,000 if one were wealthy enough to order it!) looks like a nice "Inspiration" starting point. As a fashion designer and fashion lover myself, I appreciated the obvious nod to Runway Couture.











Daria Pavliuchenko and Denis Khodykin Russia Free Skate--For their Free Skate to Tron Legacy (soundtrack) by Daft Punk, this Russian Pairs team of Pavliuchenko and Khodykin wore these theme-correct costumes. As you can see, especially for Daria, she was SOOOOOO Tron, her costume deserves the Gold Medal...in "Tron" Costuming! To note: I especially loved that they added sequined trim to the panels that are supposed to be "neon"-like; this was an ingenious way to give it that right "spark", especially for the ice stage. Oh, and in case you are wondering, I liked his tie-dye top/black pants look too!







Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc USA Free Skate--Cain-Gribble and LeDuc skated their Free Skate to The Middle of the World (from "Moonlight" soundtrack) by Nicholas Britell and Experience by Ludovico Einaudi. I thought these were gorgeous costumes for both Ashley and Timothy. I especially loved the dramatic back detail in Ashley's jumpsuit with its jagged-edge sequined applique and the combination of sheer with the stretch velvet. I also really liked how they both wore the pointed "hankie"/sequined scarf on their necks; they looked united as a costume team.







Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier USA Short Program--Americans Denney and Frazier wore these vibrant costumes for their Short Program to Quidam (Cirque du Soleil). I appreciated the bold deep lilac/royal purple color, the "Arabian Sheikha"-like costume of Haven with its wrap-around arm ties and extremely intricate sequin work. In addition, I also liked his draped top with subtle ombre dyeing.





Free Skate to Lion King Returns (soundtrack) by Hans Zimmer--For their Free Skate to "Lion King", they wore these black and brown costumes and while they might not have had the "color punch" of their Short program looks, they were subtly elegant and featured beautiful feather-like sequin detail on both of their ensembles.









Jessica Calalang and Brian Johnson USA Free Skate--For their Free Skate to You Are the Reason (duet version) performed by Calum Scott, Leona Lewis, Calalang and Johnson wore these rather "figure skating traditional" costumes that were pretty and un-threatening (in a fashion sense). Her dress was like a costume version of a "Model Home" and his, to be honest, was slightly more fashion-exciting, in that I liked the sheerness and starry sky-like sequin work.





And...THAT'S IT for the 2019 Skate America Costumes! Stay tuned for more "Ice Style" Costume Recaps from this Grand Prix Season here on my BLOG.

SASHES AND TIARAS.....Miss Grand International 2019 NATIONAL COSTUMES: TOP 20!

Best of The Best--Top National Costumes from Miss Grand International 2019 National Costume Show (L to R) Miss Grand Japan Adeline Minatoya, Miss Grand Ecuador Mara Topic, Miss Grand India Jivani Jadhav, Miss Grand Thailand Coco Arayha Suparurk--Miss Grand International National Costume Presentation, Poliedro Arena Caracas Venezuela


Friday, October 25th is the Finals of the 7th Annual Miss Grand International , one of my favorite international beauty pageants. It's always produced fabulously, the show is always top-notch and the contestants are always DIVINE! Oh, and there's always some FASHION!! This year, the pageant is taking place in Caracas Venezuela (yes, Venezuela!). Many pageant fans (and non-pageant fans alike) were a bit "What the (fill in the blank)?" when it was announced that Venezuela would be the host of a big international beauty pageant. If anyone has been keeping up with world news, Venezuela has been in the grips of economic collapse; in 2015, the country had over 100% inflation--the highest in the world and the highest in the country's history at that time. 








Miss Grand International 2019 contestants at the InterContinental Tamanco Hotel, Caracas Venezuela


According to independent sources, the rate increased to 80,000% at the end of 2018 with Venezuela spiraling into hyperinflation while the poverty rate was nearly 90 percent of the population and just several days ago, the AP reported that Venezuelans were buying gas with...cigarettes, to battle the inflation. And I haven't even begun on the rampant crime, riots, etc. So yes, many were questionable but pageant organizers proved everyone wrong (so far) with having successful pre-pageant events, press junkets, appearances, and very well-produced activities, and keeping the contestants safe, and more importantly, bringing smiles to the pageant-loving fans in Venezuela. 








Miss Grand International 2019 National Costume Show, Poliedro Caracas Venezuela


The National Costume Presentation Show happened earlier this week showcasing the 60 contestants from all over the world. Twenty costumes were chosen by a panel of judges to then move on to compete for the Top 10 Costumes to then announce the Final Best National Costume during the Finals. But for now, here are those Top 20 pre-chosen costumes and my "Nick List" of No. 1 to No. 20. Let's begin with my FAVORITE National Costume from the 2019 Miss Grand International: 









1. Miss Grand Ecuador Mara Topic--Mara shined during the 2019 Miss Grand International National Costume Show with this fabulous costume paying homage to all things ECUADOR. The costume featured a fantasy Indigenous Empress with gold sequins, red pom-poms, an outstanding headdress and an oversized cape with panels featuring the colors of the Ecuadorian flag. She even did a dance that brought the Poliedro arena's audience to their feet! If there was one critique, it would be those clunky brown wooden shoes; will someone PLEASE give her a better pair. May I suggest, gold strappy heels perhaps? But, besides that, she's MY NUMERO UNO!







2. Miss Grand Japan Adeline Minatoya--This was tough. I almost gave Mis Grand Japan my TOP position (it was really, really hard!). For her National Costume, Miss Grand Japan wore a 12-layered highly complex kimono designed by Filipino fashion designer Don Cristobal. 







According to Don, the costume was inspired by the Junihitoe (above photo) a set of formal and highly complex kimono garments worn only by court-ladies in Japan. He added that it is one of the most expensive items of Japanese clothing.





The costume began very traditionally but then, Adeline did an instant COSTUME CHANGE right then and there on the stage, and it transformed into a Ninja Diva! Essentially, she went from Japanese Empress to Black Ninja Warrior Empress. It was impressive, fabulous and achieved the bow-down homage to Japan. Very well done!





3. Miss Grand India Shivani Jadhav--Shivani's costume was another very fabulous one. The costume was comprised of the traditional Rajasthani mirror work hand embroidery in a bouquet of colors, a large crinoline skirt to capsulate the hidden Kathputli stage and its nuances. It’s a different take on the traditional Lehenga and designed in a way to reveal the Kathputli stage that is within the skirt. The costume also features the MATKA on the head, just like the MATKA Rajasthani folk dance. Every bit of detail and style is an ode to the Rajasthani folk and arts and crafts of central India, making it a fantastic display of India Pride.







4. Miss Grand Thailand Coco Arayha Suparurk--Arayha wore this gorgeous costume which made my TOP FOUR. The design was modeled on the gilded, multi-tier roofs of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, complete with two yak giants. A golden crown finished off this great costume, designed by Art Akarach. I loved the style, colors, and intricate details, and so happy that the designer even thought of the shoes (Thank You!).









5. Miss Grand Brazil Marjorie Marcelle--Marjorie's BEAUTIFUL costume was certainly one of my favorites. She paid tribute to the Brazilian Amazon and its flora and faunas with this fantasy bird-like Empress costume. The sequins, the colors...it was EVERYTHING! She also stole the show when she brought her headdress down to her face, which subsequently transformed into the face of a fabulous bird. All I could say was "Wow!".





6. Miss Grand Panama Carmen Drayton--Carmen's costume was one of the best of the "Indigenous Empress" ones, which have become very popular for a long time in international beauty pageants. She really made a strong stage impact with this golden sequined design with over-the-top butterfly-like "wings" and feathered hem trim. Oh, and yes, that headdress was AMAZING!









7. Miss Grand Vietnam Nguyen Ha Kieu Loan--Vietnam brought it darlings! Designed by Tin Thai, this costume draws inspiration from the ancient city of Hoi An. The highlight of the outfit is the headpiece which features a pattern of Hoi An City’s Chua Cau, also known as Bridge Pagoda.

The outfit features over 2,000 LED lights showcasing the sparkling nature of Hoi An at night. And if that wasn't enough, check out those shoes! 





8. Miss Grand Indonesia Sarlin Delee Jones--Sarlin wore this gorgeous costume that was inspired by Pinisi, a traditional Indonesian sailing ship. The Pinisi comes from the Bugis tribe from the province of South Sulawesi. I loved the silhouette and design of the costume with a fitted gown and back cape, that showcased the red, gold and silver sequin details which really delivered a strong national costume statement for Indonesia.







9. Miss Grand Venezuela Lourdes Valentina Figuera--Valentina made a huge splash in her own country with this striking Wayuu-inspired costume for the 2019 Miss Grand International National Costume Presentation. Designed by Blanca Fernández Aikaa, the colorful costume pays tribute to this native/indigenous Native American people of Venezuela and Colombia with the vibrant prints, pom-poms, feathers and face-paint makeup. 









10. Miss Grand Philippines Samantha Lo--Samantha wore a Tausug-inspired national costume designed by Edwin Uy. According to Samantha, this was the same costume she wore when she was a contestant in Binibing Pilipinas 2019 (Miss Universe Philippines) but with some slight changes. She said the original costume she was supposed to wear was still stuck in Paris, where some of her luggage is (??!!), so yes, Lo ended up wearing an old-ish outfit during the national costume competition of Miss Grand International 2019 in Venezuela. According to Miss Grand Philippines, she was going to be charged $2,000 for her excess baggage but (according to her) they didn’t want to accept payment in US dollars, and at the time of boarding, all money changers in the airport were already closed. She was left with no choice but to leave some of her things there. No matter what the story was, I still loved this costume. So much that it made my TOP TEN!









11. Miss Grand Guatemala Dannia Guevara Morfin--Miss Grand Guatemala's costume was a fun, vibrant and impacting look for sure and deserved to be in the Top 20. The costume is a tribute to the effort and creativity of the artisans of the colonial Guatemalan city of Antigua. The design is characterized by pinwheels, cloth drums, paper umbrellas, sponge iguanas and the pelotas de tripa de coche,  colorful balls traditionally sold on the streets of Guatemala, carried in a net bag, and very popular with the young and old in Guatemala. I thought this was a very creative way of using traditional Guatemalan aspects of the culture into a great stage-impacting beauty pageant costume.











12. Miss Grand Dominican Republic Stephanie Bustamante--Stephanie wore this UBER sexy costume inspired by La Ciguapa, a mythical creature of Dominican folklore. According to mythology, these creatures are described as having human female form, brown or dark blue skin, backward-facing feet and a long glossy mane of hair covering their bodies. Interestingly enough (in case you are wondering), the reason their feet are facing backward is so people cannot tell where they are going or where they have been from the odd footprints. Ciguapas are considered magical beings, beautiful to some, horrendous to others. I only see fabulous crystal-encrusted beauty from Miss Grand Dominican Republic's national costume. Although they didn't even attempt to make her feet face backward. If they would have accomplished that, I might have bumped her up a few places!!









13. Miss Grand Malaysia Mel Dequanne Abar--The Storyteller of Classic Malay Sanskrit, that is the name of Miss Grand Malaysia's national costume. It was designed and created by Harry Shaari and Spoza Rizky and it took 3 months to make. The inspiration behind this design is the Malay Sanskrit Hikayat Seri Rama (Chronicles of The Great Rama), incorporating some of the characters of the story into the costume, including the main Seri Rama character, the "good character" (represented by Mel Dequanne), the "evil characters" of the story displayed on her sleeves and finally, the "surprise" element of art in the back. During her presentation on stage, she turned around and unscrolled this last surprise element.





14. Miss Grand Costa Rica Brenda Castro--For her National Costume, Miss Grand Costa Rica donned a design titled "Black Panther Goddess", from the Boruca Legend, involving a gorgeous mask, studded jumpsuit, and dramatic cape. I also loved her Toucan and Parrot topped staff pole. The costume was quite dramatic and impacting.







15. Miss Grand Lebanon Stephanie Karam--Stephanie wore this golden costume showcasing the "Mythical Roman Lion", the Nemean Winged Lion, that in mythology was eventually killed by Heracles. The costume featured an elaborate lion-tiger mask, gorgeous gold feathers and matching sequin dress.





16. Miss Grand Mexico Maria Malo--Maria started her presentation with an allegorical dance showcasing this very intricate design of Indigenous/Native American origins. The costume included beads of many colors, wooden details and gorgeous peacock feathers in an outstanding headdress. She vibed a great Indigenous Warrior Queen in this costume.







17. Miss Grand Myanmar Hmwe Thet--Hmwe showcased the “Extraordinary Love of Mother” in this unique and original costume representing Myanmar. According to her, the costume exemplifies that "a woman’s life is much more than just giving birth to a child. She fights for her rights, she struggles to be a bread-winner, she sacrifices her time to shape her child’s life, she cares with her whole heart and she sets a goal for her dreams. Eventually, she is not only tired and exhausted but also she still stands strong against fear and depression with her graceful and infinite love to protect her child. Among the flame of war and violence, the "Extraordinary Love of Mother" is forever standing. Amen!












18. Miss Grand Nigeria Ocheche Favour--Ocheche paid tribute to her country of Nigeria with this fabulous design of a peplum top with skin-tight shorts and a dramatic overskirt featuring the colorful and vibrant Ankara cloth. If the ensemble wasn't enough, she literally topped it all off with a fabulous fruit basket headdress that would make Carmen Miranda very, very jealous.





19. Miss Grand Peru Camila Escribens--Camila wore this silver-ivory fantasy costume inspired by a message of peace and hope, according to Camila. The back "wings" actually represented a flower that comes to life and opens up. She lifted it up to show this "birth", making a strong stage impact during the 2019 Miss Grand International National Costume Presentation. The costume was designed by Beto Pinedo.





And finally...



20. Miss Grand Guadeloupe Nahemy Ceriac--For her National Costume, Nahemy represented her Caribbean island of Guadeloupe in this costume honoring the beautiful blue Caribbean Sea, the fish netting (showcased in the netting in her tights), the sea shells, flora and fauna in her headdress and ankle accessories and last but not least, the traditional Madras print in the fabric of her wrap/skirt.

ICE STYLE.....Skate America 2019 Figure Skating Costumes Recap: ICE DANCE

Un-Shallow Costumes--Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue of the USA performing their Free Dance at the 2019m Skate America Las Vegas


Continuing with my 2019 Skate America Costumes Blog...it's time for the ICE DANCE Costumes Recap! (Click HERE for the LADIES and HERE for the MEN). As always, Ice Dance showcases the fun and creative costumes to go along with the corresponding music. This season will be no exception if the 2019 Skate America is any indication. Let's take a look at some of my Costume Highlights:













Caroline Greene and Michael Parsons USA Rhythm Dance--For their Rhythm Dance to Quickstep: Screw Loose (from "Cry Baby") by Adam Schlesinger, David Javerbaum and Blues: Baby Baby Baby Baby (from "Cry Baby") by Adam Schlesinger, David Javerbaum, new pairing of Green and Parsons (he was with his sister before), skated to the soundtrack of John Waters movie "Cry Baby". I liked that they both stuck to the kitchy 50's "Grease"-like theme with lace top and stretchy pants for her as well as the Moto Jacket/white T-shirt look of the "Johnny Depp" character for Michael. It was very cute and right.







Free Dance to Conquest of Spaces and I Love You (Acoustic) by Woodkid--I absolutely loved these costumes for their Free Dance; her deep red velvet dress was reptilian fab and so Skate Couture and I really liked how his black stretch velvet top mirrored the pointed details seen in her costume. These were outstanding for sure! 





Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue USA Short Program--For their Rhythm Dance to Jive: My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Cole Porter and West Coast Swing: Let's Be Bad by Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Hubbell and Donohue wore these costumes above. Classic, elegant and right for the music. Madison looked very Marilyn Monroe-like in this asymmetrical neckline white sequined dress (and that hair!) and Zachary did his best impression of a 50's ballroom dance date with the white shirt, tight black pants, and slick hair.  My one critique would be the drop-waist silhouette on Madison is not my favorite. It's not the most flattering proportion, but she is gorgeous and truly can make anything look good.











Free Dance to A Star is Born Medley: Shallow by Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt, Anthony Rossomando and Alibi by Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Lukas Nielson--The remake of "A Star Is Born" does not have many iconic costumes....so it was slightly difficult to figure out what Madison and Zachary were wearing that related back to the film. The chains on her neck reminded me of the chained belt Lady Gaga wore during the film....and that's pretty much it. Besides all that, I still liked these looks and how her double belts in that maroon red color mirrored his v-neck shirt.





Hong Chen and Zhuoming Sun China Rhythm Dance--For their Rhythm Dance to Swing: It Don't Mean a Thing If You Ain't Got that Swing, this Chinese pair wore these fun and very "Swing"-y costumes. The deep violet-blue coloring was nice and the sequin detail on her dress was quite nice. I also liked his bias-cut plaid jacket that adding some costume dimension to their pairing.











Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin Russia Rhythm Dance--Stepanova and Bukin skated their Rhythm Dance to Quickstep: Sparkling Diamonds (from "Moulin Rouge" soundtrack) performed by Nicole Kidman; Blues: Your Song (from "Moulin Rouge" soundtrack) performed by Ewan McGregor. She looked absolutely GORGEOUS and on-point in this red tulle and velvet, nude illusion and gold embroidered costume. I loved how his tux tails outfit had that red lining which showed throughout their skate. The only thing was that those tails on his jacket were a bit long and distracting--skate-wise. I could see them shortening them for future competitions, perhaps. 









Tiffany Zahorski and Jonathan Guerreiro Russia Rhythm Dance--For their Rhythm Dance to March: The Greatest Showman (soundtrack); Quickstep: The Greatest Showman (soundtrack); Waltz: The Greatest Showman (soundtrack); March: The Greatest Showman (soundtrack), this Russian Ice Dance pair skated wearing these costumes. I liked her fire-red jagged edge look; very sexy and I guess it was trying to look like a Clown/Circus Tent/Red Jacket worn by Hugh Jackman's character. For Jonathan, that kept him simple in all black. I kind of wished she wore a lilac look like Zendaya and he did a version of Hugh's:








Costumes from "The Greatest Showman"












Free Dance to Survivor (Epic Cover - Tomb Raider Trailer 2) by 2Wei--Not sure what her neon colors-and-black peek-a-boo costume has to do with the song and "Tomb Raider" (the movie it came from) but I'll go along, only because her look was eye-catching and certainly skate costume "candy". It is certainly very Ice Dance-meets-Ballroom Dancing sexy. Jonathan's striped tux vest, pants, and white shirt was also quite sexy and fit well.











Olivia Smart and Adrian Diaz Spain Rhythm Dance--Well, well, well, if there was any question of the costumes fitting the music...these two from Spain settled that! Smart and Diaz skated their Rhythm Dance to Swing: Grease (soundtrack); Quickstep: You're the One I Want (from "Grease"); Jive: Hand Jive, and these costumes were PERFECT! Seriously, look at them: It's Olivia and John 2019! With such a classic soundtrack, why would you want to mess with that, in terms of costumes? Glad they didn't. Gracias & Muy Bien!











Free Dance to Larrons en Foire (from "Micmacs a tire-largot") by Raphael Beau, My One And Only Love by Thom Hanreich and Larrons en Foire (from "Micmacs a tire-largot") by Raphael Beau--For their Free Dance, Smart and Diaz continued their fab costumes streak with these fun looks inspired by the music from a French comedy film based on (wait for it!) the world's arms trade. Go figure. The costumes were fun, eye-catching and ice stage-impacting. I loved his patchwork overalls and her Elie Saab-like blue sequined costume. 



**UP NEXT: The PAIRS Costumes from Skate America 2019! 

ICE STYLE.....Skate America 2019 Figure Skating Costumes Recap: MEN

Psychedelic Modern  Bartender--Costumes from Skate America 2019 Men (L to R) Michal Brezina of Czech Republic, Nathan Chen of USA, Jason Brown of USA and Nathan Chen of USA--Skate America 2019 Las Vegas


In my last post HERE , I discussed the LADIES COSTUMES from last weekend's 2019 Skate America, so naturally, now it's time to talk about the MEN! The Men's costumes aren't usually the most exciting or creative for that matter. Sometimes there are shining moments of some semblance of FASHION, but for the most part, it's stuck with tacky "Ross Dress For Less" belts, black pants and 90's-like tops...Let's see what was on the Skate America 2019 "Runway":











Jason Brown USA Short Program--For his Short Program to I Can't Go On Without You by Kaleo, Jason wore this all-black costume consisting of black pants and a shiny & stretchy top with asymmetrical zipper detail and sheer-and-black-striped side panel. I liked the unique details at the top but the overall look was a bit "Matrix"-meets-Devo.





Free Skate to Schindler's List (soundtrack) by John Williams--For his Free Skate to "Schindler's List", Jason wore this ombre dyed gray costume featuring a Lycra turtleneck with sequin applique, deep gray pants, and cummerbund-like waist accessory. I thought this was an elegant design and I especially liked the sequined top with a detail that reminded me of the Manhattan skyline, but I think the pants were waaaay to baggy and old-school.





Alexei Bychenko Israel Free Skate--It doesn't take much to figure out, just by looking at the photo above, what music Alexei was skating to...if you guessed "Pirates of the Caribbean", you were right! Alexei loves a cheesy costume to go along with his past music--like "Hava Nagila"(2017-2018) "Pagliacci"(2016-2017,2017-2018), "Les Miserables"(2015-2016)...he even did "Dracula" last year/season! The problem is that they all kind of start looking the same--or at least bought from the same Halloween store!--and they don't look refined or elevated. But on a good note, at least he is consistent with his tradition of actually wearing something other than black pants, black belt and black top from a skating shop!







Speaking of...



Keegan Messing Canada Short Program--Keegan performed a heartfelt tribute to his younger brother, who recently died in a motorcycle accident in September during the gala at Skate America 2019. You can understand the intense pain he must be going through and it goes without saying, forgive him for any silly costume discussion. For his Short Program to Perfect by Ed Sheeran, the skate was meant as a love letter to his wife (the song was the first song they danced to at their wedding). Naturally, because of his recent tragedy, it was a very emotional skate. For it, he wore this all-black look consisting of black pants, black top, and black belt.







Free Skate to November Rain by Guns N' Roses--For his Free Skate, he wore a look that was very similar to what he had donned for his Short program but changed the shirt.





Dmitri Aliev Russia Short Program--Dmitri skated his Short Program to Je Dors Sur Des Roses (from "Mozart L'Opera Rock) by Mikelangelo Loconte wearing this costume consisting of a wine-red velvet long vest with embroidered lapels, see-through black shirt, and black pants. It was "Mozart"-y I guess and it fits him nicely. That's pretty much all I can say.





Free Skate to The Sound of Silence performed by Disturbed--For his Free Skate, he went more chic and sleek with this black outfit of a cowl draped shiny top and skin-tight black pants. I liked the slight neck drape for sure and once again how well it all fit on Dmitri's very skinny and fit body.





Michal Brezina Czech Republic--Michal performed his Free Skate to a Beatles Medley: Yesterday, I Saw Her Standing There, Let It Be, and A Hard Day's Night by John Lennon, Paul McCartney. For some reason, he thought that wearing a psychedelic tie-dye shirt would be "Beatles"-esque but I was a bit confused, thinking it might have been better to skate to a "Woodstock" medley perhaps; he looked as if he was attending a late 60's Hippie party as opposed to vibing Paul McCartney and John Lennon.







Nathan Chen USA Short Program--Nathan skated his Short Program to La Boheme performed by Charles Aznavour. When looking at what Nathan wore as a "costume", I was glad to discover that the music was not from the famous Puccini opera but instead a 60's song that is known to many French from Armenian-French singer Charles Aznavour...





Nathan's look was, I guess, something a chanteuse would wear while singing this song, but it also reminded me of an outfit/uniform for a bartender at a fancy wedding. I realize Nathan is not really known for his flair for costumes and more for his outstanding ability to do Quads but I would still--as a "Fashionista"--like something that doesn't look like it came from the Sears Men's Department.









Free Skate to Music from "Rocketman": Goodbye Yellowbrick Road by Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell; Rocketman by Taron Egerton and Benny and the Jets by Logic, Elton John and Pink--Soooo...for his Free Skate to "Rocketman", Nathan chose to wear this psychedelic tie-dye printed top and black pants. What this has to do with Elton John or Rocketman, the movie, is beyond me. It seems almost as if it was in Michal Brezina's (see the previous photo) luggage and Nathan had nothing else to wear and said "hey Michal, do you need AN EXTRA tie-dye shirt?? ...so can I borrow it?". I had the privilege last year to be a Consultant Producer on Bravo's "Project Runway" Season 17 and one of the challenges was about "Rocketman" and the judge was its Costume Designer Julian Day, and we even had some of the movie's costumes...








Not sure why Nathan wasn't actually inspired by any of the "Rocketman" costumes above?

Or the fabulous ones...





  Created by the "Project Runway" contestants/designers Bishme Cromartie (L) and Garo Sparo (R) above (the one on the right was the Winner!)





Congratulations! Top Three Men at Skate America 2019 (L to R) Jason Brown USA (Silver), Nathan Chen USA (Gold) and Dmitri Aliev Russia (Bronze)--Skate America 2019 Las Vegas




**NEXT UP: The ICE DANCE and PAIRS COSTUMES RECAP of Skate America 2019

ICE STYLE.....Skate America 2019 Figure Skating Costumes Recap: LADIES!

Skate America 2019 Ladies--Kaori Sakamoto of Japan, Bradie Tennell of USA, Kaori Sakamoto of Japan and Eunsoo Lim of South Korea--Skate America 2019 Las Vegas


This past weekend was the 2019 Skate America --the first event in the 2019-2020 Grand Prix of Figure Skating competition series. It was held at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada , and covered Men's, Ladies, Ice Dance, and Pairs. As part of my ICE STYLE BLOG , I cover the costumes of figure skating so...it is time to discuss some of the costumes seen at Skate America 2019...







Let's start with the LADIES:



Anna Shcherbakova Russia Short Program--15-year-old Anna showed up to this first of the 2019-2020 Grand Prix of Figure Skating competition series to make history...and she did...later for her Free Skate (TWO QUADS!!!). For now, let's discuss her Short program costume to The Girl with the Plums, Meeting Laura, and Laura's Murder (from “The Perfume” soundtrack). I liked this deep ombre dyed gray dress featuring sequined applique in the torso. It was "Romantic Dark" and a bit "Nightshade Fairy" in its design. 



For her Free Skate, she did an on-the-spot Costume Change:




Free Skate to Six Gnossiennes: Gnossienne No.1 by Eric Satie, performed by Roland Pontinen

The Firebird by Igor Stravinski--Anna started the skate in the lilac costume on the left above and then, she did a tug at her neck and voila: NEW COSTUME! While I really was not a fan of the lilac halter neck look, in the beginning, she Costume-redeemed herself when the "Firebird" one took over...





The red feather-like sequined applique-over-nude-illusion-body-suit-with-red-skirt was eye-catching and impacting. I liked that it was a definite change from what she had worn in the first half. Was it kind of cheesy? Yes, but I liked it.







Bradie Tennell USA Short Program--Bradie skated her Short Program to Mechanisms and Chronos by Kirill Richter wearing this red costume. The design featured a sequined covered nude illusion "plunging neckline" front, long sleeves and short skirt, all accented with a diamante thin belt. It looked sleek and modern and devoid of any unnecessary costume fluff, making Bradie look sleeker than ever! 







Free Skate to Cinema Paradiso (soundtrack) by Ennio Morricone--For her Free Skate to "Cinema Paradiso", Bradie wore this light lilac colored halter costume with ombre dyed skirt and crystal-covered neckline. The costume was pretty but there was nothing fashion-extraordinary about it, to be honest. 





Elizaveta Tuktamysheva Russia Short Program to Drumming Song by Florence and the Machine--Elizaveta wore this sexy black costume for her Short Program to Florence and the Machine. It was modern, sleek and "punk"-like. I liked the asymmetrical slit-front skirt and spray of crystal details. 







Elizaveta Tuktamysheva Free Skate--For her Free Skate to Caravan and Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen performed by The Hot Sardines, Elizaveta wore this vest-and-pant ensemble with a white shirt and untied red bow tie. I get the relaxed "Jazzy" look to it but she looked like a waitress-after-the-Wedding-Party-is-done. Even with that, I have to say, it is still very much on her "brand" of costume-funkiness.









Stanislava Konstantinova Russia Short Program--For her Short Program to February by Leonid Levashkevich, Stanislava wore this gorgeous silver/gray costume. I loved the mock-neck fitted top design with under bustier, and flowy skirt. The crystal work was exquisite; the entire costume was elegant, chic, and elevated.





Karen Chen USA Free Skate--Karen skated her Free Skate to Illumination by Secret Garden wearing this costume above. I thought she looked quite pretty in this lightly ombre-dyed lilac costume featuring heavy-to-light sequins highlighting the torso.







Yi Christy Leung Hong Kong Free Skate--Hong Kong's Yi Christy Leung wore this eye-catching ultramarine blue colored costume for her Free Skate to Reveil, Seisouso (from Cirque du Soleil) by Benoit Jutras. The design was perfect for the "Cirque Du Soleil" music, with the color and varying peek-a-boo insets. I also liked the different sequins used in the costume including crystals, bugle beads, etc. They added a nice dimension to the costume.





Eunsoo Lim Korea Short Program--Eunsoo Lim is a fashion diva when it comes to her costumes; it's almost as if you are dressing a sample size model. She looks delicate, stylish and just-so-right in almost anything one gives her. This season is no different. For her Short Program to Capriccio Espagnol by Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov, she wore this royal purple sequined costume and I LOVED IT! It was elegant, chic, very Toreador (the beads, sequins!), and she even accented it all with flower detail in her chignon. This was a perfect way of showing that you can do SPAIN and not be all red and black.





Free Skate to Sabrina (soundtrack)--Very "Sabrina"...you've got the necklace, the sweetheart neckline, the sequined bodice...this nude-colored costume was elegant, very delicately pretty and right for the music.







Wakaba Higuchi Japan Short Program--For her Short Program to Bird Set Free by Sia, Wakaba wore this black and white costume which was so fashion-forward yet elegant that it was one of my favorites. I loved the delicate sequin work and light ombre dye effect. I also liked the one sleeve and half-hand detail, reminding one of a bird's beak. 







Kaori Sakamoto Japan Short Program--For her Short Program to No Roots by Alice Merton, Kaori wore this red costume which was FABULOUS! I loved the sexiness of it, the varying sizes of crystals throughout and nude-illusion peekaboo panels, as well as Versace-like strap detail. Whether it was intentional or not, the red straps remind me of the Rising Sun Flag that is used at sporting events by supporters of  Japanese teams. 













Free Skate to Matrix (soundtrack) by Don Davis--Kaori wore this wonderful costume for her Free Skate to "Matrix". I also loved this costume; it was so modern, so fashion-directional...it fits perfectly and exemplified the music and theme. And personally, I have to bow down to whoever sewed (or glued) those colored sequins to the faux patent leather because A)It isn't easy and B) They did a wonderful job!






Congratulations to the TOP THREE LADIES! (L to R) Bradie Tennell of USA (Silver), Anna Shcherbakova of Russia (Gold) and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva of Russia (Bronze)--2019 Skate America Las Vegas Nevada




**UP NEXT: 2019 Skate America: MEN'S COSTUMES!

SUPIMA DESIGN COMPETITION.....Recap of FIDM Finalist Illene Martoseno 2019 Supima Design Competition NYFW

Designs from Illene Martoseno, FIDM Finalist of the 2019 Supima Design Competition, from New York Fashion Week Show, Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC







  FIDM Fashion Design Co-Chair Nick Verreos and FIDM Supima Finalist Illene Martoseno--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC






Last month were the Finals of the 2019 Supima Design Competition in NYC and since last year, as the Co-Chair of Fashion Design at FIDM, I have had the pleasure of participating along with our school's Finalist. For some background,  Supima is a superior type of cotton that is American grown, representing only 1% of cotton grown in the world. What makes Supima cotton unique is its extra-long staple fiber giving it strength (twice as strong as regular cotton), softness and color retention.






Behind The Scenes of the Process: Part 1--Supima FIDM Finalist Illene Martoseno and FIDM Fashion Design Co-Chairs Nick Verreos and David Paul

Photos courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/ABImages


The Supima Design Competition was created to support and highlight emerging design talent from the top U.S. fashion design schools. Each year, finalists from top schools design and create five looks using Supima Cotton Poplin/Shirting, Velveteen, Twill, Knit Jersey and Denim. They are given the fabrics in WHITE and the rest is up to the emerging designers to "re-imagine" the Supima cotton. This year, the schools that participated included the Academy of Art University, Drexel University, FIT, Kent State University, Parsons, RISD, SCAD, and the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM . As the Co-Chair of FIDM Fashion Design--along with my fellow Co-Chair David Paul--we hand-picked a graduate of FIDM's B.A. of Design, Illene Martoseno as our FIDM Supima Finalist.






Behind The Scenes of the Process: Part 2--From patterns to dyeing....to fabric manipulating--Illene Martoseno, Supima FIDM Finalist


Illene had several months to create her five designs from scratch. Originally from Indonesia, the petite Martoseno inspired us with her directional creativity and original fabric manipulation ideas. In addition, she decided to custom dye the Supima cotton, adding another bespoke level to her one-of-a-kind designs. After months of designing, dyeing, fabric manipulating....it was time for NYC and the Final Fittings for the New York Fashion Week 2019 Supima Design Competition show:



Final Fittings:




Sketch to Designs--FIDM Supima Finalist Illene Martoseno




David and I flew to NYC to support and help Illene in every which way possible to make her showing at the 2019 Supima Design Competition be the best it could be... 




Ready for Final Fittings--FIDM Fashion Design Co-Chairs David Paul and Nick Verreos, supporting FIDM Supima Finalist, Illene Martoseno, arriving for 2019 Supima design Competition Final Fittings, Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC









Model Love--Wonderful running into model Jessica Millin, who was the final model in Bravo's "Project Runway" Season 17 Winner Jhoan "Sebastian" Grey's Finale Collection...she was there for the Model Castings/Fittings for the 2019 Supima Design Competition


Fittings...






  Knit Jersey Look--FIDM Supima Finalist Illene Martoseno fitting on her Supima Knit Jersey look (last photo, above)--One-shoulder multi-paneled top and skirt with custom spray-painted/ombre dyed and boned "hoops"--Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC





Shirting/Poplin Look--Model in FIDM Supima Finalist's Illene Martoseno design of fabric manipulated top with an attached multi-paneled skirt. The skirt had SIXTY panels, all custom spray-painted, ombre dyed and baby-hemmed--Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC





  Velveteen Look--Model in FIDM Supima Finalist Illene Martoseno's strapless dress featuring ombre dyed boned "swirls"--Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC





Twill Look--Model in FIDM Supima Finalist Illene Martoseno's ombre dyed/fabric manipulated halter-neck fitted dress--Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC





Demin Look--Model (and designer Illene Martoseno) in ombre dyed/fabric manipulated Dragon-like dress with a dramatic cape--Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC





The Five Looks--Models in FIDM Supima Finalist Illene Martoseno's designs--2019 Supima Design Competition--Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC





Illene Martoseno Supima Fabric Collage


The NY Fashion Week Show--2019 Supima Design Competition:




Supima Gift Bags--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC







  FIDM Fashion Design Co-Chairs Nick Verreos and David Paul with FIDM Supima Finalist Illene Martoseno--Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC





FIDM Fashion Design Co-Chairs David Paul and Nick Verreos with "7th on 6th" NYFW Creator and former CFDA Executive Director Fern Mallis and Harper's Bazaar Executive Fashion and Beauty Editor Avril Graham--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC





  The 2019 Finalists--The 2019 Supima Design Competition Finalists--Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC





Judges, Mentor Bibhu Mohapatra (center) and Supima VP of Marketing and Promotions, Buxton Midyette (7th from right)--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC





  Family Support--FIDM Supima Finalist Illene Martoseno (center) with her mother (2nd from left) and brother (2nd from right), and FIDM Fashion design Co-Chairs Nick Verreos and David Paul--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC





FIDM Fashion Design Co-Chairs David Paul and Nick Verreos with past FIDM Supima Finalists Leetal Platt (far left) and Genevieve Lake (2nd from right)--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC 


Illene Martoseno's Collection:




 Illene Martoseno, FIDM Supima Finalist--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC









Ombre Shirting Dress--Illene Martoseno, FIDM Supima Finalist--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC






Velveteen Swirls--Illene Martoseno, FIDM Supima Finalist--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC





 Twill Zig-Zag's--Illene Martoseno, FIDM Supima Finalist--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC





 Curved Couture--Illene Martoseno, FIDM Supima Finalist--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC







Denim Dragon Queen--Illene Martoseno, FIDM Supima Finalist--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC







The Collection--Illene Martoseno, FIDM Supima Finalist--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC





Models in FIDM Supima Finalist Illene Martoseno designs--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios, Chelsea Piers NYC






FIDM Fashion Design Co-Chairs Nick Verreos and David Paul with Illene Martoseno, FIDM Supima Finalist--2019 Supima Design Competition, Pier 59 Studios Chelsea Piers NYC



**Very Proud of our FIDM Supima Finalist, Illene Martoseno, and her OUTSTANDING 2019 Design Competition designs!!**

WHO WORE WHAT?.....2019 Emmy Awards Red Carpet: My Top 15 BEST DRESSED!

Best Fab--Five of my Best Dressed Ladies from the 2019 Emmy Awards Red Carpet (L to R) Emanuela Popstacchini, Rachel Brosnahan, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Regina King and Kendall Jenner





  Best Gown-ed--(L to R) Julia Garner, Mandy Moore, MJ Rodriguez, Michelle Williams, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge--71st Annual Emmy Awards Red Carpet


Sunday night was the 71st Annual Emmy Awards and the red (it was actually purple) carpet shined with lots of the actresses looking fabulous in their best couture. Several trends came through (as always) including COLOR (pink-and-red combos), mint (green and blue) as well as shimmering dresses, full "Princess" ball gowns, and slits/peek-a-boo skin...Let's take a look at my TOP 15 BEST DRESSED, beginning with THE DIVA, Catherine Zeta-Jones:







Catherine Zeta-Jones in Georges Hobeika Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2019--Leave it to Catherine Zeta-Jones to always show how it is done...on the red carpet. Zeta Jones looked regal and flawless as always, here wearing a strawberry pink-red silk chiffon gown from Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2019 collection. The gown featured a hand-draped and gathered bodice with dramatic cape, side slit and nude illusion neckline giving a peek-a-boo aspect at the top. Perfectly matching strappy heels and an elegant center-parted hairstyler finished it all off. Brava!





Michelle Williams in custom Louis Vuitton--Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie winner Michelle Williams wore this custom-made sequined gown from Louis Vuitton. The dress featured Chinoiserie-like crystal embroidery and perfectly fitting column shape.





Rachel Brosnahan in Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2019--"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" actress Rachel Brosnahan looked beautiful in this deep mint blue gown from Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2019. The completely sequined gown featured a wrap-like neckline, ruffled peplum, side drape, and high side slit. It was one of my TOP FAVORITE looks.









Gwyneth Paltrow in vintage Valentino Couture 1963--Gwyneth Paltrow wore this exquisite example of vintage Alta Moda design from her favorite couturier (and friend) Valentino. The black and white gown (which I immediately knew was Valentino when I first saw it!) was from Valentino's Couture archives from 1963. It featured a white silk duchesse skirt attached to a silk velvet and sheer black silk chiffon neckline panel. The perfect 60's flourish was those feathered sleeves.



Here is the original sketch and gown:




Valentino Haute Couture 1963




Phoebe Waller-Bridge in Monique Lhuillier--"Fleabag" actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge was resplendent in this nude-colored gown from Monique Lhuillier. The tulle gown had a plunging neckline and heavy-to-light gold sequin paillettes trickling up and down from the waist.





Julia Garner in Cong Tri Ready-to-Wear Spring 2020--Winner of the Outstanding Supporting Actress Emmy for "Ozark", actress Julia Garner wore a purple silk chiffon gown from Vietnamese designer Cong Tri. The one-sleeved dress was part of Tri's Spring/Summer 2020 Ready-to-Wear collection shown recently at NY Fashion Week and featured a beautifully gathered bodice that fanned out to a full skirt with a dramatic train and cut-out side. I loved the color, dramatic and sexy shape and the fact that yes, you actually can wear purple on a purple carpet.





Kendall Jenner in Richard Quinn Spring/Summer 2020--I know, Kendall is an actual model and almost six feet tall and a size 2, so yes, she could look good in a "Hefty Bag", as they say. Still, she looked DIVINE....dramatic, runway-worthy! I absolutely love it when people make dramatic red carpet statements and Kendall did that with this modern take on a gown. British designer Richard Quinn is known for his bold prints and bolder shapes and was featured in the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute "Camp" Exhibition (and had Queen Elizabeth attend his runway show !). This mermaid-shaped body-hugging gown features an outstanding corset top and beautifully pleated bottom skirt section, but more importantly, I love the unexpected black latex turtleneck top; it's NAUGHTY pretty!





Marisa Tomei in Ralph & Russo Couture Fall/Winter 2019--Marisa Tomei wore that pink-and-red color combination that we saw several examples of at Sunday's Emmys red carpet. Tomei's one-shoulder dress was from UK design duo Ralph & Russo and their Couture collection for Fall/Winter 2019. The silk chiffon gown had a beautifully draped top section with bow-tied details at the shoulder and waist and featured a super sexy high side slit.







Mandy Moore in Brandon Maxwell-- Pink silk gazar off-the-shoulder blouse with red crepe skirt with side slit.





Susan Kelechi Watson in Badgley Mischka Spring/Summer 2020--"This Is Us" actress Susan Kelechi Watson wore this off-the-shoulder gown in THE SAME COLOR combination as Mandy Moore's Brandon Maxwell, making her look a sure-fire will-make-it-on-Emmys-Red-Carpet-Trends line-up! The dress was from Badgley Mischka Spring/Summer 2020 collection and featured a simple column shape with beautiful and dramatic billowing sleeves...






Color Blocking Ladies--Susan and Mandy posed for Instagram to celebrate their perfect color combination choices at the 2019 Emmy Awards




MJ Rodriguez in custom Jason Wu--"Pose" star MJ Rodriguez who plays "Blanca", wore this hot pink silk taffeta gown from American designer Jason Wu. I loved the color, shape and dramatic statement the dress made even before MJ walked onto the red--I mean purple--carpet. The gathering at the plunging neckline top was beautiful and I also liked the black bow side waist details.





Regina King in custom Jason Wu--Mint was another hot color at the 2019 Emmy Awards and actress Regina King was one of the Best Dressed in mint. King also chose Jason Wu for her gown, a halter-neck gathered silk chiffon dress with sequined details at the top bodice. I also loved the satin harness-like details, giving a Gladiator-like look.





Jameela Jamil in Monique Lhuillier--Another mint-colored beauty was the gown worn by British actress Jameela Jamil. Her dress was by Monique Lhuillier and featured a draped off-the-shoulder full-skirted silhouette. The color looked great against her skin and the shape was dramatic and entrance-worthy: No one could take their eyes off her!





Naomi Watts in Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2019--You really cannot go wrong with Christian Dior Haute Couture. First, it's a dress that (if one were to buy...Naomi did not) would set you back about $75,000...






Detail of the Dior Haute Couture gown


It's all hand-made, taking hundreds if not thousands of hours to make with beautiful and very expensive silk tulle point d'esprit fabrication. The dress includes a built-in caged petticoat and boned corselet (very old-school Dior!). It's classic Hollywood Glamour with it's 50's silhouette. It is one of those looks that if a woman wants to vibe Grace Kelly, copy this!







Emanuela Postacchini in Antonio Grimaldi Couture Spring/Summer 2019--Italian actress of "Who Is America?" and "The Alienist" got my attention with this dramatic and sculptural ivory column gown she wore at the 2019 Emmy Awards. The silk crepe gown with feathered applique--from Italian couturier Antonio Grimaldi and his Spring/Summer 2019 Couture collection--had a simple column shape but it was all about that shark fin-like neckline that framed her face beautifully; so very Alta Moda! Bellissima!





I know I said "Top 15" but...I had to add an...EXTRA DIVA:



Laverne Cox in Monsoori--Speaking of dramatic statements (which I am a fan of!) Laverne Cox certainly made one in this black and light lavender ball gown from Bahraini designer Shaima Al Monsoori. The dress featured gradating multi tiers of tulle, plus a one-shoulder top section with a dramatic draped flourish. But the gown wasn't the only statement Laverne made on the carpet...





The Rainbow Clutch--Cox used the Emmys to make a political statement with this Rainbow clutch designed by Laverne highlighting LGBTQ rights and Title VII. On October 8th, the Supreme Court will hear a case of whether LGBTQ workers are protected by the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a law that "prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin".

FIDM.....FIDM LA Open House: MC'ing the FIDM Alumni Panel + FIDM Fashion Design at FIDM Open House

  MC Nick--Nick Verreos at the 2019 FIDM Open House Alumni Panel, FIDM Los Angeles


Several weeks back, I had the pleasure of MC'ing the FIDM Open House Alumni Panel at this Summer's FIDM Los Angeles Open House. FIDM Open House is a chance to check out the campus, meet faculty, students, alumni, explore the curriculum and overall, find out if a college such as FIDM is for you. To begin the many events and activities of the FIDM Open House, there is a FIDM Alumni Panel discussion, where attendees can hear from FIDM Alumni--graduates of various different majors--and their experiences attending the college and their post-graduate careers.






Nick Verreos with FIDM LA Open House Alumni Panel (L to R) Emma Verdugo, Lauren Sanders, Michael Smith, Dyamon James, and Grace Wang







FIDM Alumni (L to R) Louis Vuttion Process Engineer Dyamon Jones; Set Decorator/Buyer for Warner Bros. "The Little Things",  Emma Verdugo; Co-Founder of Special Delivery LA, Michael Smith; National Retail Marketing Manager at Live Nation, Grace Wang; and VP of Creative Development at Jeffree Star Cosmetics, Lauren Sanders--FIDM Open House Alumni Panel


We invited four successful graduates to take part in the FIDM Alumni Panel discussion:

*Dyamon Jones, a Product Development graduate who is now a Process Engineer for Louis Vuitton, helping develop mockups of new Louis Vuitton bags

* Lauren Sanders , VP of Creative Development at Jeffree Star Cosmetics, she's a Beauty Industry Management graduate

*Michael Smith, a COO/Design Director who co-founded Special Delivery LA, a full-service brand development firm catering to A-list clients like Justin Bieber, Kylie Jenner J Cole + many more, he was in the Product Development major

*Emma Verdugo, who graduated from Visual Communications as well as Entertainment Set Design & Decorating at FIDM, who is now a Set Decorator/Buyer for Warner Bros. "The Little Things"

* Grace Wang , National Retail Marketing Manager at Live Nation, she's a graduate of the Merchandise/Marketing and Business Management programs.





I got the honor of being the MC/Moderator of the Panel:






Host with the Most: Nick Verreos at the FIDM Open House Alumni Panel stage--FIDM Los Angeles





The Stage is Set--FIDM Open House Alumni Panel, FIDM Los Angeles





Panel in Action--Nick Verreos moderating the FIDM Open House Alumni Panel discussion, FIDM Los Angeles


Afterward, photo time:








Nick Verreos with attendees of the FIDM LA Open House




Following the FIDM Alumni Panel, I took off my MC "hat", put on my Co-Chair of FIDM Fashion Design "hat"...and proceeded to join our FIDM Fashion Design Department "crew" to help at our Fashion Design tables at the FIDM Open House:




FIDM Fashion Design...at the FIDM Open House, FIDM Los Angeles







Talking to the students--Nick Verreos (with Assistant Chairperson Jonie Thomas (lower photo, far right) meeting with students interested in the Fashion Design major, FIDM LA Open House 





FIDM Fashion Design Crew--FIDM Fashion Design Co-Chair Nick Verreos with Assistant Chairperson for Fashion Design Jonie Thomas and Administrative Assistant Adrienne Mcneal--FIDM LA Open House


*A Special THANK YOU to Jonie and Adrienne for managing our Fashion Design tables and WONDERFUL meeting everyone who came by and in addition, attended the FIDM Open House Almuni Panel