Figure Skating Dresses. (2024)

FAQs

Where do Olympic figure skaters get their dresses? ›

Lisa McKinnon Designs Inc

Lisa McKinnon has been designing custom made costumes for professional and competitive figure skaters for many years. Her style is effortless, sophisticated and original, combined with impeccable fit and comfort. We work with clients from all over the world, locally and through long distance.

Some people wear a sports bra under their figure skating dress, but this isn't always necessary. If you have a small chest and/or your dress has a lot of built-in support, you may not need to wear a bra.

Layering is the best way to stay warm without overheating, as it allows you to shed layers as you warm up. Ideally, your ice skating outfit should have multiple removable pieces for the top part of your body, including tops and a jacket. You should have a tight-fitted top for most training sessions as your first layer.

Because of that, “ice dancers usually have longer dresses, whereas skaters who have to do more jumpy rotational elements have shorter skirts. That's because if you have that much fabric just whipping around, it could slow you down.”

Figure Skating Dresses Are Aesthetic Yet Functional

From a practical standpoint, these dresses are designed to facilitate movement and enhance a skater's performance on the ice. Skaters need to be able to bend, jump, stretch, and generally move around the ice.

Skaters wear clothes that are durable to cope with regular wear and tear. Baggy shirts and hoodies are comfortable and don't restrict motion. Hardwearing trousers will last and offer protection from minor injuries. Skate shoes need tough uppers and grippy soles.

Because female athletes tend to have lower percentages of body fat (due to their constant training), the size of the breasts tend to be smaller, which can cause many women to feel self-conscious.

Few female figure skaters wear trousers at Olympic competitions, though nearly all practice in them. No rule dictates the decision, but cultural expectations of femininity and tradition make skirts the de facto competition uniform.

BEIJING, China — Most figure skaters have retired the time they reach age 25, but Mariah Bell is proving that age is just a number. The U.S. figure skater who grew up in Colorado is now competing at the Winter Olympics for the first time, representing the United States in the women's individual event.

Some common examples include long-sleeved hooded sweaters, fleece pants, leggings, or a full tracksuit from Nike, Puma, or Adidas. Under the tracksuit, you can wear a thermal T-shirt, sports shirt, and gloves to keep your hands warm. Add a sleeveless puffer jacket for warmth and style if you will be outside.

How to dress like a skater girl? ›

Most skaters wear jeans and cotton t-shirts. You could also layer a long sleeve t-shirt under a short sleeve t-shirt if the weather gets cool. Cotton is a good, lightweight, breathable material to wear when skating. Wear a heavier cotton on your bottom half in case you fall – like jeans.

Some skaters may choose to wear their hair down or in a different style, depending on their personal preference and the requirements of their program or costume.

The “A-line” dress/skirt silhouette is famous for being narrower at the top and gradually becoming larger at the bottom, much like the letter “A”. A skater dress is a type of dress that is fitting at the top and flares out at the waist, resembling the silhouette of an ice skater's outfit.

A lot of the girls in pair skating (Meagan Duhamel, Lubov Ilyushechkina, Ksenia Stolbova, Wenjing Sui, Cheng Peng, Vanessa James) have really short haircuts that don't need pins or ponytail holders. If you'd rather not cut it, that's fine too, but just a suggestion.

Her blue, skirtless feather-trimmed 1988 costume for a showgirl-themed short program was considered too theatrical and sexy, and led to a change in the ISU regulations dubbed the "Katarina rule" which required female skaters to wear more modest clothing; skirts were required to cover the buttocks and crotch.

Few female figure skaters wear trousers at Olympic competitions, though nearly all practice in them. No rule dictates the decision, but cultural expectations of femininity and tradition make skirts the de facto competition uniform.

LEOTARDS – If you have a small skater we recommend getting them a nude leotard to wear under their costume. This will help keep them warm. We will have more information about this as we get closer to fittings. The leotard type will depend on the type of costume you have.

Why do male skaters wear body shirts? When they're looking for a “shirt and pants” look, the body shirt is an easy, convenient, and comfortable way to keep the costume where it's supposed to sit, without twisting or lifting. Think about the women's bodysuits trend in the 90s, with the snaps in the crotch - same thing.