Every component of figure skating is impressive. What other sport lets you slide around on ice in a bejeweled dress with two little knives on your feet? Truly a revolutionary concept. The athletes’ costumes are no exception with each performance serving as its own mini fashion show.
The best figure-skating outfits are, of course, all of them. However, I had to pare the list down somehow. With that in mind, here are some of the best, wilding, and otherwise most notable ice-skating costumes from the 2022 Winter Olympics so far.
Best Classic Gorgeous Little Dress
I feel like if I put this outfit on, I would automatically be able to do a Salchow. (Fun fact: That jump is not called a “sow cow,” which is what I just Googled to figure out its actual name.)
Best Gloves (Long)
Decorative gloves are not used enough in the Olympics — or in everyday fashion for that matter.
Best Gloves (Short)
Bonus points for mesh!
Most Ice-Princess Chic
If Queen Frostine from Candy Land were an ice skater, this is what she’d wear.
Most … Give This Outfit to Me Now
If I owned this garment, I would never take it off. It’s an incredibly versatile look — perfect for a night out, a dinner date, hanging out with friends, turning into the Black Swan, etc.
Fanciest Guy
There is nothing Nathan Chen can’t do, including wearing a casual tuxedo while giving a record-breaking performance.
Most Likely to Be Robots in Disguise
They performed to Daft Punk. Need I say more?
The Pants Award
If there ever comes a day when Olympic figure skating requires a consistent uniform, I vote for Vanessa James’s blue jumpsuit.
Most Sleeveless
A sleeveless leather vest, no less!
Most Grease Lightning
A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-wop-bam-boom! Also I know the song is actually called “Greased Lightning,” but it shouldn’t be.
The “Bop to the Top” Award
This is Ryan and Sharpay Evans from High School Musical, and you cannot convince me otherwise.
Best Coordination
My one complaint about the figure-skating costumes at the Olympics is there aren’t more pairs that dress identically. More matching outfits, please!
Most Holy
Church? No! Mark Kondratiuk of the Russian Olympic Committee performing to Jesus Christ Superstar while dressed as Jesus Christ.
Most. Just … Most.
These two dressed as Harley Quinn and the Joker while skating to a medley of “Toxic,” “Spirit in the Sky,” and “Seven Nation Army.” To quote the Beijing Olympics commentator, “That’s an aggressive start there, Tanith.”
The ‘It’s Britney, Bitch’ Award
Gimme, gimme more costumes that look like outfits from a Britney Spears music video.
Honorable mention
The go-go boots! The cloche-esque hats! Bring this outfit to any and all awards ceremonies. Other honorable mentions from this year’s Olympic figure-skating events include this headband, Yuma Kagiayama’s black-and-gold outfit, and Mark Kondratiuk continuing to bring the drama.
And finally: The Look I Cannot Stop Thinking About
Perfect. Incredible. Like two parrots whose wish to turn into humans was finally granted. Give these outfits a gold medal.