Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Nagasu of the United States reacts after her routine in the figure skating team event during the 2018 Winter Olympics. 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. Surya Bonaly of France in a low-cut, bare-armed number at the 1998 Olympics. The American skater competing at the 2014 Winter Olympics at Iceberg Skating Palace on Feb. 8, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. And when you do, you are sure to notice that the sport offers the rare combination of athleticism and fashion sensibility. 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. Accessories and props are not permitted. Tonya Harding in a sparkly red number at the 1994 Winter Games. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. The charismatic Witt defined the sport in the 1980s with her flirtatious and graceful performances. Unlike many other athletes at the winter Olympics, figure skaters aren't required to don official Olympics uniforms; instead, they're tasked with finding an outfit that is both artistically expressive and breathable and that's in addition to the pressure of executing a perfect routine. 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. As soon as the skirt-only ice age melted away, Russian skater Irina Slutskaya wore a fiery bodysuit at the 2006 Olympics. The "Katarina Rule" was adopted by the International Skating Union in 1988 after Witt showed up in a feathery, skirtless, skin-baring ensemble that gave her the look of a showgirl kicked out . We're not really sure why people have been complaining. Katarina Witt Evening Dress. 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. Hamill won the gold medal for the U.S. in the ladies singles figure skating event. She plays a figure skater, but dont let that fool you: theres some good acting chops on display, and her character plays a massive role in the films ending. Katarina Witt has responded to comments that she shows too much boob on Dancing On Ice, claiming that it's only because she 'sits down'. 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. I loved the French skater (Ma-Brnice Mit)'s awesome pants outfit and the Bey song. That is how serious it is. British pairs dancers Christopher Colin Dean (in a sheer black crop top) and partner Jayne Torvill in a fringed costume during a 1986 performance. With her 3rd place finish in Compulsory Figures, she would be in 2nd Place going into the Long Program. American skater Michelle Kwan in a flowing pink piece with a sheer illusion triangle top in 2000. Meet Ma-Brnice Mit, an Olympic Figure Skater from France.- Dark skinned black woman- Wore pants for her routine- Skated to BeyoncHAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackGirlMagic #BlackExcellence #ItsTooColdForSkirtsOutThere pic.twitter.com/jYkEGqbkup, how she scored is irrelevant; Ma-Brnice Mit skating to a Beyonce mashup in pants is my new queen and 2018 mood #Olympics, I love everything about Ma-Brnice Mit's outfit. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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. and even more daring ensemble. Katarina Witt performs on stage during the 'Jedermann' dress rehearsal at the Berlin Cathedral Church on October 13, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. However, those glimmering crystals and sheer panels aren't just deployed for ornamental purposes they actually serve as bulwarks against immodesty and point deductions. The South Korean skater competing at the 2014 Winter Olympics at Iceberg Skating Palace on Feb. 19, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. The judge, who once stripped for Playboy, now says she will change her. Chin, of the U.S., performing at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. That rule was overturned in the early 2000s, bringing back the pants. AP But after Katarina Witt famously competed in the 1998 Olympics in a scandalously short, feathery blue costume that officials deemed too revealing, the International Skating Union stepped in and put official dress code regulations in place. 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. As for more pop culture Katarina Witt treasures? 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. The French skater performing her free program during the Winter Olympics Feb. 21, 1992, in Albertville. Not even mad about this first two jumps. Swedish skater Ulrich Salchow in a suit at the Olympic Games in 1908. The opening credits are a dream. 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. Alina Zagitova took her cues from ballerinas when wore an intricately embroidered red and gold tutu and red gloves for her gold medal performance at the Pyeongchang Olympics. Skating her free program in the ladies singles event of the figure skating competition in the 1998 Winter Olympics held on Feb. 20, 1998, in Nagano, Japan. As the years progressed, figure skating fashion evolved both men and women's costumes got shorter, more embellished, and more dramatic. 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. 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. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. The event led to a change of costume-rules, which got their latest update in 2016. And they have. Adelina Sotnikova, gold medalist of the 2014 Olympic Games, modeled modern and edgy outfits that varied from the traditional figure skating costume like this red cut-out dress. The Ukrainian skater performing during the 2014 Winter Olympics at Iceberg Skating Palace on Feb. 8, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. The figure skater won Japan its first gold medal in the sport during the Turin, Italy Olympics. Part of HuffPost Style & Beauty. See how figure skating dresses have evolved over the years, from vintage 1920s costumes to the outfits Olympians wear today. Henie ended up becoming a Hollywood star, posing for this picture in a feathery skating getup in 1943. 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. Gracie Gold represented the United States at the Sochi Olympic Games in a theatrical red velvet dress with an embellished necklace and rosebud detail. The no-skirt ban was lifted in 2003, per The Boston Globe, and full leotards became acceptable; most recently, Mae Berenice Meite of France competed in Pyeongchang wearing a bedazzled unitard, while Russias Irina Slutskaya wore a sparkly one-piece at the 2006 Olympics. 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. Lia Beck. American skater and bronze medalist Debi Thomas decided to forgo a dress at the Calgary Olympics, instead opting to perform her routine in an embellished jumpsuit instead. Witt, a German double Olympic gold medal-winning skater, was said to be upset over the criticism about her low-cut outfits. Keep scrolling to see the stunning evolution of womens figure skating costumes through the years. The South Korean skater competing in the figure skating team event during the 2018 Winter Olympics. Skaters like Nancy Kerrigan and Frances Surya Bonaly skated in costumes designed by Vera Wang and Christian Lacroix, respectively. But the 90s also took Witt out of the figure skating world and directly into dance clubs? Men must wear full length trousers and must not wear tights. Cozy Up With These Movies About Skiing. Basically, the flesh colored panels make itseem like skaters are showing a lot of skin, without actually showing any and thus breaking the rules. By most standards today it was basically a blue dress with some feathers. Dubravcic, representing Yugoslavia, skating her long program during the Winter Olympics on Feb. 18, 1984, in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. 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. With designing the outfits comes great resposibility. Collect, curate and comment on your files. The 23-year-old took to the ice in black leggings that appeared to be attached to a gold and black sparkly sleeveless top. Katarina Witt even does one of those 90s dance talk-raps in the middle of it! Did she lose points for her pants? As difficult as it is, Olympic figure skaters make it look effortless, and their intricately designed dresses are all part of the illusion. Performing during the ladies short program as part of the figure skating team event at the 2018 Winter Olympics at the Gangneung Ice Arena. Evgeni Plushenko of Russia in a silver disco outfit with a sheer panel down the front at the 2002 Games. Saaame, Leslie Jones Is Narrating the Olympics and Its , 70 of the Sexiest Figure-Skating Costumes of All Time. Wittjust like the states of Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin in the 2020 electionrefused him, leading Trump to add Witt to a grudge list of women who declined to date him. The controversy here was how short and skimpy the \"skirt\" part of Katarina's outfit was, especially in the front. Kristi Yamaguchi opted for a long sleeved gold brocade dress for the Olympic Games in Albertville, France the year she took home the gold medal. Hamill's red dress and wedge haircut instantly became iconic after she nabbed a silver Olympic medal in Innsbruck, Austria. South Korea's Yuna Kim performs in the Ladies' Free skating program at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, during the 2010 Winter Olympics on Feb. 25, 2010. Plus, skirts are just easier on the eyes and more frequently identified with femininity, which is what figure skating is pretty much all about. Figure skaters shouldnt wear outfits that could arouse judges. As the New York Times recently noted, two-time gold medalist Katarina Witt has written about how, in 1987, her costume slipped during a competition and she was forced to finish the routine with. 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. French skater Philippe Candeloro in a Braveheart-inspired costume at the Goodwill Games in 2000. America's Tim Wood in a form-fitting suit at the Olympics in 1968. 100+ Years of Olympic Opening Ceremony Highlights. 2023 Getty Images. A figure skater born in an authoritarian state who got scolded by Dr. Ruth, won 2 gold medals AND an Emmy, rebuffed a gross pick-up line from Donald Trump, caused Playboy magazines to soar off the shelves, starred in a movie with Robert DeNiro, and was featured in a 90s dance song with one of the members of La Bouche!? Costume designer Brad Griffies who designed American skaterGracie Gold's blue costume, below likes to deploy nude fabric strategically. And speaking of dresses, Witts 88 Olympics blue dress made history itself. German skater Katarina Witt in a red design with a low-cut sheer panel and very '80s sleeves at the 1988 Games. Katarina Witt's infamous blue dress at the 1988 Olympics is the reason figure skating now has a dress code. Rare Photos of Katarina Witt Here are some rare and classic photos of two-time Olympic gold medalist skater Katarina Witt, who turned 50 on Dec. 3, 2015. And her performance was just as dazzling as it would have been in a frilly, flouncy skirt, if not more so, because it was so bold. The mostly vast amount of crystals is also affecting the competitors performance. 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. South Korean pairs team Tae Hwa Yang (in a fringed zebra-print dress with side cut-outs) and Chuen Gun Lee (in black) at the 2002 Olympics. "[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. But back in 1988, it stopped the presses. Yes, you read that right: A figure skater competed at the PyeongChang Olympics sans skirt. With her 3rd place finish in Compulsory Figures, she would be in 2nd Place going into the Long. 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. not to mention a backflipping Surya Bonaly! Herma Planck-Szabo, Ethel Muckelt and Beatrix Loughran, 1924. info); born 3 December 1965) is a German former figure skater. Katarina Witt attends the Laureus Charity Gala at the Mercedes Benz branch on July 7, 2008 in Stuttgart, Germany. Figure Skating Championships. The Forward Calendar March is bursting with the most vibrant and inspiring cultural events. 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). 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. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. But if women can wear tuxedos on the red carpet and not be any less elegant, female skaters can do the same in the rink. Kerrigan, of the U.S., performing at the 1994 Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway, where she won the silver medal. The American skater performing her free skating program during the ladies singles event at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. SI Staff Dec 2, 2015 Rare Photos of. Even though she failed to medal Italian figure skater Carolina Kostner looked stunning in an ombr dress encrusted with crystals for the Sochi Winter Olympics. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Thus was born Ice Wars: The USA vs. Youll also find her briefly hanging out with Jerry Maguire, or in season one of Everybody Loves Raymond. Katarina Witt's infamous blue dress at the 1988 Olympics is the reason figure skating now has a dress code. 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. My dressmaker loaded up my dress with sparkles so you never knew when the dress ended. In this interview, we will delve into what makes Dinamo []. Shortly after the games concluded, figure skating implemented a dress code and dubbed it "The Katarina Rule.". Debi Thomas dazzled in an embellished bubblegum pink outfit as she placed second at the U.S. Not possible. At the peak of her professional skating career, Katarina Witt could have expected to earn in the region $1.5 million a year. American figure skater Gretchen Merrill in a button-down shirt and pleated skirt at the 1948 Winter Games. East German figure skater, Katarina Witt, wore a Bavarian themed dress complete with billowing sleeves and dazzling tiara for her routine at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics. Now, the IOC only wants to monetize on these clips.Katarina Witt of the German Democratic Republic placed 2nd in the portion of the competition. Janet Lynn, Beatrix Schuba and Karin Magnussen, 1972. These Twitter reactions sum it up. Of course were talking about Katarina Witt, the Olympic powerhouse who helped make figure skating among the most iconic sports during the last 40 years. Then why dont more women wear pants? 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. 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. Mit expressively floated and twirled around the ice winning the hearts of the world, despite her fall, with her boundary-pushing music (this is the first Olympics at which skaters are allowed to use music with lyrics!) Real good. Sparkles reign supreme today, but they weren't always the norm. And Katarina Witt caused a stir with her 1988 feather-trimmed getup that. Despite the relatively vague assessment metric for women's costumes, there is one black-and-white rule is that men can't stray from: No leggings. The award-winning film I, Tonya in which Margot Robbie portrays the life of American skater Tonya Hardingrecreated the pleated teal outfit Harding wore for the U.S. Altwegg, from Great Britain, after winning a gold medal in the Women's Figure Skating Competition in the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway. Yes, long before anyone would break the internet, Witt and her butt cheeks broke the magazine racks. Her blue figure skating dress had feathers adorned at the waist instead of a skirt and was barely covering her posterior. Sarah Hughes wore a lavender dress with a beaded bodice for the Salt Lake City Olympics, at which she won a gold medal in the ladies free program. The skater from East Germany skating during the 1984 Winter Olympics held in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, on Feb. 18, 1984. Not only do the athletes put on an impressive display of grace and skill, they also dazzle us with their glittering costumes. 2. Witt's blue dress at the 1988 Olympics is the reason figure skating now has a dress code. The design process usually starts with the music, says Pat Pearsal, who has been designing costumes for years. The Russian skater performing in the women's free program of the figure skating event at the Olympic Ice Center, Feb. 21, 2002, during the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.