Gay Costume Awards 2012
At long last, it's part three of my sixth annual figure skating costume awards. This is the original and most controversial category: the Gay Costume Awards, given to those costumes that, in whatever way, bring out the most "flamboyant" and "controversial" aspects of on-ice couture. Skaters of both sexes and in every discipline are eligible for a Gay Costume Award. This is not a commentary on the personal lives or identities of the skaters, only on how they look in their costumes. And in my world, "gay" is a compliment.
This was, unfortunately, not a particularly gay year in figure skating costumes.
Honorable Mentions
Nobunari Oda (Japan), men's short program, Skate Canada
So oversized it almost makes powder blue stretch fabric look straight.
Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy (Germany), pairs free skate, Skate Canada
If black is the ISU's official color of heterosexuality, then these costumes are a brazen act of defiance.
Daisuke Takahashi (Japan), men's free skate, NHK Trophy
Takahashi continues his pioneering work in the field of the sparkly onesie with four different colors of mesh.
Jeremy Abbott (USA), men's short program, Trophee Eric Bompard
Boy next door in bondage gear.
Yuzuru Hanyu (Japan), men's short program, Grand Prix Final
So young, and already revolutionizing the butch black pants/collared shirt combo into an homage to musical theater.
Adam Rippon (USA), men's free skate, NHK Trophy
Rippon's makeover just makes him look like he's graduated from angel-haired ingenue to ripped power gay.
Julia Lipnitskaia (Russia), ladies' short program, Cup of China
Teenage lesbian assassin in post-ironic Texas gangster B-movie.
Bronze Medal
Sergei Voronov (Russia), men's free skate, NHK Trophy
If this were a real nightclub, he wouldn't be wearing illusion mesh long underwear under that fabulous top.
Silver Medal
Brian Joubert (France), men's short program, Cup of China
Nipples covered; pants totally see-through.
Gold Medal
Tatsuki Machida (Japan), men's free skate, Cup of China and men's short program, Grand Prix Final
The former is a wearable representation of the circles of gay hell: bleached bangs, feathers, fire, rhinestones, mesh, tight crotches, and velour. The latter is a wearable cover version of the Stevie Nicks classic, "Leather and Lace."
This was, unfortunately, not a particularly gay year in figure skating costumes.
Honorable Mentions
Nobunari Oda (Japan), men's short program, Skate Canada
So oversized it almost makes powder blue stretch fabric look straight.
Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy (Germany), pairs free skate, Skate Canada
If black is the ISU's official color of heterosexuality, then these costumes are a brazen act of defiance.
Daisuke Takahashi (Japan), men's free skate, NHK Trophy
Takahashi continues his pioneering work in the field of the sparkly onesie with four different colors of mesh.
Jeremy Abbott (USA), men's short program, Trophee Eric Bompard
Boy next door in bondage gear.
Yuzuru Hanyu (Japan), men's short program, Grand Prix Final
So young, and already revolutionizing the butch black pants/collared shirt combo into an homage to musical theater.
Adam Rippon (USA), men's free skate, NHK Trophy
Rippon's makeover just makes him look like he's graduated from angel-haired ingenue to ripped power gay.
Julia Lipnitskaia (Russia), ladies' short program, Cup of China
Teenage lesbian assassin in post-ironic Texas gangster B-movie.
Bronze Medal
Sergei Voronov (Russia), men's free skate, NHK Trophy
If this were a real nightclub, he wouldn't be wearing illusion mesh long underwear under that fabulous top.
Silver Medal
Brian Joubert (France), men's short program, Cup of China
Nipples covered; pants totally see-through.
Gold Medal
Tatsuki Machida (Japan), men's free skate, Cup of China and men's short program, Grand Prix Final
The former is a wearable representation of the circles of gay hell: bleached bangs, feathers, fire, rhinestones, mesh, tight crotches, and velour. The latter is a wearable cover version of the Stevie Nicks classic, "Leather and Lace."