Fashion & Beauty

The best dressed figure skaters of Sochi

The figure-skating rink hasn’t looked this chic since the often garish sport took a couture turn in the ’90s, when designer Christian Lacroix dressed France’s Surya Bonaly and the world went gaga for American Nancy Kerrigan — not even Tonya Harding could mar her beautiful Vera Wang creations.

This year in Sochi, the ladies still have one more chance to be fashionable — the women skate their final program Thursday — and the Olympic ice has already been set on fire with fashionable costumes taken from tasteful inspirations. From classical ballet to Shakespeare, natural phenomena to the 1940s, and art history all-stars to “The Artist, formerly known as Prince,” here are the looks that have blazed in Iceberg Palace.

Johnny Weir

Instagram/Johnny Weir (2)
The flamboyant American figure skating medalist-turned-commenter has been upstaging practically everyone with his daring style statements like a Barbie-pink Chanel vintage jacket. And Rick Owens wedges, anyone?

Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte

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A skating costume without sequins is a rare bird, indeed. These ice-dancing Italians gave their sartorial regards to Broadway, fox-trotting to old show tunes in coordinated threads straight out of a ’40s matinee. Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire would be proud.

Brian Joubert

Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images; AP
The French heartthrob did the electric glide in a black lightning embroidered top to the rhythm of Cirque du Soleil. Sure, it’s a bit “flashy,” but the outfit provided just enough figure skating camp without the overkill. The sheer ab panel — also a plus.

Carolina Kostner

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Leaving the rosaries at home, Italy’s national champion went with simple, angelic sparkles for her serene skate to “Ave Maria.” It was far from a nun habit, though — the long-sleeved number got spiced up with a sheer skirt and plunging neckline.

Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri

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They may or may not be star-crossed lovers in real life, but this duo stuck to their Italian guns, performing a ravishing skate to the “Romeo and Juliet” theme in literal — but lovely — crimson Montague and Capulet costumes.

Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov

(Left) Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov. (Right) Natalie Portman in “Black Swan.”Clive Mason/Getty Images; Fox Searchlight Pictures/Everett Collection

Attractive Russians doing a free dance to Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” sounds like the cliché from hell, but no one can deny that Ilinykh’s tulle dress gave Natalie Portman’s Rodarte number from “Black Swan” a run for the money. It was perfect.

Gracie Gold

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Gracie Gold got a lot of buzz for her American pie looks and on-ice attire, including the lipstick red outfit she wore Wednesday to the women’s short program. Let’s just say if Julia Roberts’ iconic off-the-shoulder dress from “Pretty Woman” were transformed into a skate suit, this would definitely be it.

Jason Brown

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Thank God someone went to Sochi to party like it’s 1999. American Jason Brown got down to Prince’s “The Question of U” with the musician’s infamous Love Symbol studded on his back. Let purple reign!

Patrick Chan

(Left) Patrick Chan (Right) The Ann Demeulemeester Spring/Summer 2014 show in Paris.Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty Images; Catwalking/Getty Images

Is it just me, or did the silver medal-winning Canadian serve shades of Ann Demeulemeester? His simple, slightly somber embroidered blouse looked like it might have come from the lauded Belgian designer’s poetic spring 2014 collection, a brilliant match for his Vivaldi “Four Seasons” program.

Sara Hurtado and Adria Diaz

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“Surviving Picasso” was the soundtrack for these Spaniards, who paid homage to their famous countryman in ensembles representative of both Picasso’s artwork and personal style. Though their routine was less than a masterpiece, they deserve major props for creativity with a patriotic twist.

Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov

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Dressed like characters in a Romanov fable (that doesn’t end in massacre), this Russian powerhouse team killed the competition in their imperial ballroom get-ups, twirling gracefully to “Masquerade Waltz” by Aram Khachaturian.

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir

EPA; Getty Images

Whoa, Canada! Who knew our neighbors from the north had such a sophisticated handle on fashion? Elegant and understated, Virtue’s pale pink digs and Moir’s stoic black were ideal for their chosen classical, piano-based piece by Alexander Glazunov.

Vanessa James and Morgan Ciprès

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The French pair brought some much-needed Parisian chic to the rink in complimentary black and white to suit their “Angels and Demons” routine. Jazz hands? Pfft, try jazz arms!