Fashion

9 Fashion Week Runway Ensembles That Look Like Figure Skating Costumes

Fashion and culture have always had a reciprocal relationship, and so when the Olympics Opening Ceremony coincided with the beginning of New York Fashion Week, we knew we were in for some serious crossover. What we didn't expect was how many glitzy, bejeweled, sheer, netted, twirling-skirted ensembles would hit the runway, inevitably channeling the elaborate costumes of Olympic figure skaters. From subtle, sleek silhouettes to a fringed gold number that would stun the competitors, we pulled together a few of our favorite figure-skating inspired Fashion Week ensembles.

Images: Getty Images

by Tyler Atwood

Herve Leger Fall 2014

Doesn’t this Herve Leger dress just scream Ashley Wagner? All that’s missing is an irate look of disappointment.

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Alon Livne Fall 2014

Beautiful it may be, but this glitzy gold peekaboo mini dress has two possible uses: attending a semi-formal red carpet event or fundraiser a la Gossip Girl’s Serena van der Woodsen, or going for the win as the next Michelle Kwan.

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Marchesa Fall 2014

If any skater were lucky enough to wear this draped, golden stunner of a dress on the ice, we may have to stop making fun of the costumes.

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J. Mendel Fall 2014

This J. Mendel ensemble is a deconstructed skating costume if we’ve ever seen one. Strategic hints of skin and a flared skirt would look totally Black Swan meets Maia Shibutani on the ice.

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Donna Karan Fall 2014

This Donna Karan is a little bit Evgeni Plushenko and a bit couture fashion week. Either way, this edgy ensemble belongs on the ice.

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Naeem Khan Fall 2014

Gold and silver fringe? Check. Nude netting? Check. This looks like a gold medal skating outfit to us.

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Julien Macdonald Fall 2014

We’re wondering if in fact this Julien Macdonald dress is a skating costume. Transparent netting, jeweled accents and statement makeup: all the signs of an Olympic gold medalist are present.

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Julien Macdonald Fall 2014

This fine feathered ensemble would be a stretch for even outlandish skaters like Katarina Witt. Bjork called, and she wants her swan dress back.

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Lela Rose Fall 2014

We can just imagine 2006 silver medalist Sasha Cohen wearing this architecture blue dress for one of her elegant on-ice performances.

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