Designing With Color By Irina Romanova (cont.)

Make-up

It’s impossible to put everything I know about using make-up in figure skating into a few lines, so I’ll try to say the most important things. Both men and women need to use make-up, especially when they appear on TV. Figure skating is a unique sport in that it requires us to look our best. We use make-up to make our faces be seen better from a distance and to show the emo­tions that we express while skating. And after all, who wants to see our tired faces with black circles under our eyes after having had exhausting practice sessions. Definitely not the judges! Make sure you’re using the best quality make-up you can afford in colors that are right for only you!

Hair

Hair can create the mood too. What can be better than to feel hair behind your back in your beautiful and romantic routine! Choose your hairstyle according to your style, music and theme. Men - support your partners in their experiments by having your hair done neatly!

Accessories

It’s not only your favorite old earrings that you got from your grandmother! And men have accessories too...neckerchiefs, headbands, gloves - yes, gloves and more. You can say that this is a sport, not theater, but if we use theatrical music and theatrical moves, than why can’t we use these kinds of accessories? The more interesting and intriguing your look, the more chances to win, especially in ice dancing! Make sure every little detail is in your style, the right shape and size, and does not disturb your performance.

Closing Thoughts

After so many years in the figure skating world, I realized that appearing on the ice has its own important rules. And one of these rules is: MAKE EVERYTHING BIGGER THAN LIFE! When in doubt choose brighter, deeper, or cooler colors than you were prepared to use! Be brave and un­predictable!

And remember, after you decide your best colors, but before you buy or start your possibly very expensive costume, test every available piece of fabric, clothing or make-up that you can find. Only then will you feel that you’ve done everything possible and impossible to look your best. You can then start to think about your total figure skating package!

Iwant to tell you about two traditions that I’ve remembered since I was a kid. The first is that in those times many people did not have color televisions. Every TV special started with the host first describing the color of the costumes that the skaters were performing in. And the other is that Gold has always been the color of victory. Now that you know almost everything that I know, I wish for you to wear your own Gold outfit.

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