This past month, extremely talented athletes from all over the world competed in the Olympics at Milan, Italy. And, as a figure skating fan, the main event I watched was—you guessed it—figure skating. While watching, I noticed that a lot of the male figure skaters had some…interesting…mayhaps questionable…fits (the women, of course, all looked gorgeously stunning). And so, I have decided to rate the outfits of the top five finishers (plus Ilia Malinin, because his outfits are immaculate and spiritually he’s the Olympic champion) of the male figure skaters down below!
- Mikhail Shaidorov
Short Program Outfit: 9.7/10
The attention to detail, the ripped pieces of cloth, the different materials and shades of cloth—gosh, everything about this outfit is just so immaculate. Plus, it also really fits the Dune vibes of his short skate. The only critique I have with the fit is that I wish the pants (in the area between his hip and knees) had some more cloth there, and wasn’t just plain; but I can guess that having more material there could mess with his aerodynamics and jumps, so I’m only taking a third of a point off from my rating of his outfit. Overall, a super detailed and well-thought-out outfit!
Free Skate Outfit: 9/10
Just like his other outfits, the attention to detail on this outfit remains extremely impressive. The gems (and how they’re arranged), the flowy material, the contrasting shades of blue—I love all of it! I will say, I’m not a fan of the plain blue pants (which you sadly cannot see in the picture, but which genuinely have nothing on them and are just a plain pair of pants, so really you aren’t missing anything). I like the overall concept, but the simplicity of the pants throws me off a little, which is why I took one point off.
Gala Outfit: 10/10
I was cracking up and giggling while watching his gala performance—the costume and the entire concept were hilarious! And while I do adore the more serious gala skates, I admit that at least a couple of unserious skates remain necessary to really make the gala feel complete. I have no notes for Mikhail’s panda costume; it’s so cute! (Also, I just want to mention how impressive it is that he landed a triple with the panda costume on—that’s absolutely insane, and makes me see just how he won that Olympic gold medal!)
Overall Style Rating: 9.6/10
- Yuma Kagiyama
Short Program Outfit: 6.5/10
I feel so bad writing this because I adore Yuma Kagiyama and his spectacular skating, but I have to admit that this is one of those more…questionable figure skating outfits. It’s not ugly by any means, but it’s just so plain that it makes me sad because someone with such beautiful skating deserves an equally beautiful outfit. I do really like the pattern near the shoulder area, but everything else about the outfit—the white shirt, black pants, and stiff material—is a bit plain, so I have to take off three and a half points from this fit.
Free Skate Outfit: 9/10
I love, love, love this outfit!! Specifically, I absolutely adore the top half—the bottom, like Mikhail’s, is a bit plain, which is why I took a point off. Either way, the gorgeous sparkly gems, the blue and black ombre, the shape and look of the material, and just the combination of colors are all so lovely!
Gala Outfit: 8.5/10
Just like his free skate outfit, the top is simply incredibly beautiful, while the pants are disappointing. I took an extra half a point off because these pants, unlike his free skate pants, don’t blend in with the top and look a little out of place. Overall, a cutesy outfit!
Overall Style Rating: 8/10
- Shun Sato
Short Program Outfit: 9.3/10
Gosh, this outfit is just so beautiful! I’m not gonna wax poetic about this outfit—because we would be here for days—but I will say the top is immaculate, the pants (as always) are mid, and so I’m taking off two-thirds of a point.
Free Skate Outfit: 9/10
Same thing as the previous outfit, but the top is a little less stunning, so I am taking a full point off.
Gala Outfit: 9.5/10
So, so, so stunningly, jaw-droppingly gorgeous (the blend of that orangish-pink with the black is just amazing, especially with the mix of patterns on the flowy fabric) that I can almost ignore the plain pants, which is why I’m only taking a half a point off of the outfit!
Overall Style Rating: 9.3/10
- Junhwan Cha
Short Program Outfit: 9.3/10
The top half of his outfit is simply stunning—the bottom half…I’m ignoring it for now. On a real note, I love the outfit overall, but I wish the pants had something on them so that they aren’t completely plain. I didn’t take off a full point just because at least the navy color of the top and bottom does match, and because the top is just so sparkly and pretty and gorgeous. So, overall, a very demure and cutesy outfit—I like it!
Free Skate Outfit: 9.5/10
Whatever I said about how lovely his short program top was, disregard it right now because his free skate top is ten times better—and genuinely one of the most beautiful pieces of clothing I have ever seen. Also, the gloves?!! They are just like a cherry on top for this outfit. Like always, I am a hater of the plain pants, but I’m only taking half of a point off because I love his top so much.
Gala Outfit: 8.5/10
I like it, but I’ve definitely seen better—and I’m still hating on the pants a little bit.
Overall Style Rating: 9.1/10
- Stephen Gogolev
Short Program Outfit: 7.5/10
I mean…it’s ok? I guess? It’s just a suit, though, which is why I’m a bit unimpressed. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice suit—in fact, it’s a great suit! Just maybe not the best outfit for an Olympic figure skating program. I only took off three points since I do love the general cohesivity of the outfit, as well as the sort of striped pattern the suit itself has, and the purple-patterned tie. Also, the gold chain is cute. But still, I stand firm; he could have come up with something a bit better.
Free Skate Outfit: 6.5/10
I actually like the suit more than this one, even though this outfit is more of a typical figure skating outfit. I just think that, overall, it’s kind of boring, with no interesting sort of gems or patterns or anything. It’s not bad, though, and I would have probably given it a higher rating if not for the gorgeousness of some of the other male skaters’ outfits.
Gala Outfit: N/A (as far as I’m aware, he did not perform)
Overall Style Rating: 7/10
Extra: Ilia Malinin
Short Program Outfit: 10/10
The first time I saw this outfit, I audibly gasped—I’m not joking. Genuinely, everything about this outfit is just immaculate and perfect. The patterned arm sleeves, the cross design with different fabrics and gems across his chest, the leg straps, the gold belt, the colors, everything, even the material—all of it is just perfect. Even Vogue agrees with me, so I can’t be wrong with my rating: this outfit is perfect, no notes whatsoever.
Free Skate Outfit: 10/10
Now, I’m normally a hater of the plain pants, but honestly, it kind of works with this outfit just because the top itself is just so detailed that anything else on the bottom would overwhelm the outfit. I mean, the glittering collage of blue and white gems, the intricate gold and black patterns, the 3D black vines around his collarbone and shoulder area, the sparkly patterns twisting up his arms—it’s all just so terribly gorgeous that I can’t find anything wrong with this outfit at all.
Gala Outfit: 9.5/10
I think this look is so iconic! I took half a point off just because I think the vibes of the NF Fear hoodie and the $1300 dollar Balmain jeans clash just a little bit too much. Yes, you heard me (read me?) right, Ilia Malinin decided to wear, and somehow beautifully skate in, $1300 Balmain jeans to the Olympic figure skating gala. I honestly have to say, I am extremely impressed that he could cleanly land a quad while wearing a baggy hoodie and jeans. Quads are extremely difficult to land on a good day with an aerodynamic figure skating suit, so the fact that he landed a quad (more cleanly than most figure skaters land any quad) in such a baggy and likely non-flexible outfit just shows how impressive his skating skills are and how talented he is. Truly, he has well earned his nickname of Quadgod! Now, back to the outfit itself, I gave it such a high rating just because of how unique it is (mostly due to the pants, for once in this article!) and because of how well it fits the message of his gala skate: of the importance of mental health and that, at the end of the day, all athletes are as human as the rest of us.
Overall Style Rating: 9.8/10