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Ice Skating Fashions Past and Present

© Dr. Marie Miczak

Ice skating’s history is as rich and colorful as it’s choice of clothing has been. In the very early years, figure skaters such as Madge Syers simply competed in her Victorian era dress. It was the early 1900’s. It wasn’t until 1924 when Sonje Henie shook up the skating fashion scene by competing in shorter skirts which were the style for girls her age. However it gave her a definite advantage for jumping and spinning without the restraints of the longer dresses. A true trend setter, Henie had her own Norwegian dress makers who color matched and coordinated her outfits, bloomers and all. Cecilia Colledge of Great Britain remarked that "Sonje never came on in the same outfit twice." After Henie, ladies of all ages began wearing shorter skirts.

What sort of fabrics did the early skaters use in their consumes? Although many believe wool, (which was used in most practice wear), actually lovely silks and velvets in all sorts of beautiful colors were used just as they are today. Skaters who practiced outdoors on natural ice, (see the January 2004 Issue, Ice Skating in Your Own Backyard), needed the warmth of wool and heavier fabrics. Fur trim was often added for not only esthetic reasons but for staying warm. Competitions were often held outdoors so a fur jacket was for warming up but for the events, out came the chiffon and silk materials.

So what sort of fabrics are used today? Since the 1970’s there’s been a wide variety of stretchy materials which lend themselves to the athletic side of ice skating. For example, while Lycra and Spandex once ruled, Sueded Supplex or SilkSkyn represents the new generation skating fabrics. It is warmer and softer than the Lycra of old while offering a less shiny, matte finish to the garment. Many practice coordinates such as skirts and jackets are made of Supplex, replacing the scratchy woolen wear of yesteryear.

What about competition? What type of skatewear is someone like Michelle Kwan wearing? Michelle has one of the top haute couture designers, Vera Wang, making her dresses. They are often made of silk with crystals added for sparkling decoration. One of her dresses can cost up to $40,000!

In contrast, Ann Patrice McDonough’s dresses are handmade by her mother. So were Peggy Fleming’s competition dresses. Now, can you really tell the difference?

This issue’s salute to the skating styles of yesterday includes some beautiful photos taken outdoors on natural ice. Click on the Ice Skating Fashion Show link and read about the new fabrics and styles while seeing some of the old ideas coming back. I’d like to especially thank Ms. Beth Davis, curator of the World Figure Skating Museum located at the headquarters of the U.S. Figure Skating Association in Colorado for her time and expertise in helping with this article. You can visit the USFS website under my "LINKS" or click on http://www.usfigureskating.org to learn more about this organization and the museum dedicated to the history of the sport of figure skating.