Crystal Skate

In figure skating, exhibitions are like that nice glass of red wine one might enjoy at the end of a really pesky day of work. They're the long satisfied breath you let out or the triumphant fist bump in the air that means: 'I've done it!' Concurrently, they are also a way to show off. Sure, it's nice to be able to throw the rules out the window for a change and skate to whatever, in whatever, however you want it. But figure skaters like being in the spotlight, and what better time to shine than when there is nothing restraining you from showing your full potential? What that means is that some athletes will go to unbelievable lengths to put on a show, like when Adelina Sotnikova  did rhythmic gymnastics on ice,  or when Javier Fernandez  made a mix-tape to get us to get off our butts and join the gym.  These programmes were so good, they will never be forgotten. But they wouldn't have been as fantastic had they not benefited from some terrific costume choices....

If season 2014/2015 has taught us anything about figure skating, it's been that this is an unpredictable sport. From Javier Fernandez winning the World Championships, to Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov not winning the European Championships, we've been fully reminded that it's never safe to bet in figure skating. Skaters who are now on top can abruptly drop tomorrow and rankings can change like the wind. This changeable nature of the sport is also reflected in the costumes. Just because a skater has the best costume in the short programme, doesn't mean they must also have the best costume in the long one. That is certainly true for this next pair: Ksenia and Fedor skated to Notre Dame de Paris  by Richard Cocciante Photograph: David Ramos / Getty Images Europe Their music was sung in English, French and Spanish, depending on the country they were skating in Photograph: Jamie McDonald / Getty Images Europe I decided to begin with the worst costumes this ...

Many people confuse pair skating with ice dancing. Even though there are very few similarities between the two, they seem one and the same to the untrained eye. Perhaps it's because those unfamiliar with the sport can't understand the point of having two categories for couples. There is a point of course because pair skating is not dancing on ice. Pair skating contains a lot more elements that are significantly more difficult than dancing: jumps, throw jumps, death spirals, side-by-side spins, etc. In order to be able to perform them without costumes getting in their way, pair skaters have to wear aerodynamic clothes, which the ice dancers don't. Because of the restriction in length and shape, you'd think pair costumes are less fabulous. Not a chance! This season, especially, was full of gorgeous dresses paired with dashing attires for the boys. Ironically though, neither one of the best costumes of the season was a dress: The Russian pair skated to music from Cro...