By Kat Cornetta, Team FSO contributing writer
Photos by Robin Ritoss
Costumes were the center of attention at U.S. Figure Skating x Fashion: Styling 2027 event held in Boston Wednesday evening.
The first-time event held at View Boston, the top three stories of Boston’s Prudential Center, dotted an amazing view of the historic city with costumes from famous U.S. skaters from a variety of eras. The event also held surprise Easter eggs from current skaters for their upcoming programs.
The forever-stylish Johnny Weir, the host of the event, was excited to see U.S. Figure Skating embrace its tie-in with its elegance and fashion.
“Even if they don't follow our sport, it's the glitter that makes people sit and stay and marvel at it,” said Weir during the event’s pink carpet entrance. “Everyone lives their lives in a suit of armor, their fashion, and skaters are no different. The costumes really do become a part of your journey as an athlete, and they're iconic and memorable.”
Weir held court all evening, taking photos for all who asked while standing alongside many of the costumes from his career, including his favorite: his "Swan" costume from the 2006 Olympics.
“It was the first time that the whole world, not just the skating world, got to know me, and I was dressed as waterfowl,” said Weir. “It was just something so special. I'm surprised she's still alive, though. I have a row of old costumes in one closet, all lined up. And I was trying to pull her out, and it's been a minute. The spray and stones from one costume stick to the other costume, so it's a very delicate process, and it was like whack-a-mole in my face of rhinestones.”
For premier costume designer Lisa McKinnon, who created the Olympic costumes for all three women’s skaters of the 2026 U.S. Olympic team -- Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito -- said it was exciting to be the focus of the event.
“It's just a wonderful thing that they do for us as costume designers,” said McKinnon. “It gives a spotlight on what goes into costume and the whole packaging.”
McKinnon had a full display on the event’s top floor, with Liu’s, Glenn’s and Levito’s 2025-26 Olympic costumes hanging on dress forms. Liu and Levito stopped by to take photos with their famous garb.
Liu always enjoys collaborating with McKinnon.
“I make a vision board to send her,” said Liu, who appeared at the event just a day after making an announcement that she would not compete this season. “Of course, there's certain colors that I'm more into depending on what the music is.”
Levito is in the midst of working with McKinnon on the costume for her much-awaited “Pirates of The Caribbean” free skate. Inspirations for the design were posted on a board at the event, and it leaned into Keira Knightly’s character from the movies.
“It's so under construction right now that I have no idea,” laughed Levito.
Ice dancers were out in full-force at the event and excited to be in attendance. Emilea Zingas solicited input from her TikTok followers for her outfit, a black mini dress. Her partner, Vadym Kolesnik, wore a suit “he just bought,” but not from Costco, his favorite store.
Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko were happy to be included. Carreira loves many of her costumes, and had a whole list when asked about her favorite.
“I really like my rhythm dance dress last year at the Olympics,” said Carreira. “And my free dance. Oh no, wait, my Carmen dress, the black dress. I love that. Yeah, I think that's my favorite.”
Two of the U.S.’ top men heading into the 2026-27 season walked the pink carpet at the event’s entrance. Jacob Sanchez, dressed in all black, was one of the first to enter the event and spoke and took photos with fans all evening.
Andrew Torgashev showed up in a simple white shirt and camouflage pants, donned with black sunglasses, and said it was a nod to his still-to-be revealed short program.
“(My short program is) something funky,” said Torgashev. “I’d say, similar to this outfit is the vibe of the program. This is not the outfit, but I would say the vibe is similar.”
Torgashev did drop that his free skate this season will be to the music of David Bowie.
With eyes on a second World Championships berth, Sarah Everhardt told reporters that she turned to a skater with much Worlds experience to design her costumes this season.
“This year, Madison Chock is designing my short program costume,” said Everhardt. “I gave her the story of the program, some inspo, and then I kind of just trusted her idea and her vision. I really like the finished product.”
Olympians Adam Rippon, Ashley Wagner and their fellow "The Runthrough" podcast host Sarah Hughes (not Olympic champion of skating, but possibly Olympic champion of makeup with a face highlight to die for) also visited the event, and Wagner fulfilled a childhood dream in the process: seeing Tara Lipinski’s costumes from the 1998 Olympics.
“They are so small!” Wagner exclaimed.
And those Easter eggs mentioned earlier? A large vision board of sorts detailed the recent costume thought processes of several current skaters. If Liu had competed this season, her short program would be in the tango style. Jason Brown, who is competing this season but was not at Wednesday’s event because he is performing in Japan, may have a program to “Over the Rainbow.”
Also seen throughout the event: Dr. Tenley Albright, 1956 Olympic gold medalist, with her trademark fashion statement: a flower tucked in her perfect wavy hair and wearing perfectly polished heels. Olympian Maxim Naumov, who is not competing this season, also attended and mingled about. Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov wore classy and elegant black outfits. Oona and Gage Brown and Caroline Green and Michael Parsons stopped by, with Green in a light green high-neck dress that brought back visions of her “Boots Are Made for Walking” rhythm dance from two seasons ago. Olympians Mirai Nagasu, Emily Chan, Aleksandr Selevko and Simon Shnapir were also in attendance.
