Figure skating has long been synonymous with dazzling costumes that capture as much attention as the athletic feats themselves. The sport's unique blend of artistry and athleticism creates a perfect canvas for high-fashion statements. While elite skaters routinely invest thousands of dollars in their seasonal wardrobes, only a select few have had the privilege of wearing creations from luxury fashion houses. This exclusive club is about to expand, marking what could be a transformative moment for the intersection of haute couture and ice.
For decades, Vera Wang has stood as the undisputed queen of figure skating fashion. The former competitive skater turned designer has dressed a veritable who's who of Olympic champions, including Michelle Kwan, Nancy Kerrigan, Nathan Chen, and Evan Lysacek. Her intimate understanding of both the technical demands and aesthetic possibilities of skating costumes has made her the go-to designer for athletes seeking that perfect balance of beauty and functionality. However, a new name has entered the rink, potentially signaling a shift in how the fashion world approaches this specialized niche.
At 42 years old, Canadian pairs skater Deanna Stellato-Dudek is making history on multiple fronts. In January, she debuted not one but two custom-designed costumes from the legendary fashion house Oscar de la Renta, marking the brand's first foray into figure skating attire in its six-decade history. This groundbreaking collaboration represents more than just a personal triumph for Stellato-Dudek; it opens the door for other luxury labels to consider the unique opportunities that figure skating presents.
The costumes themselves are nothing short of spectacular. For her short program, Stellato-Dudek wears a champagne-colored gown featuring intricate hand-beading with a reported value of $100,000. The long program costume—a striking scarlet red halter design—showcases the brand's signature elegance while meeting the rigorous demands of competitive skating. These pieces demonstrate that high fashion can indeed translate to the ice, maintaining both aesthetic appeal and athletic functionality.
Stellato-Dudek's path to this moment is as remarkable as the costumes themselves. Born in 1984, she competed in the 2006 Torino Olympics before stepping away from the sport for 16 years. During her hiatus, she pursued a completely different career as an aesthetician, seemingly closing the chapter on her athletic ambitions. Yet the ice called her back, and in 2016, she made the extraordinary decision to return to competitive skating—a move that defies conventional wisdom in a sport that typically favors teenage phenoms.
Her comeback has been nothing short of phenomenal. In 2024, at age 40, Stellato-Dudek became the oldest woman in history to win a World Championship title, partnering with Maxime Deschamps. This achievement shattered long-held assumptions about age limitations in figure skating and proved that experience and artistry could triumph over youth. Now, at 42, she sets her sights on an even more audacious goal: becoming the oldest woman to win Olympic gold in figure skating history.
The Milan-Cortina Olympics hold special significance for Stellato-Dudek. Italy was the site of her first Olympic appearance, and now, nearly two decades later, she returns to chase a dream that most considered impossible. Her journey embodies resilience, passion, and the refusal to accept arbitrary limitations. "It's something I carry with pride, and I'm very proud of it," she told CNN in 2024 regarding questions about her age. "I hope a lot of athletes stay around a lot longer." Her presence challenges the sport's culture and inspires a broader conversation about longevity and athlete career arcs.
The partnership with Oscar de la Renta didn't materialize in a vacuum. It reflects a growing recognition within the fashion industry that figure skating offers a unique platform for creative expression. American ice dancer Madison Chock articulated this sentiment in a 2024 New York Times interview: "Figure skating has so much room for fashion. I am very passionate about design, and I'm in a sport that's unique because we have an ability to combine creativity with athleticism." Chock herself draws inspiration from runway shows by designers like Schiaparelli and Mugler, suggesting that the appetite for high-fashion involvement exists among athletes themselves.
This trend toward fashion-forward thinking in skating coincides with evolving attitudes about what constitutes appropriate athletic wear. As boundaries blur between sportswear and high fashion across all disciplines, figure skating's inherent theatricality makes it a natural candidate for designer collaborations. The visual spectacle of skating—where music, movement, and costume merge into a cohesive artistic statement—provides designers with a living, moving canvas unlike any other.
Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps have another ambitious goal beyond medals: they hope to become the first pairs team to successfully land a backflip at the Olympics. While the move was previously banned, rule changes have opened the possibility for this dramatic element to re-enter competition. This aspiration perfectly encapsulates their bold approach—pushing boundaries both technically and aesthetically.
However, their Olympic journey recently faced a significant setback. In late January, during practice in Quebec, Stellato-Dudek hit her head on the ice, forcing them to withdraw from the Team Event and delaying their arrival in Milan. The injury raised concerns about whether they could compete at all. Yet true to her resilient nature, Stellato-Dudek persevered. On February 10, the Canadian Olympic Committee and Skate Canada confirmed that the pair would indeed participate in the pairs competition, much to the relief of fans and the admiration of fellow athletes.
Her determination reflects the mindset that brought her back to the sport in the first place. "When I came back to the sport in 2016, my deal with myself was that I had to go at it with utter, reckless abandon and with everything I have," Stellato-Dudek explained. This philosophy has guided her through injuries, doubts, and the immense physical demands of training at an age when most skaters have long since retired.
The implications of the Oscar de la Renta collaboration extend beyond one skater's wardrobe. It represents a potential paradigm shift for how figure skating is perceived both within and outside the fashion industry. Luxury brands may begin to see skating not just as a niche sport but as a legitimate platform for showcasing craftsmanship and design innovation. The global visibility of the Olympics provides unparalleled exposure, making such partnerships increasingly attractive from a marketing perspective.
Moreover, Stellato-Dudek's success challenges sponsors and brands to reconsider their focus on younger athletes. Her story proves that compelling narratives and marketable achievements aren't exclusive to teenagers. The authenticity of her comeback, combined with her sophisticated aesthetic sensibility, creates a powerful brand that resonates with diverse audiences.
As figure skating evolves, the integration of high fashion could become a defining characteristic of the sport's next era. The technical elements will always remain paramount, but the artistic component—so heavily influenced by costume and presentation—gains new dimensions when world-class designers enter the picture. Stellato-Dudek stands at the intersection of this evolution, embodying both the athletic excellence and fashion-forward thinking that could shape skating's future.
Her presence in Milan-Cortina, draped in Oscar de la Renta, sends a message that figure skating is ready for its close-up in the fashion world. Whether she wins gold or not, Stellato-Dudek has already secured her place in history—not just as a record-breaking athlete, but as a pioneer who helped bridge the gap between sport and haute couture. The ice has never looked more stylish.