Adam Rippon's Costume Designer Reveals Exactly What Goes into the Skater's Sparkly Ensembles
It takes some work to shine that bright.
The Winter Olympics are well underway, and for us, there are two undisputed stars of the whole shebang: Adam Rippon, and all his sparkles. (Oh, and his skating's not bad, either!)
The 28-year-old has spawned countless headlines with his outspoken views on everything from politics to the Real Housewives — and the costumes he wears on the ice are just as attention-grabbing as the man himself.
For those of us who can't get enough of the shimmer (or the leather) Rippon's costume designer Braden Overett has spilled the tea about what it's like to work with the Olympic rookie.
The first thing to know: Overett totally gets it. As a former skater himself, and the owner of the sportswear company Veretto, the designer is no stranger to sleek clothing that performs.
When it comes to collaborating with his pal Rippon, Overett told The Hollywood Reporter that he and his star client typically wait till a routine has been choreographed; then, they start discussing costume ideas. "Usually we just discuss basic ideas — color or collection of colors or something that [Rippon is] thinking," the designer said.
But, the conversations are hardly basic. In fact, they sound like something overheard at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party. "Honestly, it always sounds like a weird conversation," Overett admitted. He shared that Rippon's inspiration was once: "a body floating into the sky, and every time the heart beats it's like electricity pulsing through it."
The designer added: "It’s like talking to a kid about a dream or a fantasy where rules don’t apply. It's more about the overall effect and feeling and color ... There's no concrete inspiration like, 'Oh, I want to look like a 1920s businessman.'"
Indeed, there's nothing that says businessman about these skintight ensembles:
And if the above lewks are not for you, just consider this: According to Rippon, "haters are fans in denial."
