WEARING APPAREL - A METAMORPHOSIS

• Whether for serious training sessions or simply skating pleasure, skating attire in the late 1800's and early 1900's was always in keeping with the publicly acceptable dress of the day. Ladies wore ankle length skirts, while men sported stiff white shirts and ties. There was no such thing as the specific "sporting attire" that we now think of as commonplace for sports.


• Today's Speed and Artistic skaters are decked out in the very latest of stretch nylon and lycra materials that conform to the body. Costumes are extremely elaborate for artistic competition, and ladies outfits are often covered with trims of lace, sequins, jewels, and the like. Male partners wear matching colours, but usually of a slightly sturdier fabric and with less obvious adornment. Hockey players wear uniforms similar to ice hockey players, but with less protective padding.