Be kind this is my first time writing after reading DS for years on various subjects.

One thing has always puzzled me, Jayne Torvill looks fantastic when she skates in her white ice boots but all the other girls pro and celebrity where those support like tights that cover the boots and give them the look of thick 'camel ankles'

Franky I think and maybe Mel often wear a more flesh tone boot which is ok but I'b be interested why the costume desighner's think it necessary to cover the boots?

It's not the designers. Many skaters wear over-the-skates tights or else flesh coloured boots because they think it gives cleaner lines. Also, in performance skating, where you're changing costumes frequently, it's easier than having to put on different coloured skate covers every time you change costume. Jayne is reknowned for her white skates but I guess in DOI they've chosen the more common over-the-skates tights look for the celebs and the pro skaters probably do what they prefer with regard to that - hence Frankie and Mel wearing flesh coloured boots.

I agree the white boots look far more attractive.

White boots win every time. I have also noticed Jayne Torville's skating outfits are really lovely as opposed to most of the "creations" the female skaters wear.

it is similar in ballroom dancing a world latin champion came out saying that wearing a coloured shoe especially dark ones gave bad footlines and nearly overnight all dance shoes are dyed a flesh colour even ballroom shoes - which I have always preferred dyed to the dress or white

Jayne has often said she disapproves of the flesh toned boots and I must admit found myself looking in the Olympics re the boots and by far the majority wear flesh coloured now

I think it's more that she personally doesn't like them than she disapproves. In their autobiography she mentions how she never liked the ugly brown hire skates she used when she first started skating and she was desperate for a pair of pretty white ones of her own. I don't think, though, that she disapproves of anyone who wears the flesh coloured boots - I doubt she cares what other people do.

There has also been criticism of skaters who wear white skates and don't wear skate covers to match their costumes (Robin has mentioned that) although I frequently personally find the covers to be quite messy looking. I guess that's why the flesh coloured boots are more practical.

Bren can you empty your inbox on here please or check your gmail

When you first start skating, a nice pair of shiny white boots is all you want to wear! I personally like both. However when performing I think tan boots give much cleaner lines.

When I used to skate I had white ones but for some reason they used to get filthy, may well have been a fault in my technique but I also think it was partly the poor quality of the ice at the rink which was on its last legs at the time!

When flesh coloured ballroom & Latin shoes became popular they weren't made in that colour - dancers dyed them! Cold strong tea was very popular for a while, until Dylon came out with a suitable colour.

Colouring shoes to match the outfit - whether bb or Lat - will probably creep back (seen a few recently) but white is never good unless someone has extremely small feet! I take a size 3 (hardly large) & wore white shoes to match white dress - until I watched the subsequent video! My feet looked enormous .... the dye came out before I wore them again!

I've never learnt to skate but stupidly dreamed when much, much younger of looking totally fabulous in a pair of white ice skates. So can't get used to the female skaters not sharing my childish passion!

I've always thought the tights-over-boots look is hideous!

Of the 3 women medallists in the Olympics only Joannie wore white boots and I thought she looked much the nicest.

The other reason for wearing those over boot tights is it allows you to wear something different in the boot itself. I hate wearing in the boot tights so for practice normally wear thin socks with my boots.

For comps I can still wear those socks with OTB tights rather than in the boot tights.

Still I agree that in general for looks I like the white boots and did wear in the boot tights with white boots once to do a march rhythm OD as it went better with a military theme.

Are the tights sewn into the costume or a seperate piece of clothing?

Icedragon - how do those OTB tights fasten under the foot???? I've never understood them? They're not like ordinary tights, I presume? Sorry if that sounds like a dim question!

Personally I like the look of the white boots, but wonder if the flesh coloured boots are more popular for the DOI celebs as feet as so much more "on display" in white boots, and would show up their weaker footwork?

Danniella's blue ones were awful!

They were just skate covers, designed to look like cowboy boots.

Some of them come with hooks and eyes which you sew on and they fasten under the boot but because they are elasticated around the bottom they sometimes stay in place perfectly well without. Trying to do up hooks and eyes underneath your feet is a real fiddly business and if you need to retie your boots it's a nightmare!

For number 6 - the tights, whether OTB or in the boot are separate items of clothing. Some people even wear OTB tights over their in-the-boot tights for warmth but I can't bear two pairs of tights - and anyway it just makes legs look even larger!

Ooh I LOVE my white skates!

I think white look nicest
Tan boots quite nice
OTB tights - hmm, I'm not keen

But then I wear bootcut leggings which go over most of my boot (if that makes sense) - I don't wear the little dresses and tights since I am in my 30s and would look a bit of a goon in them I think

Sorry - that posted twice

I have white boots at the moment as I'm just training but if I ever get to a performing/competing level (hopefully in the next year) then I'd get tan boots as I just think they look nicer for lines. And then I wouldn't have to wear OTB tights!

I won't be doing any competitions at my age

I'm a lot older than you and have just been competing at the British Adult Championships - and yes I did wear a dress and OTB tights!


Get out there and compete - dont' be a wimp!

Good on ya ice dragon! I hope to compete at some stage, but even at my age (22) I feared I was maybe a bit too old. I'm far to competetive to truly believe that though and so I'm pushing myself harder than ever!
How did you find the British Championships?