Tonya Harding Skate Costumes
Tonya Harding's Ice Skating Costumes Really Did Look Like That — Down to Every Sequin and Bead
Perhaps it's because I'm a fashion gal through and through, but the one scene from I, Tonya that stuck with me most was a close-up of Margot Robbie (as former Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding) right before beginning a routine, wearing a pair of sparkling Chanel earrings. Actually, all of the kitschy skating costumes intrigued me. "Did Tonya's costumes look exactly like this throughout her career, and why do they make me feel almost . . . uncomfortable?" I immediately began to wonder as I watched the film.
Turns out, the off-putting appearance of Tonya's signature look was purposeful. Costume designer Jennifer Johnson very accurately displayed the ensembles Tonya wore (many of which her mother LaVona sewed by hand) which judges considered to be "tasteless" or "tacky."
"With Tonya, because she's a tough person, she's not afraid to voice her opinion and she does not particularly consider herself ultra-feminine, so the skating costumes were always pink and purple, and colours that were probably quite uncomfortable for her in real life. Then, she started making more money, and being able to afford her Louis Vuitton bag. She has Chanel earrings and a nice leather jacket and she's definitely more sober in her colour choices as the violence escalates . . . I love that Tonya really always said, 'No. This is who I am, and please listen.' I just thought that was really fascinating. That, to me, makes her really a powerful figure in the sports world, because that world is sort of a ballet. It has so many rules, and it's sort of like cotillion, the rules of dress and behaviour and how women should act," Johnson told Deadline.
Johnson also told Vogue that when she was introduced to Tonya Harding at a party, "She gave me a big hug and said, 'My God! When I was watching the movie I thought, how did they get a hold of my skating costumes and my clothes?'" If you've any doubt, at this point, that Jennifer Johnson is quite talented, read on to compare some of Tonya's most memorable skating outfits with the near-identical replicas created for Margot Robbie.
Tonya's Gold and Black 1992 Winter Olympics Costume
Margot Robbie's Replica Costume in I, Tonya
Tonya's Turquoise 1991 US Figure Skating Championships Costume
Margot Robbie's Replica Costume in I, Tonya
Tonya's Maroon 1994 Winter Olympics Costume
Margot Robbie's Replica Costume in I, Tonya
Tonya's Floral Bodysuit During Practice in 1994
Margot Robbie's Replica Costume in I, Tonya
See More of Tonya's Skating Costumes
