History and High Heels: Olympic Inspiration: Illusion Necklines

For the past few weeks, the Sochi Winter Olympics have filled much of my down-time after school. I have been awed by the athleticism of the participants - from the cross country skiers who dominated the hills to the snowboarders whose finesse on the half-pipe is astounding. These sports I have enjoyed watching, but most of all, I do love watching the grace and beauty of the ice skaters as they twirl around the rink. Their sheer technical skill to twist their bodies in the air so quickly is in itself amazing. I become dazzled as I sit and watch them dance out on the ice. This is a sport that for women has only been around as a competition since 1905 and it wasn't until 1976 that ice dancing was added to the Olympics roster.

Madge Syers at the 1908 Olympics

As I watched Gracie Gold move so beautifully out on the rink, I was inspired by the outfits that she and her fellow female figure skaters wore. It seems like this year, the costume design was taken to another level. The gorgeous illusion necklines, ombre fabrics, and embellishment designs were unreal. I especially thought the illusion necklines deserved some appreciation off of the ice and began looking for the trend elsewhere! The style is definitely growing in popularity for dresses and tops. The appeal is that you can look like you are wearing a daring outfit, but it sits comfortably on your body thanks to the sheer fabric! This is a trend to keep your eye out for, especially in regards to date-night outfits!