leotards

Leotard Rankings: Week Nine

There were some brilliant designs this week as well as some real bad ones. But we want to know if you agree! Read through out thoughts on this week’s designs, and then vote in the fan poll at the bottom. The criteria for judging is the same as always: up to three points for design; two points for fabric, sparkle, etc.; and two points for school spirit; three points for overall appearance. This week’s guest judge is Rebecca, our DII and DIII editor.

UW-La Crosse: 8.9

https://twitter.com/UWLgymnastics/status/970361561347973128

Design Fabric/

Sparkle

School

Spirit

Overall

Appearance

Total
Caroline 2.6/3 1.7/2 1.4/2 2.6/3 8.3/10
Christina 2.8/3 1.8/2 1.5/2 2.8/3 8.6/10
Elizabeth 3.0/3 2.0/2 1.5/2 2.9/3 9.4/10
Rebecca 3.0/3 2.0/2 1.4/2 2.9/3 9.3/10

Caroline: Wow! Talk about an underdog out of the blue! This is gorgeous, from the ombre to the crisscross in the back. The only thing I could use more of is school spirit, a logo or name somewhere.

Christina: Oooooh I love, love this one! The ombre is so gorgeous. The front is lovely, but I am really obsessed with the V back, the crisscross full of sparkles and the ombre mesh. Yes please!

Elizabeth: I LOVE THIS LEO. The colors, the sparkle, the criss-cross back design, the mesh, the ombre—EVERYTHING is on point. The only, only thing I wish was different is that there needs to be a little bit of school spirit in the form of the mascot or La Crosse or something.

Rebecca: This is leo of the week for me. OH MY GOD I’M SO IN LOVE. Ombre mesh balanced with a nice plain body is always great, but a crisscross back that also incorporates the ombre mesh?? And sparkles on top of that?! I love the hex neckline in the front too, and the V back. Basically perfect in every way.


Washington: 8.325

Design Fabric/

Sparkle

School

Spirit

Overall

Appearance

Total
Caroline 2.4/3 1.7/2 1.5/2 2.7/3 8.3/10
Christina 2.5/3 1.7/2 1.6/2 2.6/3 8.4/10
Elizabeth 2.4/3 1.6/2 1.4/2 2.5/3 7.9/10
Rebecca 2.5/3 1.9/2 1.5/2 2.6/3 8.7/10

Caroline: I’ve been in love with this leo since the first time I saw it. The shiny ombre, the sweetheart neckline, the whole shebang… Just a little UW logo somewhere would be appreciated.

Christina: This is one of my favorites from UW. I love love the ombre, the sweetheart neckline and the black mesh sleeves.

Elizabeth: This is one of my favorites from Washington. I love the purple colors used as well as the ombre. I’m not loving the plain black mesh sleeves paired with it, and I do wish there was more school spirit in the form of a W or Huskies or something.

Rebecca: This is a fairly recent addition to UW’s leo repertoire—I think they wore it twice last season and then again on Saturday at Southern Utah—and it is my FAVORITE. Ombre is usually a win as long as it’s not overwhelmed by a million other features, and this one with just purple and white sparkles on a nice black mesh (the best kind of mesh!!) is fantastic.


Auburn: 7.25

https://twitter.com/AuburnGym/status/970372499346255872

Design Fabric/

Sparkle

School

Spirit

Overall

Appearance

Total
Caroline 2.2/3 1.6/2 1.4/2 2.3/3 7.5/10
Christina 2.3/3 1.5/2 1.6/2 2.4/3 7.8/10
Elizabeth 2.4/3 1.6/2 1.6/2 2.5/3 8.1/10
Rebecca 1.3/3 1.4/2 1.7/2 1.2/3 5.6/10

Caroline: These looked really nice on the broadcast, though I honestly couldn’t have told you that this wasn’t the “ice skater” leo. I love the inclusion of the school logo on the back, and the center flower is a nice touch. The sparkle crowns on the chest are little odd, but there’s so much sparkle on the design it doesn’t bother me terribly.

Christina: I like this one although it reminds me a bit of its “ice skating” one. The ombre is great, and I like how the orange was incorporated into the swirls. The boob crowns are a bit weird and the design is a bit busy, but overall this works for me.

Elizabeth: I like this! The flower design is almost tribal, and of course the ombre is lovely. I also like the solid v neckline and almost the double ombre look, going from dark to light to dark again.

Rebecca: Auburn has definitely not been afraid to push the boundaries of leo design this season, which I respect. To me this is a case where the ombre along with everything else is a bit too much—I think if you took one thing away, either the boob stripeys or the V or the ombre back to dark blue at the bottom, I’d like it more. But the Auburn-ness is undeniable in every part of the leo, and I have to respect anyone who goes for a deep V that doesn’t use nude mesh.


Springfield: 7.175

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf12SNkhK8y/

Design Fabric/

Sparkle

School

Spirit

Overall

Appearance

Total
Caroline 2.1/3 1.2/2 1.7/2 2.3/3 7.3/10
Christina 2.3/3 1.4/2 1.6/2 2.4/3 7.7/10
Elizabeth 1.9/3 1.1/2 1.7/2 2.0/3 6.7/10
Rebecca 2.1/3 1.2/2 1.6/2 2.1/3 7.0/10

Caroline: I love how it’s a little bit retro and super school spirity! The ombre sleeves are nice, and I love the rich burgundy color. I could use some more sparkle though, and I’m not a super fan of the neckline.

Christina: Oh, nice one! I love the ombre sleeves of course, and the S on the front makes them look like superheroes. I do wish for more sparkles, however, especially on the front.

Elizabeth: I like this, but it’s too plain for me. I wish there was more sparkle (or sparkle at all). But I am enjoying the ombre and big S for school spirit.

Rebecca: This is a fairly high-incidence leo for Springfield, but it’s GOOD. Ombre sleeve plus not too much going on to make it look busy equals a win for me. I could go for a bit of sparkle, but I also respect restraint in leo design—it’s sophisticated, and it looks good in motion too.


Utah State: 7.150

https://twitter.com/USUGymnastics/status/969710642809659392

Design Fabric/

Sparkle

Pink

Spirit

Overall

Appearance

Total
Caroline 2.1/3 1.5/2 1.6/2 2.2/3 7.4/10
Christina 2.2/3 1.3/2 1.5/2 2.1/3 7.1/10
Elizabeth 2.0/3 1.2/2 1.7/2 2.1/3 7.0/10
Rebecca 2.2/3 1.3/2 1.6/2 2.0/3 7.1/10

Caroline: I actually kinda like this! The black to pink balance is good, I love the Aggies printed across the back and the front sparkle cascade and keyhole are really nice. A solid showing!

Christina: This is alright although fairly standard. The front is nothing new, but I do like the sparkly Aggies across the back. This shade of pink isn’t my favorite, but I don’t mind it so much here.

Elizabeth: I think this is the same leo design as one UNC debuted last year, which makes sense because Amy Smith is USU’s new head coach. But anyway, I do like this design, as well as the shade of pink and sparkles. I’m not loving the Aggies on the back or the font, but overall it’s a good look.

Rebecca: Definitely one of the better pink meet leos I’ve seen this year. The bubblegum pink wouldn’t have been my first color choice, but on the other hand, the matteness makes it feel retro. I love the keyhole in the front and the icicles aren’t too much which icicles can be, and the intense sparkle AGGIES is a Look.


Temple: 6.8

https://twitter.com/TUWG/status/970384665809948672

Design Fabric/

Sparkle

School

Spirit

Overall

Appearance

Total
Caroline 2.0/3 1.3/2 1.6/2 2.1/3 7.0/10
Christina 1.6/3 1.5/2 1.7/2 1.7/3 6.5/10
Elizabeth 2.1/3 1.6/2 1.8/2 2.2/3 7.7/10
Rebecca 1.5/3 1.8/2 1.5/2 1.2/3 6.0/10

Caroline: This is classy! I love the black/red combo and the ombre on the sleeves. I’m not super crazy about the straps in the back, I don’t feel like they go with the rest of the design, but overall this is a win for me.

Christina: This is alright, but I am torn. I dislike the neckline on the front, especially with the change from solid to black mesh. I don’t find it flattering at all. The back is alright; I like the red straps but the mesh is just random on the upper back. I wish it matched the straps more in shape and direction. Great color combo though, but a eh from me overall.

Elizabeth: First, I want to thank Temple for taking and sending us this picture during the meet. That’s real dedication right there. But now to the judging. I love how sparkly it is and how sparkly it looked in motion. I also love the red ombre on the sleeves and the unique back. I wish the ginormous Temple T on the front was smaller, but overall this is a really nice one from the Owls.

Rebecca: There’s a lot going on here, and I like about half of it. Black and red is my all time favorite color combo, so that’s a plus. I also like the ombre sleeves. The T is good school spirit, but it’s a bit clunky? I like the back—that’s intensely cool—but I’m not certain how I feel about the neckline/shoulder situation.


Nebraska: 6.025

Check out the #Huskers Leo's tonight as they compete in Elevate 2018‼️

A post shared by Nebraska Women's Gymnastics (@huskerswgymnastics) on

Design Fabric/

Sparkle

School

Spirit

Overall

Appearance

Total
Caroline 1.9/3 1.5/2 1.7/2 1.5/3 6.6/10
Christina 1.0/3 1.3/2 1.5/2 1.2/3 5.0/10
Elizabeth 2.2/3 1.6/2 1.7/2 2.3/3 7.8/10
Rebecca 0.5/3 1.5/2 1.5/2 1.2/3 4.7/10

Caroline: This is…bizarre. On one hand, I love the faux halter and the white-on-black combo, but the triangle sparkle pattern on the middle of the stomach is not flattering and doesn’t do a person any favors as far as lines and body shape.

Christina: Nope, this one isn’t doing it for me. There is way too much solid white on the front and the shape is so unflattering. The red sparkles are a nice touch, but they don’t really help making it less unflattering. The cursive Nebraska on the back is alright, but that’s essentially all I like about this leo.

Elizabeth: So I think I’ll be in the minority when I say that I’m a fan of this leo. I have a soft spot for white Lycra, and paired with the mystique black and red sequins makes it work really well. I also kind of like the geometric design, as well as the cursive Nebraska on the back.

Rebecca: This one is extremely confusing but with some good features. I like the cursive Nebraska on the back, and I like using red as the accent color, but I’m not so hot on the rest. The shape of the white on the front is extremely unflattering—it’s less corset and more trapezoid, which doesn’t reflect so well on body shape. It looked sort of cool in the fancy promo video, but most of the good parts weren’t really visible in motion.


Nastia Cup (Seniors): 5.725

Design Fabric/

Sparkle

Pink

Spirit

Overall

Appearance

Total
Caroline 1.5/3 1.2/2 1.2/2 1.9/3 5.8/10
Christina 1.4/3 1.2/2 1.3/2 1.5/3 5.4/10
Elizabeth 1.8/3 1.4/2 1.4/2 1.9/3 6.5/10
Rebecca 1.5/3 1.0/2 1.3/2 1.4/3 5.2/10

Caroline: This is just a little bit too average, especially considering the occasion. The sparkle is minimal, the reverse-V neckline isn’t flattering, and the pink is underwhelming, particularly since pink is kind of the theme of the Nastia Cup.

Christina: This is fine. I am really not liking the amount of mesh on the upper body and on the shoulders and the armpit hot pink band, but overall it’s an OK look. I do like the front very much with the sparkle V, but again, I’m super bugged by this reverse-V neckline and all the mesh.

Elizabeth: I like this better in motion than in pictures. The black and black mesh actually work well together for me, but I don’t love the design incorporated with the pink. I do love the hole in the back and think it makes the gymnasts look pretty athletic. Overall an OK leo for me but not as good as I might have expected from Nastia.

Rebecca: Nastia Cup leotards have definitely been worse, but they’ve been better too. I surprisingly don’t mind the random underarm chunk of pink – it works with the theme – and the sparkle V in the front is pretty nice. Overall, though, I find it a bit bland?


William & Mary: 4.575

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfyWB0flPhP/

Design Fabric/

Sparkle

School

Spirit

Overall

Appearance

Total
Caroline 1.7/3 0.7/2 1.3/2 1.7/3 5.4/10
Christina 1.2/3 0.6/2 1.5/2 1.4/3 4.7/10
Elizabeth 1.3/3 0.8/2 1.5/2 1.5/3 5.1/10
Rebecca 0.8/3 0.3/2 1.0/2 1.0/3 3.1/10

Caroline: I appreciate that W&M went for something unconventional with this turquoise-grey color and the focus on school spirit with the design is nice, but the shoulder triangles don’t work and the rest of it is just not interesting enough for my taste. I need some pop—some punch of kind. This doesn’t have it.

Christina: Hmmm… I’m not convinced. W&M does have tough colors to work with, but this leo just doesn’t do it for me. The colors are almost faded, and it lacks a lot of sparkles and a little oompf. The neckline isn’t very flattering either.

Elizabeth: I really don’t mind the color, but I feel like this is a bit plain. I think it could have worked with more of a shiny fabric and some more sparkles. I do like the logo on the front, though!

Rebecca: I like to see some turquoise in action—it’s not a common leo color—but I have some questions about the sleeves, such as why, what is the color combination doing and why the underarm pointies? Overall definitely not a lot of pizzazz, though I’ll give it a few bonus tenths for the retro feel and Aaliyah Kerr’s insane six pack.


Iowa: 2.45

Design Fabric/

Sparkle

School

Spirit

Overall

Appearance

Total
Caroline 1.4/3 0.6/2 0.9/2 0.7/3 3.6/10
Christina 1.2/3 0.3/2 0.3/2 1.2/3 3.0/10
Elizabeth 0.2/3 0.2/2 1.3/2 0.3/3 2.0/10
Rebecca 0.4/3 0.1/2 0.5/2 0.2/3 1.2/10

Caroline: To be frank, this is a mess. The black wraparound at the neck and the asymmetry it creates throws off the eye, flattering no one. And the nude mesh sleeves make it look more like a strapless leo than any competition leo should ever look. Yikes.

Christina: I am torn on this one. At first look, I liked it, but the more I look at it, the more I’m like nope. The nude mesh is too much here, and it’s always a no for me anyways, and the black side band creates a weird line. I also would have liked some more school spirit.

Elizabeth: Can we not with this? Normally I don’t hate Iowa’s use of nude mesh, but this matches her skin tone so perfectly that it looks almost like a strapless leo with a black snake hanging out on her shoulder. Also the white—I’m not a fan. I guess good job for the Iowa on the hip, but you can’t even really see it on the white fabric.

Rebecca: So I really like a good white leotard. Unfortunately, this is not a good white leotard. I don’t do nude mesh at all ever, and there’s so little going on that your attention is drawn back to the nude mesh over and over again? It’s somehow simultaneously boring and actively unattractive. I don’t mind the sparkles running along the sides of the color boundaries, but that’s really all that’s going for this.


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Article by Elizabeth Grimsley, Caroline Medley, Christina Marmet and Rebecca Scally

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