leotard rankings

BONUS Leotard Rankings: Meet the Bruins

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In light of UCLA’s Meet the Bruins/Operation Peacock Custom Leotard Extravaganza, we thought it was only fitting to bring you all a bonus leotard post ranking all the designs from the preview.

The criteria will be the same as during the regular season: up to three points for design, two points for fabric and sparkle, two points for school spirit (or in this case, routine theme) and three points for overall appearance.

Madison Kocian: 9.320

Design Fabric/

Sparkle

 Routine Theme

Spirit

 Overall

Appearance

 Total
Elizabeth 3.0/3 2.0/2 2.0/2 3.0/3 10.0/10
Rebecca 3.0/3 1.8/2 1.7/2 2.8/3 9.3/10
Mary Emma 2.7/3 2.0/2 2.0/2 2.8/3 9.5/10
Claire 2.5/3 2.0/2 1.5/2 3.0/3 9.0/10
Jenna 2.5/3 1.8/2 2.0/2 2.5/3 8.8/10

Elizabeth: I love this leo so much that I need it to be worn at every future real competition until the end of time. From the watercolor-esque design to the open, fabric-crossed back, it’s absolutely stunning.

Rebecca: Hey UCLA, you know how your pink meet leotard sucks? Wear this instead. Problem solved! Also, I got Kocian in that BuzzFeed quiz about which UCLA floor routine you are, so even if I didn’t like this leotard before, I’d have to now.

Mary Emma: I love this one—definitely my favorite of the bunch. The colors go so well together, and it makes me think of eating ice cream on a summer day.

Claire: This is some frothy, cotton candied nonsense in the best possible way. That open shield-shaped back needs to be more of a thing in contemporary leo design (as do pink- and white-striped belts). 

Jenna: I like this a lot more than I thought I would from the teaser UCLA tweeted ahead of the meet. I’d like to see it in a different color scheme, but it does work well with the stated theme.

Felicia Hano: 8.650

https://twitter.com/uclagymnastics/status/1206032262107549696

Design Fabric/

Sparkle

 Routine Theme

Spirit

 Overall

Appearance

 Total
Elizabeth 2.2/3 1.5/2 1.8/2 2.3/3 7.8/10
Rebecca 2.7/3 2.0/2 2.0/2 2.8/3 9.5/10
Mary Emma 2.5/3 1.5/2 2.0/2 2.7/3 8.7/10
Claire 2.75/3 2.0/2 2.0/2 2.5/3 9.25/10
Jenna 2.5/3 1.5/2 2.0/2 2.0/3 8.0/10

Elizabeth: I’m not a fan of flowers like this in general, but I do like the intention in this design. I also like the use of neon colors on the black background.

Rebecca: I said on Slack the day we got a sneak peek of this that I wouldn’t mind if it really was a leotard and some other people weren’t excited but I stand by it. It’s super classy in an unusual way and it really works for her.

Mary Emma: I really like this one! It’s giving me “Coco” vibes, which is exactly what they were going for.

Claire: I love, love, love how those neon flowers pop against the black, and especially that they carry through to the forearms. The keyhole back is fabulous, and a little more floral on the waist or neon piping around the openings would’ve added the missing bit of zhuzh. 

Jenna: The colors are beautiful, and I like how the flowers are limited to the torso and lower sleeves. But I wish more of the design made it to the back of the leo.

Norah Flatley: 8.140

Design Fabric/

Sparkle

 Routine Theme

Spirit

 Overall

Appearance

 Total
Elizabeth 2.2/3 1.4/2 1.7/2 2.3/3 7.6/10
Rebecca 2.5/3 1.7/2 1.4/2 2.5/3 8.1/10
Mary Emma 2.3/3 1.5/2 1.8/2 2.5/3 8.1/10
Claire 2.5/3 2.0/2 1.0/2 2.5/3 8.0/10
Jenna 2.8/3 1.5/2 1.8/2 2.8/3 8.9/10

Elizabeth: All I can see when I look at this leo is underboob, which is unfortunate because it’s otherwise a pretty solid design. It also reminds me of a butterfly on the front, but the back is oddly boring/doesn’t flow well with the front for me.

Rebecca: I’m not bothered by the mesh situation, and I really like leotards that are black and architectural, so I have to support this. It doesn’t seem too relevant to her routine, but that’s probably a good thing because things could get racist fast if you go down that road.

Mary Emma: This one is really pretty. I don’t love black leotards, but the design is nice, though I’m not a big fan of the side cutouts.

Claire: The underboob isn’t great, but otherwise, the front is pretty fabulous (I do love black with black mesh). The back is meh and seems like an afterthought to such an elaborate, detailed front. 

Jenna: I’m in love with the front of this; it’s absolutely gorgeous! I do wish there were a little less mesh, and I’m not a fan of the keyhole back. But overall this is a winner for me.

Gracie Kramer: 7.870

Design Fabric/

Sparkle

 Routine Theme

Spirit

 Overall

Appearance

 Total
Elizabeth 2.7/3 1.3/2 2.0/2 2.9/3 8.9/10
Rebecca 0.3/3 0.2/2 2.0/2 0.3/3 2.8/10
Mary Emma 2.5/3 1.7/2 2.0/2 2.7/3 8.9/10
Claire 2.0/3 2.0/2 2.0/2 2.75/3 8.75/10
Jenna 3.0/3 2.0/2 2.0/2 3.0/3 10.0/10

Elizabeth: This might be my favorite behind Kocian’s. I absolutely love the front with the skyline and the Batman symbol. Plus, the back is so funky weird that it just WORKS. Lean in, Gracie.

Rebecca: When you go full concept on a leotard like this one, it’s hard to find a way to criticize it. I’m going to anyway. Too much! Stop!

Mary Emma: I absolutely LOVE the front, though the back is too busy for my taste. Props to going all out for the theme though!

Claire: The back is really cool and funky, but the front is FLAWLESS. That poisonous green ombre sky is killer! Would probably be my top pick if the two halves were a little more cohesive.    

Jenna: I love well-executed weirdness, and this is exactly that. Shockingly, I even like the mesh! It’s a perfect 10 from me (hint hint, NCAA floor judges).

Kyla Ross: 7.020

Design Fabric/

Sparkle

 Routine Theme

Spirit

 Overall

Appearance

 Total
Elizabeth 2.2/3 1.6/2 1.5/2 2.3/3 7.6/10
Rebecca 2.3/3 1.0/2 1.7/2 1.8/3 6.8/10
Mary Emma 2.5/3 1.8/2 1.5/2 2.5/3 8.3/10
Claire 2.0/3 1.5/2 1.0/2 2.0/3 6.5/10
Jenna 1.5/3 1.8/2 0.8/2 1.8/3 5.9/10

Elizabeth: I got excited when I saw the sneak peek of this design, but it didn’t turn out quite as great as I was hoping. I love the color, and the gold, but the sparkle pattern on the front just isn’t working for me.

Rebecca: I loved this to death in the preview picture and was really bummed that the actual color was this weird royal blue. It’s neither UCLA gymnastics navy nor UCLA baby blue. It’s a fine leotard with a nice back, but the color is just a little worse than I hoped for.

Mary Emma: I’m not a big fan of the weird criss-cross design on the front, but other than that, I love it. I wish we would see this as an actual UCLA leo.

Claire: It’s fine. Once again, I don’t think the back and front really go together, but it’s fine. That thick, gold collar is my favorite part.   

Jenna: The colors in this are actual UCLA colors (finally!) but the design itself is lacking, particularly in the back. Why does the gold accent just abruptly end?

Pauline Tratz: 6.850

Design Fabric/

Sparkle

 Routine Theme

Spirit

 Overall

Appearance

 Total
Elizabeth 1.6/3 1.5/2 1.8/2 1.7/3 6.6/10
Rebecca 2.0/3 2.0/2 1.3/2 2.2/3 7.5/10
Mary Emma 1.0/3 1.0/2 1.8/2 1.0/3 4.8/10
Claire 2.75/3 2.0/2 1.0/2 2.5/3 8.25/10
Jenna 2.0/3 1.3/2 1.8/2 2.0/3 7.1/10

Elizabeth: Some of the off-centered parts of the design throw me off, but you know I’m always here for velvet. It’s not a terrible leo by any stretch, but I do wish Tratz had leaned into the Ferris Bueller’s Day Off part of her routine rather than going full Coco Chanel again.

Rebecca: This is objectively not a great leotard, but it’s just so, so Tratz that I can’t hate it. I feel like her soul shines out of this design, and I’m mostly a fan. Plus FULL fabric points for velvet.

Mary Emma: While I appreciate the ’80s theme, I don’t like the design at all. Nude mesh fake necklines are a big no from me.

Claire: I love the neckline and cutouts, and the “diamond” accents are glorious. This would have been perfect for last year’s routine. 

Jenna: There are parts of this that I really like, and I definitely feel the ’80s theme, but I can’t get past that neckline and the asymmetry.

Nia Dennis: 5.760

Design Fabric/

Sparkle

 Routine Theme

Spirit

 Overall

Appearance

 Total
Elizabeth 1.7/3 1.3/2 1.8/2 1.8/3 6.6/10
Rebecca 0.5/3 1.4/2 1.8/2 1.2/3 4.9/10
Mary Emma 1.5/3 1.3/2 2.0/2 2.0/3 6.8/10
Claire 1.5/3 1.0/2 1.0/2 1.5/3 5.0/10
Jenna 1.0/3 1.5/2 2.0/2 1.0/3 5.5/10

Elizabeth: When I first saw this leo, I literally typed in our Slack channel, “OH GOD NO.” But it’s sort of grown on me after finding out it’s majorette-themed? I need Dennis to stop with the “Nation” nonsense though.

Rebecca: I saw a poll on Twitter where fans were asked if they thought UCLA would wear these leotards regularly during season and something like 30% voted yes even though a) that makes no sense b) have you ever heard of branding guidelines and c) this one literally has the nickname of an individual athlete written in sparkles on the back. I have no explanation. Anyway, it’s a bad leotard, and I don’t like it.

Mary Emma: If there was no theme to go along with it, I would hate it. As someone who was a marching band geek in high school though, I appreciate the majorette theme.

Claire: I strongly dislike the back, and am only slightly more ambivalent about the front.  

Jenna: There’s a reason why I don’t usually like themed leotards, and this is it. It fits the theme but that’s the only positive I can come up with.

Margzetta Frazier: 3.880

Design Fabric/

Sparkle

 Routine Theme

Spirit

 Overall

Appearance

 Total
Elizabeth 0.2/3 0.2/2 1.0/2 0.3/3 1.7/10
Rebecca 1.5/3 1.8/2 1.5/2 1.8/3 6.6/10
Mary Emma 2.0/3 1.3/2 0.5/2 2.3/3 6.1/10
Claire 1.0/3 0.5/2 0.0/2 1.0/3 2.5/10
Jenna 1.0/3 0.5/2 0.5/2 0.5/3 2.5/10

Elizabeth: No. No no no. This reminds me of something someone in the Babysitter’s club would wear. Or, I saw a tweet that said it looked like something every fifth grader that shopped at Limited Too had. Both are accurate. Both are terrible.

Rebecca: …………..I sorta like it. Sorry. The silver looks good! I don’t know enough about Motown fashion to assess whether it makes sense from that perspective, but Frazier tends to do her research.

Mary Emma: I actually don’t hate this one, though I really don’t see the disco theme. Maybe she’s supposed to be the disco ball?

Claire: This is what my mom made me put on over my spaghetti strap dresses in the late ’90s (not the ’70s, and definitely not in Motown’s heyday).  

Jenna: I’m getting not-so-positive flashbacks to middle school, which was definitely not in the disco era. Aside from that, why are the sleeves so baggy?

READ THIS NEXT: Throwback Leotard Rankings

Article by Elizabeth Grimsley, Rebecca Scally, Mary Emma Burton, Claire Billman and Jenna King

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