Leotard Rankings: Week 5

California
Score: 9.35
Casey
Design: 2.8/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.8/2
School Spirit: 1.6/2
Overall Appearance: 2.8/3
Total: 9.0/10
I saw this leo in person, and it was excellent. They looked very classy, and it had the perfect amount of sparkle. The white mesh looked great on this very diverse team. My only negatives were the lettering and the back. The lettering was hard to read from far away and the back was too low for my taste. What kind of bra do you wear with that?  I don’t know.  I also don’t wear bras.Elizabeth
Design: 2.9/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 2/2
School Spirit: 1.9/2
Overall Appearance: 2.9/3
Total: 9.7/10
I think I love this leo more than Oregon State’s week one? *Gasp* It’s just so stunning and looks GREAT on all the girls. The silver is perfect and just enough. The white mesh is lovely. The rhinestones around the collar and cuffs add the right amount of sparkle and the California on the chest is the right amount of school spirit. The back has the illusion of being low but isn’t actually, so it looks really great and shows off the girls’ back muscles. LOVE THIS LEO.

Arkansas
Score: 8.75
Casey
Design: 2.7/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.6/2
School Spirit: 1.3/2
Overall Appearance: 2.8/3
Total: 8.4/10
I loveeee the back.  I don’t like nude mesh, but it is necessary for that deep V so I will let it slide.   I wish the arm was a little different, but kudos for keeping the V theme.  Give me like 30% more sparkles, and I’m sold.  Overall, I really like this design.Elizabeth
Design: 2.8/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.8/2
School Spirit: 1.7/2
Overall Appearance: 2.8/3
Total: 9.1/10
This is my favorite Arkansas leo. It’s kind of a throwback and I love it. The black and white is super classy and the V-cuts on the arms that mirror the neckline are cool. I also like the simple “Razorbacks” on the chest and the subtly red rhinestones to decorate around the edges.

Georgia
Score: 8.7
Casey
Design: 2.8/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.5/2
School Spirit: 1.8/2
Overall Appearance: 2.8/3
Total: 8.9/10
The only thing I can think about when I see this leo is Noel Couch’s “Star Wars” floor routine at super six in 2013. That gives it about 30 bonus points. It’s so classy. I love black and white, and I love a sweetheart neckline. I would like a bit more sparkle, but this is a very well done design.Elizabeth
Design: 2.6/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.5/2
School Spirit: 1.7/2
Overall Appearance: 2.7/3
Total: 8.5/10
This could have been quite a boring leo if Georgia wasn’t careful. But the subtle sparkles on the white and the rhinestones along the sweetheart neckline is a nice detail. I love how the Super G is represented and wraps around the side without being super obvious like some of the Gymdogs’ other leotards. I could have used just a touch of redsomewherebut I’m fine without it, especially considering it was a blackout meet.

LSU
Score: 8.45
Casey
Design: 3/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.9/2
School Spirit: 2/2
Overall Appearance: 2.9/3
Total: 9.8/10
This was one of my favorite leos from last year, and I am still obsessed with it. The design is so perfect for LSU and Baton Rouge. The sparkles are a lot… but I’m a full glitz kind of guy. They look excellent under the lights of an arena. The fabric is good, the neckline is great and the colors pop just enough. I’m giving it a 9.8, but it is the SEC, so with home scoring it’s at least a 10.Elizabeth
Design: 2.1/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.3/2
School Spirit: 1.5/2
Overall Appearance: 2.2/3
Total: 7.1/10
I like that LSU is representing its home state and celebrating Mardi Gras. The design is a little wacky but so is Mardi Gras, so it works. It may be a bit too sparkly for me, but overall it’s a fun leo for the occasion.

Oklahoma
Score: 8.4
Casey
Design: 2.4/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.7/2
School Spirit: 1.8/2
Overall Appearance: 2.7/3
Total: 8.6/10
This one is a great color. The V is very pretty and the neckline is very nice. I especially like the sparkle detailing on the back. Still not sure abou the OU boob rhinestoning obsession, but this is better than the sea shells of their first meet. These are more like butterfly boobs. “Sooners” on the arm and the “OU” tramp stamp work well for me. I really like this one!Elizabeth
Design: 2.3/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.6/2
School Spirit: 1.7/2
Overall Appearance: 2.6/3
Total: 8.2/10
I like this one. It’s the one I voted for in OU’s little poll thing. The sparkle on the chest and back is flattering and the mesh and faux neckline is unusual but nice. I also like the red color and the shininess of the body fabric.

UCLA
Score: 7.0
Casey
Design: 2.3/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.7/2
School Spirit: 1.2/2
Overall Appearance: 2.5/3
Total: 7.7/10
This one has a good amount of rhinestones, a simple elegant design and a few nice details to make it stand out. A very solid leo that any team could add into its closet. Nothing that makes me drool or love it, but it looks great.Elizabeth
Design: 2/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.3/2
School Spirit: 1/2
Overall Appearance: 2/3
Total: 6.3/10
This reminds me more of a Cal leo than a UCLA one. It’s just not in UCLA’s style. I do like it though. Although the cleavage-hole isn’t great. The shiny arms are nice and there’s just enough sparkles. But overall, it’s just ok for me. Slightly boring almost?

Florida
Score: 6.6
Casey
Design: 1.5/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.2/2
School Spirit: 1.5/2
Overall Appearance: 1.7/3
Total: 5.9/10
I don’t like the right justified rhinestones.  The harsh line looks good flat but not on a body.  I also don’t love the wave neckline. I keep thinking it is a sweetheart but then get frustrated with the a-symmetry.  Once again, I think it would look great on the hanger but not on the gymnasts.  I appreciate the unique design of this, but it didn’t work for me.Elizabeth
Design: 2.1/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.4/2
School Spirit: 1.4/2
Overall Appearance: 2.4/3
Total: 7.3/10
At first I was like, “Meh, just another standard Florida leo.” But after looking through and editing nearly 2,000 pictures from the competition, I began to like this leo more and more. The way the rhinestones make a secondary design without having different fabric is cool and the little wave thing on the side turns a boring neckline into something more interesting.

Utah
Score: 6.45
Casey
Design: 1/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.4/2
School Spirit: 1.4/2
Overall Appearance: 2/3
Total: 5.8/10
I really dislike the random swirl trend. I’ve seen some terrifying ones with about 40 colors in the swirls. This one only has three colors and is done well for the style.Elizabeth
Design: 1.9/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.3/2
School Spirit: 1.6/2
Overall Appearance: 2.3/3
Total: 7.1/10
Overall I liked this leo. Although some of the patterns the different color blocks made were weird. The huge wave of rhinestones on the back seemed excessive, but I didn’t hate it? For the most part, it was a solid choice for me.

Stanford
Score: 6.05
Casey
Design: 1.8/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.8/2
School Spirit: 1.2/2
Overall Appearance: 1.8/3
Total: 6.6/10
It’s nice. I wish there was a touch of red somewhere else on the leo or in the neck line. Just seems a bit too disjointed. The fabric is great and the rhinestones add to the clean design. Just needs a little oomph to really float my boat.Elizabeth
Design: 1.6/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.2/2
School Spirit: 1/2
Overall Appearance: 1.7/3
Total: 5.5/10
I kind of like how simple this one is, but it’s verging on too simple. The red color is nice. I like how it’s just the arms that are colored and the neckline isn’t bad. There aren’t too many sparkles either. There’s just nothing that stands out that I absolutely love.

Michigan
Score: 5.8
Casey
Design: 2.4/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.6/2
School Spirit: 2/2
Overall Appearance: 2.5/3
Total: 7.5/10
I like how athletic this leo looks. I’m a sucker an Adidas leo, and they always feel very “Team USA” to me. I just wish the yellow strip would continue from under the armpit onto the front panel of the leo. The M on the chest is my favorite part.  School Spirit… CHECK.Elizabeth
Design: 1/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 0.8/2
School Spirit: 1.3/2
Overall Appearance: 1/3
Total: 4.1/10
I think I prefer the wild and crazy Michigan leos to this boring one. I like how the yellow blocks on the back create an M with the yellow neck, but the design as a whole looks like something the club team would come up with because it’s cheap and not too crazy.

Oklahoma
Score: 5.4
Casey
Design: 0.5/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1/2
School Spirit: 1/2
Overall Appearance: 1/3
Total: 3.5/10
No. Game of Thrones is a lovely TV show but it should not inspire your leotards. This looks like some bedazzled armor, and the lattice rhinestone pattern is way too much. I don’t like the sea shell bra. I don’t like how there is red above the sea shell bra. I have a lot of issues with this.Elizabeth
Design: 2/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.4/2
School Spirit: 1.5/2
Overall Appearance: 2.4/3
Total: 7.3/10
I like the detailing on the chest. The red mesh is a tad random, but I don’t hate it. maybe there’s a little bit too much on the chest and back, but overall I like it.

UCLA
Score: 4.9
Casey
Design: 2/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1/2
School Spirit: 1/2
Overall Appearance: 2/3
Total: 6/10
This is a very mid-tier leo for UCLA.  Nothing special but nothing offensive.  I don’t like seeing the seams on a mesh fabric, and they really stand out on this one.  I like the sparkle on the cuff and don’t mind the shorter than ¾ sleeve.Elizabeth
Design: 0.9/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 0.7/2
School Spirit: 1/2
Overall Appearance: 1.2/3
Total: 3.8/10
There is way too much sparkle on this leotard. The light blue rhinestones mixed in with the silver is a nice way to mix things up though. I don’t like the extra sparkles on the collar making a necklace of sorts though. And the clip in the back is so old school. I never liked it.

Nebraska
Score: 4.85
Casey
Design: 1.5/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.5/2
School Spirit: 0.7/2
Overall Appearance: 1.5/3
Total: 5.2/10
This is a pretty nice leo, but feels very “I got this directly from the GK catalog.”  Definitely needs something extra to make it seem like a Nebraska leo and not something I found in my gym’s pro shop. The colors are good, and I like the sparkle band at the bottom of the white stripe.Elizabeth
Design: 1.1/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 0.8/2
School Spirit: 1.4/2
Overall Appearance: 1.2/3
Total: 4.5/10
This leo isn’t bad, but it’s not great either. The design reminds me of one of those wrap dresses or maybe a toga? I’m always for silver fabric, so that part is nice. But overall it’s kind of boring. There’s color and some sparkle, but it’s otherwise plain.

Utah
Score: 4.8
Casey
Design: 0.5/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.2/2
School Spirit: 1.5/2
Overall Appearance: 1.2/3
Total: 4.4/10
Not my cup of tea. It looks like I could roast marshmallows on Corrie’s head. Maybe this is symbolic of the burning passion for filling the holes from Kari Lee’s injury? Without the red, maybe….. maybe.Elizabeth
Design: 1.3/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 0.8/2
School Spirit: 1.4/2
Overall Appearance: 1.7/3
Total: 5.2/10
Eh, this leo’s not great. The weird mesh on the chest is out of place. “Hey, let’s put some spiky mesh around the chest! That sounds like a great idea!” No. It’s not. Maybe if the red spiky was down more like a bandeau (I don’t even know what I’m trying to say). The general concept is good. It’s just the execution that’s flawed.