Leotard Rankings: Regionals

Caroline
Design: 2.4/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.6/2
School Spirit: 1.4/2
Overall Appearance: 2.5/3
Total: 7.9/10I love the style, but honestly, the fact that it’s all red kinda underwhelms me. I think with a little bit of black in there, the red would pop even more. I do like the use of sparkle though, and the open back is really lovely! I also appreciate the G on the arm.

Christina
Design: 2.6/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.7/2
School Spirit: 1.7/2
Overall Appearance: 2.7/3
Total: 8.7/10I quite like this one. It’s a really elegant choice for the Gymdogs and it’s something different from what we usually see from them. The design on the front is lovely and I like the way the sparkles are arranged, and that they are both red and white. I LOVE the back hole, and the glittery collar as well. A fantastic choice, and a lovely way to create and wear an all-red leo.

Elizabeth
Design: 2.2/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.4/2
School Spirit: 1.7/2
Overall Appearance: 2.1/3
Total: 7.4/10Most of the time an all-red leo can be kind of boring, but I actually liked this one. There was just enough sparkle to make it standout, and the back hole was a nice differentiating factor. I also like the mesh sleeves. While you couldn’t tell for sure from afar the sleeves were mesh, you could see a slightly difference in hue/texture that made it less of “just a red leo.”

Caroline
Design: 2/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.4/2
School Spirit: 1.5/2
Overall Appearance: 2.1/3
Total: 7.0/10So these were really cool looking in person, but the diamonds were a bit excessive on the back. This one, sort of like the UNC Targyle, reminds me of a Christmas sweater, and I don’t know that that’s what they were going for, and that it really works. Still, it’s something different, which I appreciate, and they’re not random, they continue that design throughout the leo and it’s a specific shape, which I also like. I also love that they had the Lions on the back, distinguishing themselves from all the other teams who use navy and white! Thank you!

Christina
Design: 2.5/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.6/2
School Spirit: 1.7/2
Overall Appearance: 2.6/3
Total: 8.4/10We haven’t seen or judged many PSU leo this season (seriously guys, send us your pictures), so I am glad to finally see one. And it’s a gorgeous one! I love the front, especially the design created by the sparkles and the little diamond shapes. I’m a sucker for symmetry, so this is very satisfying to me. I also like that the V-neckline in all glitters is a bit different and unusual from what we usually see and is also created by all these diamonds. I also like that these appear on the sleeve cuffs. The Lions on the back adds a nice touch of school spirit. A win for me on this one!

​Elizabeth
Design: 2.4/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.6/2
School Spirit: 1.7/2
Overall Appearance: 2.5/3
Total: 8.2/10I actually really like this one. I’m a huge fans of white mesh sleeves as you probably all know by now. But I also like that the sleeves aren’t just plain white. The blue rhinestone detailing that matches the body detailing is a nice tie-in. Speaking of, I also really like the body design in general. It’s different from other leos Penn State has done, and I immediately liked it from the very first look I got of it.

Caroline
Design: 2.5/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.4/2
School Spirit: 1.9/2
Overall Appearance: 2.4/3
Total: 8.2/10I love this one! USU’s best showing this season by far. I love the criss-cross pattern throughout the design, the navy blue is a really rich tone, complimentary to lots of the girls’ skin tones, and I actually like the giant sparkle school logo on the back! I do wish that the wasn’t a line of the neckline on the front that didn’t have sparkle, that looks a little awkward, to be honest. Other than that, definitely one of the stronger showings for new designs at regionals.

Christina
Design: 1.8/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.2/2
School Spirit: 2/2
Overall Appearance: 2/3
Total: 7.0/10School spirit is strong on this one! That said, I do like it overall. The front is nice although I wish there wasn’t such a “cut” between the bodice and the sleeves with the thick blue lines going around the neck, and I wish it had more sparkles. I do love those swirls on the lower sleeves. I wish these were going all the way around and we didn’t have the random solid blue fabric on the back of the sleeves. The back is a-okay, although it feels somewhat unfinished. I understand we don’t want to overwhelm it since the USU logo is gigantic, but it still feels like it’s missing something. All in all, it’s a nice look though.

Elizabeth
Design: 2.3/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.4/2
School Spirit: 1.9/2
Overall Appearance: 2.1/3
Total: 7.7/10I like it! It’s not as good as some of the other leos of this design, but I’m a fan of the cross hatching on the wrists and the huge Utah State logo on the back, although it may be just a tad too big for me. Overall it’s a solid leo for the Aggies and a step up from some of its others.

Caroline
Design: 2.1/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.3/2
School Spirit: 1.5/2
Overall Appearance: 2/3
Total: 6.9/10So I couldn’t even tell this one was new in the arena because it seems so similar to other designs this season… oops. Now that I see it in detail up close though, I can see the differences, and I kinda like it. I appreciate the Batman reference, obviously, and the school spirit. I would love to see some more gold, which really pops against the black, and maybe a different font Missouri? I feel like that one is used so often that they need a different one. Variety is always a good thing!

Christina
Design: 2.2/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.5/2
School Spirit: 1.8/2
Overall Appearance: 2.4/3
Total: 7.9/10A simple design, but efficient. I really like that the neckline is different in the front and the back, but both work well and I love the golden touch along it. The sparkly Tiger head on the front and the ‘Missouri’ on the shoulder look nice too. I like that it’s not in the center below the neckline like you would expect, but rather going down and diagonally on the back. It’s also quite different from what we’ve seen from Mizzou this season where there has been a lot of white, so it’s a nice change to see an almost all-black leo. The only thing that maybe I would have liked would have been a touch of gold along the cuffs. But other than that, I like it.

​Elizabeth
Design: 2.3/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.4/2
School Spirit: 1.8/2
Overall Appearance: 2.3/3
Total: 7.8/10Missouri calls this their Batman leo, and I agree with the name. And I like this design. It’s simple yet boring and very athletic looking. The yellow around the collar adds just enough of the color (too much more of it would be overkill anyway). But what I’m really digging is how Missouri is not only in inverse rhinestones on the back but where it’s places along the neckline’s V as well.

Caroline
Design: 2.1/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.5/2
School Spirit: 1.7/2
Overall Appearance: 2/3
Total: 7.3/10This is a really sporty look, especially in the front, which I actually kind of like. Very different from a lot of OSU’s leo offerings this year. The straps and the shoulderblade windows in the back are a bit much, and I feel like it kinda ruins the simplicity and boldness that the front brings. Not really my favorite, but not horrendous either.

Christina
Design: 1.7/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.6/2
School Spirit: 2/2
Overall Appearance: 1.8/3
Total: 7.1/10Oh Oregon State, this could have been so lovely, but you had to go get all Vanessa Ferrari on us with the weird cutouts and straps on the back. You couldn’t help it, could you? I really, really love the front with the big glittery ‘OSU’ and the ombre orange sleeves. Great way to incorporate the school colors on there, and as we know orange is a tough one to deal with. However, what were y’all thinking when y’all designed the back? Trying to go all UCLA, but also not really because you obviously simultaneously went for the “see we get to wear bras” look! I don’t even know what I dislike more. The glittery racerback part, the random white straps that flop around while the girls tumble, the shoulder-pad impressions, or the gigantic open back with the sleeves that look barely attached to the rest of the bodice and essentially up-to-the-armpits cutouts? This was such an unflattering look and it’s trying to be everything at once. It would already be better without that sports-bra shenanigan for starters, but alas… Ugh, this could have been so good, but the back is a gigantic “no, no” on my part.

Elizabeth
Design: 1.8/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.8/2
School Spirit: 1.9/2
Overall Appearance: 2.0/3
Total: 7.5/10Alright. I have a bone to pick with this leotard. When Christina first showed it to me, I told her this is the result of Italy and UCLA having a baby. So if I’m just looking at the front, I’m in love. But also wondering why they’re wearing regular racerback sports bras under their competition leos—like when UCLA wears it’s “can’t wear a bra” competition leos with sports bras during practice meets. Anyway, I love the orange to black ombre—love it! I love the OSU on the front. And I love the material used for the leo. That’s where my love stops because then you see the back and you’re like what in the world were you thinking… Like, no? I don’t mind cutouts, but these are SO random? Like what were you thinking?! What were you thinking?! Why?! Honestly, I would have gotten over the weird cutout/straps if the faux sports bra just hadn’t been there. Take that out and it’s probably an 8 for me. Pretend the back doesn’t exist, and it’s a solid 9.

Caroline
Design: 2.1/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.5/2
School Spirit: 1.5/2
Overall Appearance: 2.1/3
Total: 7.2/10So I actually like the faux corset design, and the use of sparkle is excellent. I appreciate the C on the hip too, though I would love to have seen some gold on here somewhere. I do think it’s a bit unoriginal though, almost every team has a design like this. CMU is on the right track now, I’d just like to see more!

Christina
Design: 1.7/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.4/2
School Spirit: 1.6/2
Overall Appearance: 1.9/3
Total: 6.6/10Side mesh cutouts, why?! I understand that from the front and back it gives a nice silhouette to the gymnasts, but the minute they turn ever so slightly it just doesn’t look good. I do like the rest of the design even though it’s nothing we haven’t seen before.

Elizabeth
Design: 2.5/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.4/2
School Spirit: 1.6/2
Overall Appearance: 2.4/3
Total: 7.9/10I like the more boxy look on this one. It makes it different from other similar ones to it. I also like how the mesh cuts down the sides like it does. Without that, it would be kind of a boring leo. That plus the color and the little cutout on the front make this a solid leo for me and actually quite different from most of CMU’s other leos.

Caroline
Design: 2.2/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.4/2
School Spirit: 1.3/2
Overall Appearance: 2.1/3
Total: 7.0/10So I get continuing the white theme from SECs, I do. But it doesn’t translate as well here in contrast to this purple in this particular design. It just looks like a liner, a filler sort of fabric where there could be something more exciting. It’s kind of just a meh design for LSU for me. I expect better from them too!

Christina
Design: 2.1/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.4/2
School Spirit: 1.4/2
Overall Appearance: 2/3
Total: 6.9/10This is alright, although a bit too simple and underwhelming for a team like LSU. I do like the off-center V neck that’s accentuated by the sparkles veering off to the side. The solid white doesn’t really do it for me especially in the back. This leo looks okay, but there isn’t anything exciting to it.

Elizabeth
Design: 2.2/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.3/2
School Spirit: 1.6/2
Overall Appearance: 2.2/3
Total: 7.3/10I like this one, although I wish the white V was straight and didn’t curve to the side. However, aside from that, this is a super solid leo for me. The purple color is great and so regal, the amount of sparkles on the V really standout and I like how the white goes over and extends to the back rather than just being a legit V on both sides. I wish there was some gold, though—maybe gold rhinestones instead of silvery?

Caroline
Design: 1.5/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.1/2
School Spirit: 1.8/2
Overall Appearance: 1.6/3
Total: 6.0/10Okay, so all those cool elements that Michigan has used in its leos thus far this season got all mushed together in the wash and then spit out onto this one bodice. Y’all. Pick one or two cool things and stick to that. It doesn’t take all the cool things to make a cool leo. I’m looking forward to their nationals offering, but I hope it’s more muted than this.

Christina
Design: 1.7/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.2/2
School Spirit: 1.8/2
Overall Appearance: 1.8/3
Total: 6.5/10Michigan has really stepped it up with so many new leos this season! However, this one doesn’t really create much reaction on my part. I don’t hate it, but I also can’t get myself to like it. I don’t think the upper body design with the shiny fabric and the thin golden swirls going all over match with the rest of the bodice (solid blue and gold). I actually can kind of get behind the crazy swirls pattern, but it really should be on its own. They make the entire thing look quite busy here, although you don’t notice it as much in motion. It actually looks better to be on video than in the photos. The solid part of the bodice is meh to me, just very classic and a bit boring. As usual, Michigan goes all crazy on the school spirit, so points for that. But all in all, it’s just too much of a weird mashup of design and fabrics here for me to love this leo.

Elizabeth
Design: 2.4/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.5/2
School Spirit: 1.9/2
Overall Appearance: 2.4/3
Total: 8.2/10I actually really like this! While characteristically ultra-busy like Michigan seems to like to do, this is an organized chaos that works for me. I like the arm design and the fact that it uses two colors of sparkle. I also really like the front V and how the yellow wraps around the back and creates a sort of separation from the top and bottom. And the M on the back is a nice touch as well. I also live the kind of shimmery blue-ish silver on the sleeves.

Caroline
Design: 2/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.4/2
School Spirit: 1.6/2
Overall Appearance: 1.9/3
Total: 6.9/10Wow! This is totally different in motion than in the photo. The photo almost looks like it was Insta-filtered too hard to distort the colors. Anyway, the fan design from the right side is cool and I like how it interlocks with the yellow swirls along the left arm. I’m not sold on the use of sparkle though, particularly because the way it outlines the blue section almost makes it look like a weed leaf? Obviously not the intent but that’s what my eye sees. I think the sparkle could’ve been used more effectively by smattering it throughout the designs, rather than outlining them.

Christina
Design: 1.7/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.3/2
School Spirit: 1.6/2
Overall Appearance: 1.7/3
Total: 6.3/10Ok at first I saw it in the photos and was like ‘nope’. Then I found the highlight video and it looked 100x better in motion than in the pictures. I actually hadn’t even noticed the yellow ombre going on at first. How could I miss ombre?! That said, I’m not a fan of the blue leafy-ish design, but especially not of the mesh basically all over the bodice. Way too much mesh for my taste. I will say though I do like the little ombre styling going on on the sleeves. But anyways, basically, I like the left side of this leo with the yellow ombre, but hate the right one with the blue leafy and all the mesh.

Elizabeth
Design: 1.8/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.3/2
School Spirit: 1.7/2
Overall Appearance: 2.3/3
Total: 7.1/10I like it as it’s quite different from what West Virginia’s done in the past. But I think there’s a bit too much mesh for my taste. I do like how the sunburst design is sued kind of diagonally and so that there’s not a ton of big mesh swatches. But the amount of mesh is only really noticeable in pictures because in motion, it looks very ombre-y. Which brings me to the sleeves, which I love! The touch of blue around the wrist is great, and I like how the yellow and blue seem to blend together seamlessly despite the actual design being quite starkly contrasted.

Caroline
Design: 1.8/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.6/2
School Spirit: 1.5/2
Overall Appearance: 2/3
Total: 6.9/10Another all-red? I would say that this needs a contrast color too, but when I looked closer and saw that the lace goes all the way into the weird inverted neckline on the bodice, I honestly like it better without! It doesn’t look as awkward that way as it would with contrasting colors there, so that kinda works in their favor. The Razorback on the front is also much more understated than some its other hog-featuring designs, so kudos on that as well. I just wish the neckline was different and that the lace didn’t go all the way up to it! Either do all lace or cut it off on the sleeves, there isn’t really an in-between.

Christina
Design: 1.8/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.5/2
School Spirit: 1.8/2
Overall Appearance: 2/3
Total: 7.1/10Overall, I like this. The all-red works well, and I like the red lace on the upper body and sleeves. I am never a fan of this inverted neckline where it’s pyramid-like. I never find it flattering, and it’s the case here. The hog with its ‘aura’ of glitter does look good here and is not too overwhelming like we’ve seen on other Arkansas leos. I’m pretty sure NIU also has this exact same leo (minus the hog) with the lace and all, so it’s not something original or unique, but it still looks nice.

Elizabeth
Design: 1.7/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 0.9/2
School Spirit: 1.7/2
Overall Appearance: 1.9/3
Total: 6.2/10You all know how I feel about lace. But I honestly had no idea it was lace while watching the meet. I only realized after when I was finding an image to use for this post. So that’s good that it didn’t stand out too much. But to me this leo just needs something more. The hog on the chest doesn’t even really stand out all that much, and I really had to look when I saw the leo to make sure it was the mascot instead of a random splash of sparkle. I think adding a touch of black somewhere would have brought this leo’s score up for me.

Caroline
Design: 1.2/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.1/2
School Spirit: 1.4/2
Overall Appearance: 1.4/3
Total: 5.1/10Okay, so last week’s risk was awesome… this week, my only thought was, “KJ, what were you thinking?” I understand it’s supposed to look tribal, but why? Also, making the sleeves out of a separate fabric further disjoints the design, and it was already disjointed because the bottom half looks like a normal leo! Like why? The tribal design doesn’t even seem to have any specific shapes in it – is that a flower on the chest, or an hourglass in the middle? So many questions I can’t answer. I just don’t know what’s going on in this design at all.

Christina
Design: 1.7/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.2/2
School Spirit: 1.3/2
Overall Appearance: 1.8/3
Total: 6.0/10Well… at least OU really is going for it this season, but I also feel like it’s trying too hard at this point. I’ll give it brownie points for originality and thinking out the box, but I am really unsure as to what to think of this one. At first glance very quickly, I liked it, but the more I look at it, the more I just don’t. I think the main issue I have is how the Aztec-design on the top doesn’t mesh well with the crimson, shiny fabric on the lower body at all especially in the front. It just looked weirdly patched-up together. The difference in fabric and shade is just too obvious to me and I can’t unsee it. I’m also not too keen on the flamey boobies design going on here either. Overall I didn’t think this leo looked flattering on anybody and actually rather tight on many. I will say though that on video it looked good and it’s super, extra shiny as we can expect from the Sooners. Anyways, I’m just so torn on these new OU leos lately, and it kills me to give a low score here because you know I love my Sooners. It’s definitely unique and interesting, but it’s busy and doesn’t work for me, and I’m definitely having some trouble getting 100% behind it.

Elizabeth
Design: 2.8/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.7/2
School Spirit: 1.8/2
Overall Appearance: 2.7/3
Total: 9.0/10*Heart eyes emoji* OK, so I know a lot of people aren’t feeling this one, but I love it. I love the tribal feel as it’s so different from OU’s other leos. I also like the back hole, how it allows for a normal bra and how it is in an unusual position. I also like how the design isn’t merely different pieces of fabric but kind of made with dyes almost on the fabric itself? If that makes any sense at all. Plus, I’m sure it looked even better in person as OU’s leos almost always do.

Caroline
Design: 2/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.3/2
School Spirit: 1.2/2
Overall Appearance: 2.1/3
Total: 6.6/10I think the only difference between this one and the one we call the “waterfall” leo is that this is almost a chevron sparkle pattern rather than just vertical lines. That and I guess some of the sparkles are neon blue? Doesn’t translate very well onscreen. It just falls flat to me, like it’s all been done before. Also, would it kill y’all to put UCLA on your leo somewhere? Or Bruins? Or something??

Christina
Design: 1.6/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.3/2
School Spirit: 1.5/2
Overall Appearance: 1.7/3
Total: 6.1/10Another meet, another backless UCLA leo. This one is bleh to me; it’s trying to go for the sporty look with the blue stripes going down, but also is also very similar to another one of the Bruins’ leos that has this glittery rain on the front as well. So it’s more of the same, really. Anyways, it’s just not my favorite, and the front design isn’t very flattering. I do kind of like the low, open back, but for the love of the gym gods let your gymnasts wear bras for once!

Elizabeth
Design: 2.2/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.2/2
School Spirit: 1.6/2
Overall Appearance: 2.1/3
Total: 7.1/10I really like the super low back on this one. It makes the girls’ muscles really stand out. I also like that this isn’t just a black leo as it incorporated the thin electric blue lines on the front. However, the lines are kind of oddly places. I wish the blue had been incorporated differently.

Caroline
Design: 2/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1/2
School Spirit: 1.1/2
Overall Appearance: 1.7/3
Total: 5.8/10For regionals? Really? I can understand a blackout meet, but this just makes me sad after all the awesome new leos we’ve seen from Minnesota this season. I would much rather seen a repeat of one of those than a bland black number for regionals. I also don’t really like the neck swirlies, and the sparkle is average at best. Minnesota’s shown itself to be capable of a higher standard, so I expect more than this.

Christina
Design: 1.5/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1/2
School Spirit: 1.5/2
Overall Appearance: 1.3/3
Total: 5.3/10This is obviously a good one for a blackout meet, but it’s bland for regionals. A+ for school spirit, but what is up with those ridiculous swirls coming out of the neckline? It’s almost like your boobs have eyebrows. But yeah, there isn’t much to this leo and this is just boring to me. Give me some maroon, give me some gold, anything! Come on Minnesota, we know you can do better.

​Elizabeth
Design: 2.1/3
Fabric/Sparkle: 1.2/2
School Spirit: 1.6/2
Overall Appearance: 2.0/3
Total: 6.9/10I like this one. It’s one of Minnesota’s better leos. The black is a classic look and the amount of sparkle and placement really pop. I also like how there’s a design on the black even though it doesn’t stand out a ton. It makes it not just a plain black leo or a plain black leo with some mesh.