When the college gymnastics season rolls around, some fans are excited for perfect 10s while others look forward to difficult skills and fun choreography. But we’re not going to lie. While those things are great, we love the leos most of all. And so, we’re back for another season of leotard rankings!
Each week we’re analyzing new designs to find our weekly faves. As always, leos can earn up to three points for design, up to one point each for fabric, sparkle, school spirit, and uniqueness, and up to three points for overall appearance. This week Julianna, Emily L, Savanna, Talitha, Peri, Naomi, Mary Emma, and Tara are joining editor-in-chief Elizabeth for judging.
Don’t agree with our ranking? Make your opinion heard by voting in the fan poll at the end of the article each week or by voicing your thoughts on social media!
Michigan State: 9.200
View a video of this leotard here and images of the front here.
Elizabeth: 9.500
Design 2.8/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.9/3
And I thought Michigan State’s round two leotard was stunning. How is this one even better?! The matte white, the geometric design, the open, thin-strapped back—I love every single thing about this leo. I’m having a hard time thinking of anything I’d change here.
Julianna: 9.700
Design 3/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.9/3
This is stunning! When this came on my TV I screamed. I’m not usually a white leo fan, but this is too good. I love the pattern and the rhinestone placement, but I LOVE the back so much. The mesh ombre is beautiful and I love the thin green neck clipping in the back. I love it, too good.
Emily L: 9.700
Design 3/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 3/3
I love this! I think this is my favorite leo of the season so far. The dark green matched with the geometric design is awesome, I love the back, and I love the ombre sparkly sleeves. Well done, MSU!
Savanna: 9.100
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
Okay, in pictures, I hated this. I was ready to rage in these reviews. However, after seeing it in motion, I love it. I think the design on the front definitely flows well in movement and the rhinestones only being in the green really brings focus to that area of the design in a positive way. Nicole Curler Jones, don’t ever scare me and make me think you missed on a leo design ever again, please and thank you.
Talitha: 9.300
Design 2.7/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
I love this so much! The matte white, the geometric pattern on the front, the matching open back, the ombre effect on the front triangles, the clever use of crystals. Wow!
Peri: 9.500
Design 3.0/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
No notes, just fan mail for Sylvia P. The sleeve details having the reverse pattern of the torso is the cherry on top for me, since we see all too often the sleeve patterning look like an afterthought.
Naomi: 8.300
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
It took a little time for this to grow on me, but this leo looks fantastic in motion and I love how the green design flows. The back is fabulous as well, and I am obsessed with the sleeve detailing. Michigan State never missing remains true with this leo!
Mary Emma: 8.500
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
Another good one for MSU! I love the pattern on the front and how well the green pops on the white leo. And the back is stunning! My only complaint is the white at the bottom because it’s giving diaper to me. I get that they didn’t want this to be another UCLA teeth crotch leo situation, but I think the pattern needed to go down a little more.
Michigan State: 8.775
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 8.400
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
Michigan State always takes a design that would be ‘meh’ if any other team did it and does it so well. I love the galaxy, swirly pattern; it looks so good with green, silver, white, and black. I also love, love, love the back, as well as how the front mimics it; that’s why I don’t mind the front holes when I otherwise probably would.
Julianna: 9.600
Design 2.8/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
I am obsessed with this. Michigan State has been coming out with such beautiful, unique leos this season, and this is another great addition! I don’t really think I have ever seen anything like this design, and I really like that it’s just on the front. I think the sparkles are so well placed so that its not too overwhelming to the already big design. I love it.
Emily L: 8.300
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
I feel pretty neutral about this one. I like the swirled design in the front, but I don’t love the cutouts at the top and the cutouts in the back. But overall this is a good leo!
Savanna: 8.500
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
The swirls, the sparkle, the back, everything just ties together so well! Michigan State rarely misses and this is another hit to add to its collection.
Talitha: 9.100
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
Michigan State is the team with my favorite leotards and, though this is not my favorite, it’s another hit. I love the swirl fabric, the matte colors and the mesh sleeves. They give the leo such an elegant and timeless touch. The only thing I don’t really like is the neckline with the two holes and that bit of ruched fabric in the middle. Still, I love the uniqueness of this design and its flawless execution.
Peri: 8.300
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
Temple, but make it green! Michigan State has shown near-mastery on pairing fabrics and stones, using them to highlight instead of compete with one another. In this case, the stones follow the swirls, and the swirls are matte enough to let the stones shine.
Naomi: 8.500
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
Michigan State never misses, and this is no exception. I love the swirly-green design and how it looks against the black. This leo also looked great in motion and was so different from anything else I saw worn at regionals! My only complaint is the cutouts in the neckline, a feature I never really like, but that doesn’t detract much from my overall enjoyment of this leo.
Mary Emma: 9.500
Design 2.8/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
This is definitely one of my top leos of the season! I LOVE the swirly green pattern on the front. It’s a look that could have been done badly, but MSU did it so well.
Boise State: 8.250
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 9.000
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
I am obsessed with this. It’s the type of out-of-the-box thinking with blue and orange I’ve wanted from Florida all these years. The design using rhinestones is so clever, and let me tell you did the colors pop in person. Plus, I can’t get enough of the two thicker, rhinestoned back straps. This is a GK leo disguised as a Sylvia P one, which is probably why I like it so much.
Julianna: 8.500
Design 2/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
This is beautiful! This is so sleek and flattering, and I really like all of the little details throughout. I especially love the back and how their are thicker straps in with the thinner straps. I think bringing the sparkle up all the way to the back was a smart design decision. I really also love how the neck line, the cut off on the arms, and the back are all lined with the same matching rhinestones. Definitely one of my favorite from Boise State and a great one to debut at such a big competition!
Emily L: 6.600
Design 2/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2/3
It’s nice, it’s just a bit boring. I like the designs and the use of sparkle, but I just feel like it’s missing something. As for the straps in the back, I think it could go without the thicker straps.
Savanna: 8.300
Design 2.1/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
When I saw the reveal originally, I was a little underwhelmed, but the sparkles absolutely pop on TV! Orange and blue is a difficult color scheme to work with, but I’m really happy with how this turned out. It’s a great addition to their leo closet!
Talitha: 8.100
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
I really like this! I love how cleverly the crystals stand out against the black matte fabric and how sharply the team’s colors pop up. I’m a big fan of the larger straps on the back, less so of the thinner ones. A great job overall!
Peri: 8.200
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
The Broncos put on a clinic on using both team colors – no easy feat when they’re blue and orange! I love how the stones interact with the cut of the leotard, highlighting the subtleties on the back. It’s a departure from Boise State’s usual style, and for me a welcome new addition.
Naomi: 8.300
Design 2/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
Ooh, I love this! It looks so sleek and athletic while being very unique at the same time. The ombre (!) created by rhinestones (!) is phenomenal, and I love the rhinestone back straps. This is a great leo for Boise State and it checks all the boxes for me.
Mary Emma: 9.000
Design 2.6/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
I love this! I’m not normally a black leo fan, but I LOVE how much the rhinestones pop on the black. And the strappy back is lovely
Rutgers: 8.238
View a video and images of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 8.100
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
Love! The way the design uses a slightly darker shade of red to really make it pop is clever. Ohio State used this technique on one of its new leotards this season as well. I also like how that darker red extends subtly onto the sleeves. What I don’t love is the dripping rhinestone belt, but I can recognize it looks good with the design as a whole.
Julianna: 8.500
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
This might be one of my favorite Rutgers leos to date! I think it was so special to debut this for Avery’s first postseason performance, and I think it’s much more ‘simple’ in an elegant way than anything Rutgers currently has. I love the sparkle clusters and the bigger diamond in the middle breaking out into the rhinestone belt. I also really like they kept this all red, rather than putting in white or black and just making it two tones of red.
Emily L: 8.400
Design 2.6/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
I love this one! The variety of shades of red looks really nice, and I like the chandelier-type sparkles towards the bottom of the front. I do wish there was more sparkle on the back because it does look pretty plain when they turn around.
Savanna: 8.100
Design 2.1/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
Rutgers has so many new leos every season that I think they kind of blend together, however, I LOVE this one! This shade of red is very elegant, the different sized rhinestones bring focus to the design overall, and it does just enough without doing too much! More of this please!
Talitha: 7.800
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
This is a lovely leotard for Rutgers! I especially like the use of crystals both on the chest and on the belt. The belt and the rhinestones cascading out of it are my favorite part.
Peri: 8.000
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
Rutgers had me nervous at the start of the year with their new leos, and this one has me calm again. It’s tricky to use multiple shades of red, and the Scarlet Knights have pulled it off easily here! My one design flaw is the Trolls’ belly button rhinestone, and I’ll even look past it for how elegant the rest of the torso is.
Naomi: 8.100
Design 1.9/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 1.7/3
This is surprisingly tame for Rutgets, and I really like it! I love the way the different fabrics are used to create different shades of red. The chest pattern kind of reminds me of stained glass, and I really love the belt with the sparkles dripping off. The slightly open back is a nice touch.
Mary Emma: 8.900
Design 2.6/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
Love this! I feel like Rutgers often tries to do too much with its leos, but this is great. I like how the two shades of red pop, and the sparkle pattern is really nice.
Missouri: 7.925
VIew a video of this leotard here and images here.
Elizabeth: 8.400
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I love that Missouri is leaning into this dusty gold more this season; it works really well with both black and white. The design as a a whole is good, too, and I especially like the back. The vertical lines remind me of the Columns on Missouri’s campus. The arm letters are a bit big, but I’m not overly offended by them.
Julianna: 7.400
Design 2/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
I feel like I never know what to expect from Missouri, but in the best way. I really like this leotard for the Tigers; it’s different from anything they have put out or worn this year. I love the rhinestone ‘Tigers’ down the arm, and the cut out of the back. I could have done without the thicker stripes down the back, but I love the gold band and high neck details on this and the more muted gold color on the chest
Emily L: 8.300
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I like this one! It’s basic but it’s very flattering. I like the stripes of sparkles in the front and the yellow columns in the back combined with the open back. Good job, Mizzou!
Savanna: 8.000
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
Missouri has really done well with the leos this season and this one did not disappoint. From the subtle school nod to the rhinestones and details all the way throughout, this is a great addition to the collection. I could do with the letters on the sleeves being slightly smaller, but I’m picky.
Talitha: 7.700
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
When I first saw this leotard, I was perplexed, but it’s grown on me since seeing Missouri competing in it. That golden shiny fabric on the chest is so hard to pull off but the Tigers did a fantastic job with it, thanks to a clever use of the rhinestones and of the contrasting matte sleeves. They were truly shining out there on the floor. Also, the vertical stripes on the back and the crystals on the front reminded me of the Columns. I don’t know if it was intentional but if so, A+ for subtly evoking the school spirit.
Peri: 8.100 E Score*
Design 2.1/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
Is it possible to use the FIG code to rank this*? The difficulty they went for with the different gold tones paid off, and it needs rewarding. Huge props for layering fabrics to achieve the muted gold!
Naomi: 7.800
Design 1.7/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
Gold is such a hard color to get right, and Missouri nailed it here! It’s not the most creative in terms of the design, but I have to give it points for the color and school spirit. I’m not totally sold on the yellow stripes on the back, but overall it’s a strong leo for Missouri!
Mary Emma: 8.000
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
This is nice! I love the gold shimmer on the front with the gold accents throughout. Missouri has some difficult colors to work with, and I think it did a really good job with this one.
Auburn: 7.850
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 8.100
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
I really love this! The design is very cheer-esque, but I’m not mad about that. I love the athletic look paired with the silvery-shiny effect of the orange and rhinestones. I wish the back was more open, using straps rather than white mesh, but it’s a small complaint.
Julianna: 8.300
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I really like this for Auburn! It’s simple but really makes a statement when you see it on TV or in person. I do also think the back would’ve been even nicer if it were just straps without the white mesh, but I don’t mind the mesh tying everything from the front to back all together. I like the thicker belt with the double lines of sparkles, and the high-ish neck. I think this is really beautiful for Auburn and I can’t wait to see them wear it next year.
Emily L: 8.400
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I like it. I feel like a lot of Auburn’s leos have looked pretty similar, but I don’t really mind that. I like the stripes of sparkles surrounding the front. I do wish there were more sparkles on the sleeves, but overall I like this!
Savanna: 7.000
Design 1.9/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
At first glance, I really thought this was a sleeveless leotard, but the athletic look works really well with this style of leotard. I’m not the biggest fan of the mesh on the back, I almost wish it would’ve been a matte white, but overall, this is a good design!
Talitha: 7.700
Design 2.1/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.1/3
I feel like I should like this leotard more than I do. I like the white mesh sleeves and the mirroring geometrical design on the belt and the armpits. The use of crystals is also clever, it makes the details stand out. However, the overall effect is a bit meh to me.
Peri: 9.000
Design 2.6/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
Big fan of this Auburn leo! It looks very calculated, right down to the size of the chest logo and thickness of the striping – super necessary for a geometric design to make sure it flatters each athlete.
Naomi: 6.200
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 1.6/3
This is nice for Auburn! It kind of makes me think of a jersey, which I like. I wish the sparkle stripes on the side didn’t cut off so abruptly and I think the back is a little too busy but it’s a good leo overall.
Mary Emma: 8.100
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
This is nice! I love the athletic look that’s becoming more and more popular, and Auburn did a really good job with it. My only complaint is the mesh on the back. I think it would look better if it was just open instead.
California: 7.800
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 7.900
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
This is a leo that grew on me. Cal does white so well, and I like the creativity with this design. The shape of the leaves is a bit odd, but I understand what it was going for. I love the back straps and how they are introduced into the design. The same goes for the swooping navy swatches on the front to the back. Also, a moment for the gold rhinestones please!
Julianna: 6.800
Design 1.7/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 2/3
I’m having mixed emotions with this; it’s definitely much prettier in competition, and it’s definitely unique. I wouldn’t say this is my favorite leo from Cal, but I like the creativity. I think the back cross straps are really nice, and the way the blue comes into the back is a nice touch. I want to know what the leaves mean to the team, but I think this is a fun postseason leo overall!
Emily L: 8.600
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
Honestly, I liked this one more when I first saw it and I started disliking the leaf design the more time went on. I absolutely love the back and the blue piece through the middle, but I don’t like the leaf. I can understand that they had to put something in that empty space, but it could’ve been something else.
Savanna: 7.600
Design 1.9/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
Definitely a new thing for Cal to focus on the gold in its color scheme, but I think I like this! The back straps are unique and really tie into the design very well. I would love a little more explanation into the leaves so I can understand their purpose, but overall, nicely done!
Talitha: 8.300
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
I love how the white matte and the navy blue parts work together, and I adore the back. However, I’m not a fan of any horticultural patterns and this one is no exception. The shade of yellow gives the design a nice retro feel but, overall, I think the leotard would have looked better without the leaves.
Peri: 8.500
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
This grew on me the more I saw it in motion. The asymmetry reads as a rhythmic leo, and I’ll say for the second time today that I love when the back straps interact with the front. Also speaking on behalf of my country, put leaves on leotards more often!
Naomi: 7.100
Design 2/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
I really love the idea of this leotard. Execution-wise, I feel like the gold leaf is a bit too flat and a tiny bit clumsy. I love the back and the placement of the navy and white. Cal’s leos can often be a bit same-y so I appreciate seeing something different!
Mary Emma: 7.600
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
This is nice! I’m sure the gold leaf has some meaning, but I’m not sure what that is. I don’t love the navy on the front because I don’t think it fits well with the gold/white theme, but I do love it on the strappy back.
LSU: 7.675
View a video and images of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 7.300
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
This is almost so good. I love the shade of purple paired with black and especially the ombre. I also love the rhinestone pattern on the arms and sleeves. The random belts though are weird. It makes the gymnasts look like they’re wearing a back brace both in person and in pictures. I wish it was just a plain body with the belts removed but everything else the same.
Julianna: 8.200
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
I truly love whatever LSU does with leos, and this is no exception! This is beautiful and it looks even better in action. I especially like the placement of the sparkles wrapping around the arms, and how these continue to the back rather than just being across the front. I do wish the purple went a little lower, but I do really like this as a whole!
Emily L: 7.000
Design 2/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2/3
It’s not bad, but I just don’t love it. It just feels like transition from the purple at the top to the plain black at the bottom is too harsh, and I wish the purple would extend farther down.
Savanna: 8.100
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
Ashleigh Gnat has killed the leo game ever since taking over the role of designing leos and this one works. Ombre is a perfect fade from the purple to black, the sparkles definitely give “phoenix” vibes and putting it across the back definitely distracted from the weirdness that is the belts. Overall a win!
Talitha: 8.000
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
I love the upper purple part—it’s so delicate yet sophisticated, it reminds me of a butterfly opening its wings. However, I’m quite disappointed that it ends so abruptly. For me, the belt is too high and too large, and it ruins the effect. I quite like the back and I’m obsessed with the thin black strap.
Peri: 7.400
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
The unlikely pairing of the ombre and high belt needs to be studied – they somehow counter each other AND provide a medium density area for stones, providing a great transition area outside the purple focal point.
Naomi: 7.800
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
This is much simpler and calmer than most of LSU’s leos, and I’m a big fan! It’s a really classy, elegant look and I love the shade of purple against the black with a sparkle design that really pops. I’m especially a fan of the purple to black ombré sleeves.
Mary Emma: 7.600
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
This is nice! I LOVE the purple ombre, and the sparkles are nice. I don’t love the black belts though, and I do wish the sparkle pattern continued a little further down the leo.
LSU: 7.275
View pictures and videos of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 6.400
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
The back is like Oklahoma’s new leo from Big 12s, which I really liked. The front here is a bit boring and random for my tastes. The shade of purple is really good, though.
Julianna: 7.500
Design 2/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
I love the simplicity in this LSU design. Although I am pretty much a fan of every leotard LSU has put out, I think this is a nice addition to their collection as it’s a little more scaled back. My favorite part of this is the thicker back straps and the way the mesh continues from front to back. I think this is really elegant for LSU and everyone looked so good in semi finals!
Emily L: 8.400
Design 2.8/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.3/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
I always love purple leos, and that includes this one! I like the swirls and the use of sparkle and I like the simple crossed back. There are a few swirls towards the top that kind of poke out of place but other than that, it’s perfect!
Savanna: 7.700
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
This is very much a “less is more” design, and I do like it for the most part. The back straps are different and was definitely flattering on everyone. The swirl on the front is also very nice, overall a very good leo for LSU!
Talitha: 8.600
Design 2.6/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
I love this! A couple of weeks ago a fellow editor pointed out that many of the LSU leotards feel kind of heavy. I tend to agree, but this is the opposite; that’s probably why I like it so much. The mesh parts give it a light and delicate feel, and the mesh straps on the back are chef’s kiss.
Peri: 8.100
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
While simpler than most in their closet, it still has the LSU look. It looks comfortable without being too casual, and I always appreciate when the back straps flow into the front’s design.
Naomi: 5.800
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
It’s nice to see a simpler, sleeker design for an LSU leo, but after that, nothing about this really stands out to me. I really like the mesh back staps but something about the mesh design on the front feels off to me. The shade of purple used here looks lovely, although honestly I could see this leo in the wardrobe of any team that has purple as one of its colors.
Mary Emma: 5.700
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
This is fine. There’s nothing I hate about it, but there’s nothing that really stands out to me. I like the shade of purple used, and the back straps are nice.
Minnesota: 7.125
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 7.700
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
When I first saw this, I liked it but was hesitant about the black bottom. I still don’t love that aspect, but the maroon and yellow sleeves and ombre just look so fabulous that I’m willing to get over any other imperfection. It’s giving Arizona State sunset leo, which I know we all love.
Julianna: 8.000
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
I do like this from Minnesota, its just not my favorite they have ever debuted. I think the only aspect that’s throwing me is the yellow gold color, I almost wish it was a little more muted or less of an orange-gold. I know that’s just me being really picky, but I do really like everything else about this! The front cut coming up to a point is unique and the stripes down the chest alternating with the diamonds is a really nice touch! I also love the ombre arm, really my only singular issue with this is the tone of the yellow.
Emily L: 7.500
Design 2/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2/3
I can’t really pick out something specific that I don’t like about this, it just doesn’t speak to me. Maybe it’s just too bright for my taste? Not ugly by any means, just not my favorite.
Savanna: 6.100
Design 1.9/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
This almost feels like an Arizona State leo, so I’m struggling to correlate it to Minnesota, but it’s a nice design overall. The cut across the top in the front isn’t my favorite, maybe it’s just because I haven’t seen it before? The plus for me is the ombre in the sleeves.
Talitha: 7.500
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
I can’t get enough of the ombre sleeves and I love the intense shade of yellow on the shoulders. I wish the ombre effect continued down the body of the leotard in place of the shiny maroon chunk, though. Imagine the yellow slowly turning into maroon down the belly—the vertical thin yellow stripes would have looked divine. Sigh…
Peri: 6.600
Design 1.9/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
Swap out the black bottom for maroon, and we’d likely be looking at a leotard at the top of this week’s rankings. While I am partial to maroon and gold as a colorway, it’s hard to isolate a focal point with how bright they both are. It’s also tricky for me to read it as a Minnesota leo, given that Arizona State, Iowa State, and Central Michigan have all explored this style recently.
Naomi: 5.000
Design 1.2/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 1/3
Something about this leotard just isn’t clicking for me. The yellow at the top is too bright, I don’t like the way the V-pattern on the chest is cut off by the black, and the overall look feels similar to other Minnesota leotards. There’s nothing horrifically wrong with this, but I don’t really enjoy looking at it.
Mary Emma: 8.600
Design 2.7/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
Love this! I love gold/yellow to red ombre because it looks like a sunset, and this is really well done. I also like how the gold stripes pop on the red. Minnesota has debuted some great leos this season.
Washington: 7.065
View images of this leotard here and a video here.
Elizabeth: 6.200
Design 1.7/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
Washington has a lot of purple leos, so I’m not mad at a mostly black one. I like the gold accents, but what I really don’t like is the solid fabric on the ends of the arms. I think a fully mesh sleeve with gold cuffs would have looked WAY better.
Julianna: 7.700
Design 2/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
This is SO different for Washington and I love it! I am so used to all purple for Washington, so giving them a black leo is a fun switch up for them! I love the open back and the mesh top down to the elbow. I think it was smart to not make the entire arm mesh–it’s a little uncomfortable–but to instead tie in the black body of the leo to the arms. Overall, I think this is going to be a staple for Washington. It’s beautiful!
Emily L: 5.800
Design 1.9/3, Fabric 0.3/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.4/1, Uniqueness 0.3/1, Overall Appearance 1.9/3
I like it! It’s different from what we typically see from Washington, and it feels very Iowa to me. What’s taking away points is the sleeve design. I don’t like how it starts as mesh at the top and transitions into plain black. I think mesh all the way down would’ve been better.
Savanna: 6.500
Design 1.9/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 1.9/3
Okay, Washington, I see you! Definitely something different for the Huskies, and I especially love the sparkle design in the front. The sleeves are my biggest miss, just because I am not a fan of dual fabrics on sleeves. The mesh should have continued all the way down the arms, but that’s my only complaint.
Talitha: 8.800
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
This is certainly different from Washington’s usual leotards but I love it! The design is SO elegant, it looks like an evening gown. The shoulder mesh down to the elbow gives a long gloves vibe and the golden band on the chest seemed to mimic a sleeveless dress. I also love the cascade of crystals on the chest and stomach. Many of them are purple and they really pop up when gymnasts are wearing it, emphasizing the Huskies’ dominant school color.
Peri: 8.100
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
Stating the obvious, there’s no purple on this one and the Huskies still pulled it off. The gold sweetheart neckline does the heavy lifting in breaking up the black mesh from the torso, and is a natural insertion point for the stones. I’m also a big fan of the open back being truly open, which we haven’t seen too often this year.
Naomi: 6.900
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2/3
If I hadn’t been told, I wouldn’t believe this is a Washington leo. I love the idea of Washington in a black leo, but since black and gold is a pretty common color combination this doesn’t quite scream Washington to me. I normally don’t love the off the shoulder mesh look but it’s very well done here, and I always love a sparkle waterfall moment.
Mary Emma: 6.500
Design 1.7/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
I definitely thought this was Towson or Missouri’s new leo when I first saw the picture because this is so different from anything else Washington has done. That being said, I don’t love it. I don’t like that the sleeves are only mesh to a certain point and then solid again; it kind of reminds me of this leo from UCLA that is one of my most hated leos of all time. I would much prefer if they were either mesh all the way or solid all the way, but I do like how the gold stripe pops on the black.
BYU: 7.050
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 8.000
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
This leo has grown on me since I first saw it. I really love the watercolor effect on the lighter fabric (it almost looked like velvet on the back straps at first). I also love a creative back strap, but in this case I wish they were the same size all the way down rather than expanding out into a triangle (it’s a small negative for me though). The front, sweetheart-esque design is nice, too, and looked really flattering on all the gymnasts.
Julianna: 7.200
Design 2/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
This is giving me big time Kentucky vibes, but I’m not mad about it. I think this is really different from anything else BYU has in its collection, and there are definitely some things I love about this. I love the blue and white almost tie dye being throughout the leo rather than just one spot pulling it all together. I really like the placement of the sparkles on the forearms and across the back. I don’t love the front V cut–I almost wish it came up like a regular cut–but I do think this is a pretty, and definitely unique, leotard for BYU to add to its repertoire.
Emily L: 5.500
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.3/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.3/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
There’s just too much going on here, and I don’t like any of it. I feel like they tried to combine ideas for two leos and put them into one, and it doesn’t look great. The back looks weird, the front is too much. I just don’t like this one.
Savanna: 8.200
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
Love, love, LOVE! The watercolor effect definitely adds a unique element and the twisted straps in the back work very well, almost adding another dimension to the leotard. I see what they were going for with the darker blue on the sleeves, but I almost wish it would have a little more of an ombre effect. Overall, this is a win for the Cougars and one I hope to see again next season!
Talitha: 7.000
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
I’m a big fan of the watercolor effect on the sleeves and the stomach, and I love the straps on the back. The contrast with the darker blue chunks on the chest and the belly feels a bit strange, though. Perhaps a matte or lighter shade of blue would have worked better.
Peri: 6.600
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
On paper all of these elements should go great together; BYU has the formula down on adding busy detail. I think where this doesn’t click for me is that the design tries to be geometric on the back, and organic on the front.
Naomi: 6.400
Design 1.6/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
I can see how this is objectively quite good, but for some reason I’m struggling to feel any sort of enthusiasm for it. I really like the blue watercolor pattern and the sweetheart neckline, although for me the watercolor belt feels a bit unbalanced. I like the back straps and sparkle placement, and it’s certainly different to the rest of BYU’s leotard collection.
Mary Emma: 7.500
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
I like this one! I LOVE the watercolor pattern. It seems like a lot of new leos had that this season, and I’m loving it. My only issue is the back straps looks a little odd, but overall, this is great!
Utah: 5.913
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 5.200
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.2/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
This design is too similar to the one Utah debuted in the NCAA semifinal lasat season for my liking. I like the amount of red used, but uniqueness also goes down because I think it’s also a stock design or at least close to it. It’s a fine leo, but more of a regular season one rather than something you save to debut during the regional final.
Julianna: 6.400
Design 1.9 /3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.2/1, Overall Appearance 2/3
This leo is really pretty, but it just doesn’t seem like anything new for Utah. I do really like the sparkle clusters on the arms and the belt, and I definitely like the way it looks, I just wish Utah did something a little different heading into the finals.
Emily L: 7.100
Design 2/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.2/1, Overall Appearance 2/3
I mean, it’s a solid leo, but I wouldn’t have known this was new if somebody didn’t tell me. I like the use of sparkle, especially on the back, it just doesn’t feel very new to me.
Savanna: 5.500
Design 1.4/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.4/1, Overall Appearance 1.7/3
I had to do a double take because I truly didn’t believe this was new. It’s fine, the sparkles cascading throughout and creating the belt is a nice touch, but it isn’t my personal favorite.
Talitha: 6.000
Design 1.9/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.4/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
I don’t really like this leo. The big rhinestones make it look tacky and the design looks unoriginal and quite boring. Not Utah’s best.
Peri: 5.700
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.4/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 1.7/3
Utah has fallen into the Florida pattern of “same leo, different font”, and unfortunately the velvet isn’t enough to break from the mold that the Red Rocks have made for themselves.
Naomi: 5.200
Design 1.4/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.3/1, Overall Appearance 1.3/3
If you hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have believed that this was new. The “black leo with red sparkles” category of Utah design isn’t really my favorite, and I find the belt a bit too bulky. It’s inoffensive but nothing interesting.
Mary Emma: 6.200
Design 1.7/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.4/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
This is fine, but I wouldn’t have realized this was new if I hadn’t been told. I wish there was a little more red in the leo because the red rhinestones don’t really pop much, so it just looks like another black leo. There’s nothing particularly wrong with it, but there’s nothing about it that stands out.
New Hampshire: 5.912
View images of this front of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 5.700
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
It’s OK. The shade of blue throws me off because New Hampshire mostly uses navy. I also don’t love the design in general. However, I’m really into the sleeve cuffs and the small rhinestone mascot on the back. I also can’t help but point out how the solid white goes past the blue before the mesh starts. Why not start the sleeve where the blue is?
Julianna: 7.700
Design 2/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
This is really pretty for UNH, and I’m so glad it debuted this year for Gorgeyni’s final meet! This looks like a reinvented leo of one UNH already has, and I really like the new feel of it. I like the shinier shade of blue used; it looks different than what UNH typically goes for. The rhinestone wildcat on the back is a nice addition too. I can’t wait to see this leo have a full team debut next season!
Emily L: 8.400
Design 2.6/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.4/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
I like it! I’m always a fan of a nice dark blue leo, and this is no different. It’s a pretty basic design, but it gets the job done!
Savanna: 6.200
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
If I rank this high enough, will it be enough to bring Gorgenyi out of retirement? No? Dang. Anyways, this is fine, the blue is definitely different than the navy blue that New Hampshire typically uses, I think there’s a little too much white, I would take away one of those white cutouts and it would tie together a little better, but still a good one!
Talitha: 6.200
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
This is a fine leotard but it’s not up my alley. I’m not a big fan of geometrical shapes and I find the shiny blue a bit overpowering. My favorite parts are the back and the stripey details at the end of the sleeves.
Peri: 6.200
Design 1.7/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
It’s a different blue, and I appreciate the leap of faith for post season. Where UNH usually shines (no pun intended) is in having their stoning on navy areas, and while the lighter blue is fun it takes a hit on legibility. The wildcat gets lost on the white fabric, and with the cut of this leo there’s almost no better spot for it to go.
Naomi: 6.100
Design 1.6/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 1.6/3
This is a pretty leotard and a nice look for UNH! I like the contrast of the shiny blue against the matte white, the color blocking, and the blue accents on the sleeves. I wish the blue went all the way to the sleeve so there isn’t the awkward two shades of white at the shoulder, but it’s a good leo and I’m looking forward to seeing the whole team wearing it!
Mary Emma: 7.000
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
I think it’s really awesome that New Hampshire let Gorgenyi debut a new leo for her last meet (I’m still in denial), and this one is good but not my favorite. I do love the shade of blue used, but I could do with fewer white cutouts.
Georgia: 5.688
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 4.000
Design 0.5/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 0.5/3
This design was best left at grandma’s house. I hate everything about it. The back doesn’t match the weird sleeve/chest pattern, and the shade of red is oddly too bright. I’m also mad that the black is velvet because I normally love any velvet leo, but the red pattern even ruins that.
Julianna: 5.100
Design 1/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 1/3
I have really mixed feelings about this. I think the intention was good, but this is not my favorite for Georgia. It’s definitely different, and I like the direction they were going in, but I just wish some things about this were different. I actually really like the back, I think that’s pretty and I like the placement of the rhinestones as well. I think I wouldn’t mind the top as much if it wasn’t a high neck. I think this had a lot of potential, it’s just personally not my favorite.
Emily L: 6.800
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
Well this sure is interesting! On one hand, I’m excited to see Georgia branching out from the plain black leos, but on the other hand I’m very confused about what inspired this design. The back is cool, but I think it would’ve been better with only black strips, or if the red ones were as thick as the black ones.
Savanna: 5.300
Design 1.1/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 1.3 /3
I have so many questions about the design of this one. I think the pattern at the top is almost too over-the-top, it didn’t need to be that extra. My more immediate concern is the back. Why could we not have done all the straps the same size? My plus for this leo is the velvet and the sparkles. Other than that, I could do with not seeing this leo again for a long time.
Talitha: 6.800
Design 1.6/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 1.9/3
I’m torn here. I’m glad that Georgia finally went beyond its comfort zone and produced a unique and interesting leotard. And I like the idea behind it, as well as many of its touches. However, the ornate effect makes gymnasts look like Russian dolls.
Peri: 5.700
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
The intention is there, but unfortunately there’s no easy way to make a busy accented area without the red taking over. This could’ve been the penultimate black Georgia leo, and I’m going to keep my fingers crossed we see it revamped that way next season.
Naomi: 5.000
Design 1/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 1/3
This is one of those leos where I needed to stop and stare at it for quite a while before my brain processed what I was seeing. This is a lot. It’s certainly different for Georgia. I can’t say I’m a fan, it’s a bit too over the top for me and I don’t like the asymmetrical multicolored back straps. But it’s not awful to look at and considering how much is going on, I’m impressed that it’s even vaguely coordinated.
Mary Emma: 6.800
Design 1.7/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 1.9/3
I actually kind of like this? I wasn’t sold when I first saw it, but it really grew on me when I saw it in motion. I do love a good funky pattern on a leo, and this is probably the funkiest of them all. Honestly, I’m just glad to see Georgia do something that’s not just another solid black leo.
Florida: 5.500
View images of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 6.300
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.2/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
Zzz… In all seriousness, I love the shade of blue, but that’s about it. Why does Florida refuse to use any sort of creative brain cells in its leotard designs? Sure these are nice in isolation, but we’ve been here, done that, and I’m so, so bored.
Julianna: 6.900
Design 2/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.3/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
I don’t honestly know if it was said, but its giving Leanne Wong Bow CEO Girl Boss, and if that’s the inspo behind the leo, I’m here for it. I can really see the outline of the bow in the placement of the rhinestones on the front and back, and I might be completely wrong, but if that’s the backstory, I think it was carried out really beautifully. I don’t think this is the most unique leo from Florida, and I do think it’s really pretty, I just wish there was something else.
Emily L: 6.600
Design 2/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.4/1, Uniqueness 0.2/1, Overall Appearance 2/3
It’s nice, it’s just a bit boring. I love the shade of dark blue, I like the exploding sparkle design, there just isn’t enough for me to score it highly in terms of uniqueness. Definitely a pretty and flattering leo though!
Savanna: 4.300
Design 1.2/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.3/1, Uniqueness 0.3/1, Overall Appearance 1.3/3
Wait, this was a new leotard??
Talitha: 4.400
Design 1.4/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.3/1, Uniqueness 0.3/1, Overall Appearance 1.3/3
I don’t understand this leotard. It looks like no one put any effort into it—it’s a monolithic blue design with no details screaming Florida… or much else. I can see that some of the rhinestones are orange but they don’t stand out at all. Why even bother?
Peri: 5.300
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.4/1, Uniqueness 0.4/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
Florida has the budget to go way bigger, and I still feel like I’m waiting to see it…? There’s nothing inherently wrong with this piece, but it doesn’t have the polish that we’ve come to expect from such a storied program.
Naomi: 4.200
Design 1/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.3/1, Overall Appearance 1/3
A blue leo? For Florida? Groundbreaking. Honestly, I couldn’t care less at this point. It looks pretty but for a school with Florida’s leotard budget I expect so much more.
Mary Emma: 6.000
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.2/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
Oh Florida. Why can’t you just do something different every once in a while. There’s nothing particularly wrong with it, but it’s just boring.
Fan Poll
Congrats to Utica and its side triangles leo for winning last week’s fan poll! Vote for your favorite design from this week here.
READ THIS NEXT: Leotard Rankings: NCGA
Article by Elizabeth Grimsley, Julianna Roland, Emily Lockard, Savanna Whitten, Talitha Ilacqua, Peri Goodman, Naomi Stephenson, and Mary Emma Brambilla
