When the world’s greatest figure skaters take center stage in Milan, the fashion capital of the globe, one name will be on everyone’s lips—not just for their athletic prowess, but for the stunning dresses they wear. Meet Lisa McKinnon, the Los Angeles-based designer whose creations are redefining figure skating couture. But here’s where it gets even more fascinating: five of the Olympic skaters gliding across the ice this Thursday will be wearing her designs. And this is the part most people miss—McKinnon isn’t just a designer; she’s a former competitive skater herself, bringing a unique blend of athletic insight and artistic flair to her work.
McKinnon’s dresses aren’t just beautiful—they’re engineered for performance. She understands the demands of spins, jumps, and every movement in between, crafting garments from four-way stretch fabrics like spandex, power mesh, and stretch velvet. These materials allow skaters to move as freely as they do in practice, a detail that’s often overlooked in the world of high fashion. But is this focus on functionality sacrificing style? Some might argue yes, but McKinnon’s designs prove otherwise. Her dresses are not only practical but also breathtakingly elegant, as seen on U.S. stars like Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, and Isabeau Levito, who all donned her creations in both the short program and the upcoming free skate.
Liu, currently in third place after the short program, could very well grace the medal podium in a McKinnon dress—a testament to the designer’s ability to blend form and function. Yet, McKinnon’s journey to the top wasn’t without its challenges. Growing up as a competitive skater in Sweden, she began designing her own bodysuits and dresses at just 11 or 12 years old. By 16, she was creating dresses for elite skaters in her hometown of Mariestad, including a Swedish national champion. But here’s the controversial part: in a sport where tradition often reigns supreme, McKinnon’s modern, athlete-centric approach has disrupted the status quo. Is she revolutionizing figure skating fashion, or is she simply catering to a new generation of skaters?
After moving to the U.S., McKinnon’s career took off. She designed for big names like Ashley Wagner and Karen Chen, who wore her dresses at the 2018 Olympics. Her big break came when she outfitted pairs gold medalists Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot, solidifying her reputation as the go-to designer for elite skaters. Today, her studio in West Hollywood is a hub of creativity, where she and her team meticulously craft dresses that cost between $3,000 and $8,000. But here’s a question to ponder: are these prices justified, or is the world of Olympic fashion becoming too exclusive?
One of McKinnon’s most memorable moments came when she designed a dress for American ice dancer Christina Carreira, whose package got lost en route to the Olympics due to a winter storm. Thanks to a kind stranger and the power of social media, the dress made it to Milan just in time. “I wanted a dress that made me feel special at the Olympics,” Carreira said, “and both of those dresses did that.” But this raises another point: in a high-stakes sport like figure skating, should athletes rely on designers who are thousands of miles away? Or is the risk worth the reward?
McKinnon’s success isn’t just about her designs—it’s about her ability to connect with athletes. She sources her fabrics locally from L.A.’s fashion district, often drawing inspiration directly from the materials themselves. “It’s really great to just go in person,” she says, “because sometimes it’s the fabric that can inspire you to create something.” But as her designs dominate the ice, we’re left wondering: is Lisa McKinnon shaping the future of figure skating fashion, or is she simply a product of it? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below—we’d love to hear your take on this fascinating intersection of sport and style.
