Welcome to TaraRulz.com. The largest website dedicated to the 1998 Olympic, 1997 World and National, and World Professional figure skating champion, and current NBC broadcaster, Tara Lipinski.
"Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir attend the 141st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky."
Posted by Angie on Sunday, May 3, 2015
Today Tara Lipinski, a skater who now does other things, was seen at the Kentucky Derby parading about the grounds with a hat-like object perched atop her head. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that the object was neither a hat nor a festive fascinator. The confusing (yet pretty) faux chapeau was in fact her hair, braided to resemble a hat. Why? We go live to Tara's Instagram page for the official answer: #HatHair. Figures—had to be about a hashtag.
"Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir arriving to the Barnstable Brown Gala 2015 held at a private home in Louisville. May 1, 2015"
Posted by Angie on Saturday, May 2, 2015
"Figure skaters Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir attend the 2015 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 1, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky."
Posted by Angie on Saturday, May 2, 2015
Posted by Angie on Saturday, May 2, 2015
Tara Lipinski and her trendy sidekick Johnny Weir have already hit the Kentucky Derby (the fashionable duo is masking this weekend’s festivities down in Louisville for NBC), and we now have all the inside track on the Olympic determine skater’s debut outfit, plus her Saturday gown, each of which she had customized made by Undertaking Runway designer Kate Pankoke!
“That is my second time to the Derby, and this yr I needed to step issues up and take some possibilities with my seems,” Lipinski informed PEOPLE. “I’ve all the time been a Venture Runway fan and when the thought got here as much as collaborate with all-star Kate Pankoke in designing each my Friday and Saturday clothes I used to be past ecstatic.”
Surprisingly, the trendy TV commentator has by no means had a gown designed for her, so she beloved collaborating with the designer. “It was such a enjoyable course of. It took me again to my ice skating days — don’t fear, there are not any sequins.”
Lipinski and Pankoke labored intently on each facet of the 2 clothes, from inspiration boards to sketches.
“We needed two utterly totally different seems to be for every day,” Lipinski shared. “One in every of my favourite first steps was searching the colour chart to seek out colours that might work. For Friday, I needed a ’60s impressed look, and we each felt yellow can be an on-development shade to make use of.”
As for her Saturday outfit, it’s impressed by a design Audrey Hepburn wore in Sabrina.
“I needed the remainder of the gown to stay easy and clear the place the main target was all on the match,” she defined. “We discovered a wonderful water shade material and the second we noticed it we knew it was the one.”
As soon as the designs and materials have been finalized, Lipinski met with Pankoke for measurements.
“I used to be touring for the subsequent couple weeks so it undoubtedly took some planning to get these cross-nation clothes accomplished and able to match,” she stated. “I might see the designs coming to life.”
And since no Derby look can be full with out some eye-catching, jaw-dropping head gear, Lipinski additionally designed a fascinator with Pankoke for the occasion! “I acquired the thought from a runway look,” she shared of the pink-and-yellow creation.
So how did Day one end up? We’d say Lipinski is off to a really trendy begin. Her low-minimize yellow mini performed up her blonde waves and she or he coordinated her pink pout completely together with her fascinator, which she confirmed off with NBC Sports activities cohost Johnny Weir on the Longines Kentucky Oaks Trend Contest on Friday.
For her half, Pankoke stated she was “fan-girling so exhausting,” on the alternative to design for the the Olympian.
“Tara is so candy and supportive,” she added. “She actually let me have artistic freedom with each of the seems to be, which suggests a lot to me as an artist. On a private degree, I’ve had a lot enjoyable attending to know her and dealing together with her.”
So what do you have to be looking out for Saturday? Lipinkski plans to experiment with hair chalk so let’s hope for some colourful tresses. (Additionally as a result of Johnny Weir’s hat recreation is sure to be epic (we marvel how he’ll prime final years!).
It's Kentucky Derby time, but Johnny Weir – who will be covering this weekend's festivities with his sidekick Tara Lipinski for NBC – isn't focusing on the horses.
It's his headgear he's been concentrating on for the past week.
"[My hat] last year – it was very literal," Weir tells PEOPLE. "It was called Pegasus, but this year it's a little more conceptual. I've entitled it 'To the Victor Goes the Spoils.' Think of that what you will, but it's going to be very aggressive and very fun and I'll be very proud to wear it."
This weekend's 141st running of the Kentucky Derby marks the second consecutive year that the two figure skating analysts will arrive in Louisville, Kentucky, with suitcases full of outfits and hats, looking to chronicle the local color at the event.
"We're not commentating on the horses," says Lipinski, "and this event is just so much more than that. You have the hats and the fashion and the mint juleps, and it's just such a big, fun, social event. ... I couldn't wait to get back this year."
Just for the record, American Pharoh is the 5-2 favorite to win the Derby and claim the $1.24 million first-place prize money on May 2. The bay colt will be ridden by jockey Victor Espinoza, who has won the event twice, including last year's win on California Chrome.
Weir insists that the most "shocking" thing about the race isn't what happens out on the track. "I think the most shocking thing about the Kentucky Derby is the line at the airport to leave," he says. "That's shocking in a bad way, because everyone tries to get out the next morning all at the same time and it takes forever."
"In this episode of Short Cuts, Tara Lipinski shows how you can class up your outfit for this weekend's Kentucky Derby with just a few items from your local craft store."
Posted by Angie on Saturday May 2, 2015
"In this episode of Short Cuts, Tara Lipinski shows how you can class up your outfit for this weekend's Kentucky Derby with just a few items from your local craft store."
Posted by Angie on Friday May 1, 2015
Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir attend the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC.
Posted by Angie on Friday May 1, 2015
Former figure skater Tara Lipinski became a gold medalist at 14 – but since her major win, she’s still on top.
The NBC correspondent isn’t slowing down. She’s taking on the Kentucky Derby this weekend, and just last month launched her blog Essentially Tara. “I have been wanting to do this for a while to keep the communication open with my fans and to interact with them on a different platform,” says Tara.
“I thought what better way than to take them on my journeys with me. It’s not a ‘you should do this’ blog. It’s more of a peek into my life. I love to be able to share my love of fashion, home, travel and food. It’s a lot of work since I am a bit of a control freak and need to be part of every aspect but having this blog is so rewarding and keeps me on my toes creatively.”
At the cusp of Lipinski’s life taking a stylish turn, we wanted to know her Derby style, beauty secrets and what she’ll be missing this spring.
Read on for StyleBlazer‘s exclusive interview with the petite powerhouse.
On what she loves about Kentucky Derby fashion: “It’s one of those events where you don’t have to be safe with your fashion. You see so many fun hats and fascinators. It’s very rare you go to event where every single woman is in a hat. It’s just a big dress up day!”
On her favorite designer: “I love Alice and Olivia for a sweet derby dress. They fit the bill perfectly for this event with their florals, bright colors and classic fit/design.”
On choosing her outfit and hat this year: “Bigger is usually better for this event –-why not? I have an obsession for fascinators, so I am not doing a hat this year. Both my dresses and fascinators are being custom made by Project Runways Kate Pankoke. It has been such a fun collaboration and the very first time I’ve had custom dresses made for event. It brings me back to my skating days! I wanted two very different looks for Friday and Saturday. On Friday, we are going with a bold ’60s inspired dress and for Saturday, the design is very unique with an out of the box edge to it.”
On which horse she’s rooting for: “I know I can always ask all the NBC experts for tips but I really love picking on a gut reaction and on the name, of course. It usually doesn’t work out too well for me, but I find it more exciting. Now I do love an underdog. I would definitely go with an underdog this year. Makes the race much more exciting!”
On her go-to shoe for Derby: “If I were going as a spectator I love a nice high platform wedge but when I’m working I always go with heels. At 5’2 I need that extra height. Especially if I ever need to stand next to Josh Elliot.”
On beauty essentials for race day: Sunscreen! It gets sunny and hot outside all day. Elta MD is my go to for that. I also love Cinema Secrets moisture spray to freshen up my makeup. I am not a fan of thick TV makeup so this is nice way to add in some moisture. I love using NARS matte stick lip pencils since they literally stay on all day.
On fashion items she’s most excited for during spring and summer seasons: “I love the spring and summer Fashion this year. I get some of my hippie/boho style from my mom and her flower girl days so the fact that fringe is back in a big way makes me a very happy girl! I am also loving the bucket bags. I am usually hauling around Celine size handbags so these smaller cute bags are great for daytime. The shirt dress trend is very fresh and I have been wearing one almost every weekend out for brunch.”
On winter fashion items she’s sad to put away: “Yes I love jackets! Especially black leather jackets. It was sad to put away my comfy hooded Rick Owens jacket.”
On the process of choosing outfits for NBC’s telecast: “I choose everything by myself. It’s hectic especially since we are doing so many different events now. I usually need at least five looks for each. Even though it’s time consuming, I feel so grateful that fashion is part of my job. I love the freedom to try different looks and to always mix things up to keep my style constantly evolving.”
“Tara Lipinski, did you ever think you’d be on C-Span?”
A reporter for the network devoted to congressional coverage asks the figure skater and NBC sports commentator this question in the press area at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner garden brunch. But that question also feels like a summary of the randomly tossed personality salads that are most White House Correspondents Dinner events. That includes this one, which is co-hosted by major influencers such as media consultant Tammy Haddad, AOL co-founder Steve Case, and several others. This year, the event has finally put Norman Reedus from The Walking Dead and presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett in the same room. (A publicist says she arranged an introduction between the two, which Daily Intelligencer does not witness.)
Truly, the only way to handle WHCD weekend is to come prepared.
Lipinski has, at least fashion-wise. After she finishes chatting up C-Span, she admits to Daily Intelligencer that she has only a vague idea of which events she’ll be attending during the remainder of the weekend because NBC White House correspondent Chris Jansing has planned her agenda. Which raises the question: How did Lipinski know what to wear?
“I have some outfits because I’m doing the [Kentucky] Derby with Johnny [Weir] next week,” she explains. “So I packed a lot. I came fully prepared. I came with three suitcases.”
“But I am gone for two and a half weeks,” she adds, as a qualifier, “so.”
Cosmopolitan editor Joanna Coles, dressed in an elegant navy jumpsuit, is ready for something else as the dinner unfolds: a knockout performance by emcee Cecily Strong, only the fourth female to preside over the evening of political punch lines.
“The last couple of times I’ve been here, it’s been very tall white men,” Coles says, “and now we have a medium-sized woman with dark hair. I love it.”
Perhaps once you become a veteran of the WHCD circuit, you’re so prepared for anything that nothing can possibly be shocking anymore.
“You know what’s so funny about this Correspondents’ Dinner?” confides Constance Zimmer, better known as Janine from House of Cards. “Everybody makes sense to me, because I feel like, if you’re not on a political show as an actor, you have a voice. You have a vision and they bring you here so that we can all do [this event] together. For me, I’m like, Oh, I get that. I understand. I see why that person’s here."
"Tara Lipinski attends the 2015 Annual Garden Brunch at the Beall-Washington House on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC." 5/1 - More Photos Added
Posted by Angie on Saturday, April 25, 2015
"Tara Lipinski attends Time and People's annual cocktail party on White House Correspondents' Weekend at St Regis Hotel on April 24, 2015 in Washington, DC."
Posted by Angie on Saturday, April 25, 2015
"NBC figure skating analysts Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir are on the VIP list for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday and will reprise their roles as fashion experts at the Kentucky Derby next week.
The 1998 Olympic champion Lipinski blogged about her trip to Washington, D.C., on her new website.
Beginning Monday, Lipinski and Weir will take over one of NBC Sports’ social media accounts every day during Kentucky Derby week.
They will include Facebook chats, Twitter Q&As and Instagram “Day in the Life” posts from Churchill Downs.
The 141st Kentucky Derby is Saturday, May 2, at 4 p.m. ET on NBC."
