Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski Packed an Absurd Amount for Sochi Olympics

Looking fabulous doesn't come in the form of carry-on luggage. For the curious, maintaining figure-skating swagger mandates the same amount of luggage for a family of 12—well, a very ostentatious family.

Today.com's Vidya Rao (h/t Business Insider) brings us closure to a question many of you have been pondering since the Winter Olympics began: How much luggage did Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski pack for Sochi?

Granted, that question may not have been as ubiquitous as we let on, but the answer is rather hilarious and astonishing.

Essentially, the dynamic duo of figure skating analysts brought everything. Here is what they packed, according to a list procured by Rao:

"

8 suitcases: "Three of mine are the size of Ford Focuses," Weir said. “And three of Tara’s are the size of Audi S4s.”

22 pairs of shoes

10 pounds of jewelry

25 blazers

4 fur coats (all Johnny’s)

6 pairs of leather pants

9 high-end purses

"

Those heading to Sochi to take in the Winter Games have the task of packing warm for the nights they might spend up in the mountains taking in Alpine events. There are also the spring-like temperatures for those heading into the coastal cluster. Packing can be a chore.

Of course, Lipinski and Weir have the unenviable task of not only presenting analysis to millions, but also rivaling some of the more audacious outfits we find on the ice.

Well, they certainly rival them. Here is but a taste of what they have come up with for the Olympics:

Of course, many of you have seen these and many other outfits, because Weir and Lipinski have managed to sit in rather nicely as a tantalizing tandem, giving us a wealth of knowledge with descriptions nearly as colorful as their array of shoes.

In a word, the two have been amazing.

But packing this much away for a couple of weeks is nearly as ridiculous as a triple Salchow. Well, Weir explains to Today.com the impetus behind the absurd:

"

For whatever reason, people are just gravitating toward what we wear and that we’re trying to match and be cohesive on television. I think it’s TV 101 that you should look like your partners.

Definitely, we’re overpacked. We have pounds and pounds and pounds of clothes. But we’re in this position where we’re the new kids on the block and we have to prove ourselves. You can’t wear the same black suit every day so we have to mix it up. 

"

Lipinski offered, "We’re (in Russia) for almost a month and we’re on air almost every day, so we had to put together outfits ahead of time so we weren’t just bringing our whole closet."

Weir states that he started about a month before the Games, forming outfits that would later set Twitter and living rooms abuzz during the Olympic broadcasts.

Again, having amazing outfits can dazzle the eyes for a moment, but the stars of the show are on the ice. They are paired with the words and wisdom of two former figure skaters who would be ousted if left to rely simply on sartorial creativity.

However, both are doing a fantastic job breaking things down as they see them. My favorite might be Weir's breakdown of Zhang Kexin's methodical, near-plodding performance on Thursday, relating it to having caviar over the course of a month. By the end, even caviar can become unsavory.

With flashy outfits, colorful analysis and an overarching engaging style that captivates, we wouldn't be surprised if Lipinski and Weir become an American figure skating institution, greeting fans every four years with their passion for the sport.

If that's the case, they better start packing now for South Korea.