Eurovision is approaching and Jamala is calling on Ukrainians to bring out their arms! But rather than swords, bows and shields, she wants them to raise their pencils, needles and thread.
The “1944” singer, in conjunction with the Ukrainian edition of Vogue magazine, is staging a contest to design her stage costume for Stockholm.
Jamala gave the singers this concise but informative brief:
Personally, I see a trouser-type lower part, because I am a singer, who moves on stage, doesn’t dance, but moves in a particular way. Trousers give me a stable position on stage, which is very important for this song. I represent a modern girl, a cosmopolitan one, without a connection to some concrete culture. She is close to everybody and everybody can see himself in her. I am not against prints or ornaments.
Several fashion designers were shortlisted and all the sketches have now been revealed. Let’s take a look and gag on the glamour! Jamala will definitely have a tough time choosing just one…
1. EDGY ELEGANZA
This design by BEVZA unites several layers with different triangular shapes. It’s strict and structured on the one hand, but at the same suggests a spicy sort of power. The tattoos on the wrists and neck represent femininity and add some extra flavour.
2. URBAN REALNESS
ARTEMKLIMCHUK goes for something simple, but adds a touch of glam with rhinestones and sparkling edelweiss flowers around the top. Surely they will shine on the finely-lit stage in Sweden. Conchita brought similar swank to Vienna last year when she flew into Wiener Stadthalle, but she was pink and definitely did not have flowers.
3. WIND MACHINE DREAM
THEO has gone deep into the song. He saw it as a story so seeks to dress Jamala as a book. When the wind machine hits the dress, the panels will wave all over the place, creating the illusion of turning the pages of a book. Magnificent. The text on the panels are the lyrics of “1944”. This is a regal look that any wind machine would be happy to work with.
4. STRIPY CONFUSION
All hail, Queen Jamala! DZHUS suggests royalty (and the back of a throne) with the fan shaped top on the reverse of the second costume. Unfortunately the bulky collar and skirt style sleeves may remind you of clowns and the circus. We fear Ukraine may be in the running for the Barbara Dex Award with this one. Well, that’s also something…
5. FEELING THE SPIRITS
In this sketch Jean Gritsfeldt portrays Jamala as a spiritual shaman from another world. The white gown, red belt, huge beads and feathers give life to the mystical feeling of her song. The outfit perfectly fits Jamala’s other-worldly vision.
6. HIGH FASHION MAGIC
If wizards had a passion for high fashion, then they might just choose FROLOV. These elegant lacy trousers, which are covered by a delicate dress and luxurious cloak, just scream “Magic!”. We don’t have a sense of colour yet, but it looks like this could be fabulous.
7. SUMMER BREEZE
This charming and simple outfit from Ksenia Sschnaider is light and fresh and has the smell of summer. We can already see Jamala slipping into this for a nice walk along the seashore — but we’re less convinced it will work on the Eurovision stage.
8. ROYAL CHIC
Last but not least is this design by Marianna Senchina. The dress is very neat and tender. The red collides beautifully with the white and creates a smooth and memorable effect. Gems on the chest bring even more attention to Jamala’s stunning decolletage.
What do you make of the choices above? Which one is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!
@Anton, haha, yes. cool because of ransom you pay to them. you rob your elders and pay to Chechnya, they build golden skyscrappers and humiliate you as they please. what’s great about mighty Russia if it pay ransom to small Chechnya and afraid to say something bad about them? you’re pathetic. Do you think you can win a war against Ukraine? lolz. I bet you feel it, but afraid to tell: your mother Russia is pathetic unworthy bunch of cowards who can’t defend even themselves, not to mention any winning wars against biggest country in Europe that have roughly the… Read more »
Well, Chechnya is cool now. Come and see. Thanks to Putin.
@Anton, and say it just like in that video. don’t make your Chechen masters sad 🙂
http://stara.belsat.eu/en/articles/chechnya-cool-attempts-remove-video-kadyrovite-beating-russian-web/
Verka is best troll ever. for sure
@Anton, say “Chechnya is cool” haha
I want you sing, oxyk goodbye… DANZING!
@oxyk
You are boring. Verka Serduchka is best for sure!
@Max H, don’t you think that it’s time to buy some new eyes? 🙂 I’ve heard there’s nice discount for chicken eyes in supermarket on weekend.
here’s Jamala (in hat, if you need a pointer)
http://life.img.pravda.com/images/doc/0/1/015a303-13985.jpg
@Anton, you haven’t noticed 2d pun in Verka’ song. she told “Ukraina ce kruto, Ukraina ce klevo” which can be translated as “Ukraine is cool”. Does it remind you one similar “slogan”? how about Chechen guys who force Russians to say “Chechnya eto kruto” (Chechnya is cool) or they beat them for refusal? how comes no one ever noticed it? 🙂 For people who does not know the back story- Once Chechnya tried to get independence from Russia and after 2 bloody wars Russia forced them to stay in their Federation as Republic. years passed by, and now Chechen men… Read more »
As a designer I think Jamala needs to bring some light with white/red on the stage to do the balance with the dramatic atmosphere of the song. I think a dark image will not help too much to her position as a contestant having this darky image on Greta Salóme performance, for example. I like EDGY but can be too suit for her and the message of the song, being a little bit like “look at me, they were killing us but now i’m a business woman now” (It will not work). I love ROYAL, it can fit better on… Read more »
She’s definetly will not choose red)))
Of course a good song…and a good voice are what matter most, but if you can have the whole package it can help!
@fafefifo: … and she does, doesn’t she? 🙂
Blue and yellow gown with swastica on the chest would be perfect for her.
I couldn’t care less about what she wears. The most important thing by far in ESC is of course to have a good song.
@jacob
1944
Numbers 2 and 7 seem the best for me – they channel “1994” vibe with modern vogue beauty.
I have watched some of her live performances and I think she still hasn’t found the right outfit to magnify her song and I think it will have a great impact on the viewers when comes the time to sing on the ESC stage.I hope she will find something as breathtaking as her song is powerful!I think the choice is going to be a challenge!She already has some interesting suggestions.Fingers crossed!
In the “Urban Realness” project, she looks like a slenderwoman…
DANZING!!!
” I want you sing, Russia goodbye..”))) That was a statement! And this is just a psthetic whining….
Verka Serduchka is best! Jamala is just a witch.
@Fikri
English/Irish actually but yes Russia is my favourite song, and sexy sergey is so hot.
I love the country of Ukraine, and support them in their dispute with Russia, but Jamala is just a tired old witch spreading political hate, it has no place in Eurovision.
on second thought, 6 would be a brilliant choice! i love the drama at the back and the pants could be adorned with tatar pattern. aahhhh, i hope all countries have similar approach to choosing their stage costume because i’m living for this!
@Max H: are you russian? i’ve seen many russian and ukrainian eurovision fans fighting in wiwibloggs articles. it’s kinda cute, really.
Jamala’s dress has been leaked
Personally, I hope that the performance in Stockholm will be precisely the same as it was in the national final, bar a few tweaks here and there. I was absolutely floored by the visuals in that show. Therefore, I think a primarily white dress will have the biggest impact. It’s difficult to tell what look number 5 is going for, and the colours on number 6 remain unknown, but I’m still curious about these two. I think number 8 could work as well. Ideally, Jamala will have more than one dress made. That way she can try them out in… Read more »
I can see the Wicked Witch Jamala wearing a black pointy hat, black cloak and holding a broom,
@This is my opinion (TIMO)
Jamala herself says that her song is not based on real world situation, that the song is about the distant past.
6 or 8 would be best but 6 is definitely the stand-out, seems like it would fit with the staging she used in the national final.
Although there really was nothing wrong with her national final outfit, I’d be just as happy if she reused it.
URBAN REALNESS’s drawing looks like a female version of Slenderman.
Brilliant news! Ukraine is the song getting the most international buzz around the world & outside the ESC spectrum. Good to know they’re bringing their A-game this year!!
The outfit will not help this song.
I thought she wanted to sing for build future..!!!! Is there need for worrying too much about what to wear when it’s not catwalk, she wants to deliver message in her song which is based on real world situation and she can sing very professionally. ..please don’t mix your song with dress work lol
dayyum, ukrainian designers are fierce! i love no. 1. very sophisticated. i also love no. 3. the idea of flipping pages is just… awesome! can’t wait to see the finished product. 🙂
When somebody gives this amount of importance to the dressing, you know the song doesn’t give you that much to dream about a victory…
I see a lot of potential for the FROLOV design, and Jamala typically favours structure with well-chosen intricacy and without busy-ness.
just no feathers please 🙂 and no cheap torn clothes or nightgowns. everything else would be ok with me.
@wiwi, how comes that you missed new Zlata’ song? it’s trance, if I’m not mistaken (still can’t believe she’s going to trance tunes), performed at YUNA-2016
Zlata Ognevich – My Kyiv
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwMY0ivMDIM
I don’t know too much about fashion or styling, but if I had to choose between them I would go for #3 #5 #6 #8. considering the song, the staging and the atmosphere of the song the one which will fit better is #6. I can see Jamala picking this one because it has some things she asks for.
I want her to either go with #3 or #8.
3 6 or 8 🙂
Awwww! I really liked the dress she wore in her national final…. Anyway, I made a new top: Before show: 1. Latvia 10/10 2. Australia 10/10 3. Iceland 10/10 4. Spain 9.5/10 5. Russia 9.5/10 6. Azerbaijan 9.5/10 7. Bulgaria 9/10 8. France 9/10 9. Malta 9/10 10. Sweden 9/10 11. Cyprus 9/10 12. Ukraine 9/10 13. Hungary 9/10 14. Norway 9/10 15. Estonia 8.5/10 16. Armenia 8.5/10 17. Croatia 8.5/10 18. Germany 8.5/10 19. Switzerland 8.5/10 20. The Netherlands 8.5/10 21. Israel 8.5/10 22. Czech Republic 8/10 23. Serbia 8/10 24. Lithuania 8/10 25. Ireland 7/10 26. Denmark 7/10… Read more »
We must to speak about suitable dress both for song and performance. Speaking about song, the only one actually good variant there is FROLOV. But will it be suitable for staging?
Overall, from this selection HIGH FASHION MAGIC is the one that takes all the boxes. Love Wiwis
None of the included designs work well with 1944 but out of these designs, I love number 8 with the red overlay.
I have every confidence that Jamala will be radiant, sensuous and utterly fabulous in whatever she chooses but I do not think any of the designs included here will be picked by her.
She is going to do extremely well in Stockholm regardless because the song is flawlessly good and she shines on stage. Easily top 5.
The style of dress 1944 is vintage