Since 1997, the Barbara Dex Award has paid homage to the fashion disasters that help make Eurovision so memorable. The winners regularly choose outfits so unflattering and unattractive that they make viewers shout “WTF?” From their barely-there dresses that could be described as lingerie to the misuse of tin foil and leotards, these “winners” look truly heinous. We say this with love: Without them Eurovision wouldn’t be so colourful.
The award honours Belgium’s 1993 contestant, who famously made the mistake of sewing her own costume and ended up looking like a lampshade. This year — and for the first time — the iconic award will be handed out by our friends at the Belgian website Songfestival.be, who took over from the Dutch founders Rob and Edwin at the House of Eurovision following the 2016 edition. Unlike in past years, this year’s race sees a photo included for all 42 contestants. They each have an equal opportunity to become your fashion disaster of the year!
“We are extremely proud and excited to organize this award. We hope to get a lot of votes, more than ever before. And of course we hope Barbara Dex herself will vote too,” says Jasper Van Biesen, one of the founders of Songfestival.be.
You can start voting from now until Sunday May 21.
Eurovision 2017: Who made the biggest fashion faux pas?
This year offered plenty of thrills and spills. Croatia’s Jacques Houdek mated a tuxedo with a leather jacket. Czech Republic’s Martina looked like a futuristic pest exterminator in gold lamé. Iceland’s Svala wore a skin-tight white outfit that put her ample assets on fine display. And Switzerland’s Miruna drew comparisons with Big Bird for her brightly coloured yellow dress.
But who of this year’s acts had you calling the fashion police the quickest? Who deserves to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winner Nina Kraljic, who resembled a showgirl dressed as a chicken who got stuck in a fan?
The results of the official Barbara Dex poll will remain a secret until the winner is revealed by Songfestival.be. But as Europe debates the winner of the Barbara Dex Award 2017, we decided to run our own poll to handicap this year’s race. You can vote for as many acts as you would like, but you can only vote ONE time — so make it count! Then sound off in our comments box below.
[polldaddy poll=”9747217″]
Some picked crazy outfits exactly because of the craziness like Slavko so he shouldn’t get the award. I would award special award to white bridal dresses. They were simply too many.
Belgium with her black princess dress deserves the award bc the dress makes her look muchworse than normal clothes – red flag!; she blended way too much into the stage – red flag!; it didn’t fit the staging or song at all – red flag!; that weird black thing around her neck which looked awful and didn’t fit the staging or song at all – red flag!
Czech republic,Latvia, San Marino and belgium had the worst outfit if the award doesnt go to any of them theres something wrong lol .
Romania worst.. Again
I vote for Romania. #YoDelete
I quite liked all the outfits this year.
But I have absolutely no eye for fashion anyhow! 😀
Voted for Serbia. Between Serbia and the Czech Republic for me. Found Serbia’s to be more distractingly bad because Czech Republic had awful background visuals which deadened the impact of that…thing Martina was wearing.
Albania was the worst. Then Montenegro, Czech Republic, Latvia, Iceland, San Marino, Azerbaijan and Switzerland (but in this case the only ugly thing is colour).
Latvia can be win this award but for that kind of song , dress is good.
For me Switzerland was worst this year, that dress don t fit to that kind of song.
Same as for Lithuania 2014 (won Barbara Dex award that year), that outfits is good for that kind of song.
czech republic??? wtf was that
I will immediately seize your rss as I can’t to find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly allow me know so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
The woman from the Czech Republic.
That outfit was very tacky. I laughed at home when I first saw that
Montenegro for the win.
In the End the award will be given to Montenegro or Latvia.
But the one from Latvia was supposed to be outrageous, it went with the theme of the performance.
I think it should go to someone who actually thought they were well-dressed. For instance, the singer from the Czech Republic … LOL
Slavko’s outfits were meant to be avant-garde, and quite frankly suited him very well. I’d rather pick Lindita, such a pretty girl transformed into a horror bride. Moreover the makeup was a pure disaster!
it has to be anja and her red dress ?
San Marino: Valentina fights hard here lady Levina grey pieces with a chance of being tricked by Lindita’s dress-mess. These tree are my crowned winners.
Worthy to be mentioned: Anja’s dress didn’t fit the stage completely, yet I wanted to see her alternative choice;
Svala got retrofuturistic dress as if inspired by 90’s anime vibe, then ruined it with Spice Girls’ shoes;
Naviband came as from 19th century sunday-promenade. I wasn’t into it, but just for male costume.
Triana Park’s clothes suited the both the song and the staging…
I cringed like… A LOT with Svala… She was like a masonic/illuminati goddamn white batman with bricks instead of shoes… the song was okay but the clothing part was just horrible…
and ok Montenegro ofc…
The only truly WTF outfit was from Iceland. Svala looked like a superhero cartoon villain. In terms of a genuinely terrible design that looked tacky, we have Albania (a convoluted and uneven mismatch between a futuristic modern top and a transparent bottom), Montenegro (Slavko should’ve just rocked a speedo and boots), Czech Republic (a pair of cheap baggy pyjamas that look like something Honey G would wear), Switzerland (a pastel explosion of childish immaturity when their NF styling was so much better), Germany (awkward cut and terrible colours), and Serbia (horrendous silhouette that looked baggy and didn’t suit the dance… Read more »
i think Latvia: Triana Park’S STYLE was high fashion like design by Alexander Mcqueen
Czech Republic: Martina Barta’S STYLE was high fashion like design BY olivier theyskens
Germany: Levina’S STYLE was high fashion like design BY Armani or karl lagerfeld
they are dressed well and fit their staging.
I voted Czech Republic… The lovely Martina, a beautiful song, warm and classy colours on stage… All wrapped up in golden pyjamas…
Montenegro FTW 😛
Well, I cringed when I saw San Marino, but then again it’s San Marino so it wasn’t just because of the outfits, they looked and acted like parents trying to be cool by singing karaoke but end up only embarrassing their kids. Anyway, I think that these outfits were the most unintentionally ugly: Switzerland: I think she was going for a “Beauty and the Beast” look but she certainly was no Belle in that cheap-looking get-up. Albania: What an ugly outfit! It had several things going on and none of it worked. It was so cheap-looking and didn’t match the… Read more »
Well, I cringed when I saw San Marino, but then again it’s San Marino so it wasn’t just because of the outfits, they looked and acted like parents trying to be cool by singing karaoke but end up only embarrassing their kids. Anyway, I think that these outfits were the most unintentionally ugly: Switzerland: I think she was going for a “Beauty and the Beast” look but she certainly was no Belle in that cheap-looking get-up. Albania: What an ugly outfit! It had several things going on and none of it worked. It was so cheap-looking and didn’t match the… Read more »
Oops, didn’t intend to post the whole thing again. But yeah, Albania’s look has Barbara Dex Award written ALL over it.
We could give an honorary Barbara Dex award to the “genius” who mooned the audience
Montenegro by a landslide. The clothes from Latvia suited the song very well, so i don’t see why people are voting on it…
2017 N.K. AWARD: experimental, avant garde and original outfit – SECOND EDITION
1 Kristian Kostov
2 Triana Park
3 Slavko Kalezi?
The N.K. Award is an annual award (created by Venetian artist D.S.K.) for the most experimental, avant garde and original outfit in the Eurovision Song Contest. It is named after Nina Kraljic, who represented Croatia in the 2016 contest.
Jury: me & my cat
Bravo!! I Support this.
Much better than Barbara Dex Award which is more or less High School Bullying of People and their Style we don’t like/ understand or whatsoever.
(“Hahaha.. did you see how he/ she looked?! Let’s Group together and laugh right into her/ his face. We’re sooo funny and have much more taste in Fashion. Haha..”)
My Vote goes to
1 Triana Park
2 Dihaj
3 Martina Barta
C’mon, you know we all think “what was he/she wearing?” or “oh my gosh, that outfit looks so ugly”. That’s what Barbara Dex Award is all about, just like the worst dressed list of any red carpet event. Not everyone dresses nicely and had great style, that’s just a simple truth. Of course, style is subjective but I think you might just be a little sour that outfits you like are being criticized. Some people at Eurovision just wear ugly clothes, there is nothing wrong with stating the opinion that an outfit looked bad. It’s not that our fashion sense… Read more »
I think the winner should be Kristian Kostov too, I loved what he wore. It had that high-fashion look to it and looked very expensive.
… meeeow
2017 N.K. AWARD: experimental, avant garde and original outfit – SECOND EDITION
Triana Park ……… 3 , 2
Kristian Kostov … 3
Dihaj ………………. 2
Martina Barta …… 1
Slavko Kalezic …. 1
Really like the idea of a best-dressed award to accompany the Barbara Dex Award. It seems fair and help to put the competition into perspective.
Do we have to pick three for this?
My top pick would be Kristian Kostov. If I could afford it, I would definitely be wearing that.
I’d put Tamara Gachechiladze second. Suitably Bondesque and I liked what the cape added to the look.
I’d put Jacques Houdek third. It’s definitely experimental, but I like the unstated asymmetry of it. I think I’d feel more creative wearing it.
TKS James + not the cat!
2017 N.K. ESC AWARD: experimental, avant garde and original outfit – SECOND EDITION
Kristian Kostov …………… 3, 3
Triana Park …………..… 3 , 2
Dihaj …………………………. 2
Tamara Gachechiladze …… 2
Martina Barta ……………..… 1
Slavko Kalezic ………………. 1
Jacques Houdek………………1
MEEEEEEOW!!!
2017 N.K. ESC AWARD: experimental, avant garde and original outfit – SECOND EDITION
Kristian Kostov …………… 3, 3, 3
Triana Park …………..… 3 , 2
Dihaj …………………………. 2
Tamara Gachechiladze …… 2
Martina Barta ……………..… 1
Slavko Kalezic ………………. 1
Jacques Houdek………………1
voters: DSK, James Triggs, Eli, Not the Cat
MEEEEEEOW!!!
Albania wore a bridal leotard.
A.
Bridal.
Leotard.
That’s weird even for Eurovision. My vote goes to Lindita.
A bridal leotard WITH RUFFLES ON THE NECK
Now looking back at the semi finals Lindita could have worn a better outfit and better make up ,I think she tried too hard to go with the dramatic theme ,but she ended up looking like a polished version of the corpses bride or a run away bride. I just don’t understand why the whole bridal leotard with ruffles,the skirt of the dress was so tight she could barely even walk in it ,she would have just worn one of her outfits from her previous performances. Even that jumpsuits she wore at one of her national final shows ,she could… Read more »
Shame upvoting comments is not possible, LOL
Lithuania, Latvia, Iceland and Germany.
But i feel no one really deserves the B. Dex award this year. All the outfits suited very well the performances.
Albania, Germany and Switzerland.
Svala!
END OF STORY!!
1)Montenegro: Slavko Kalezic
2)Serbia: Tijana Bogicevic
3)Armenia: Artsvik
4) Iceland: Svala
5)San Marino: Valentina Monetta & Jimmie Wilson
sorry i change my mind =>Armenia: Artsvik dressed not that bad it fit her performance.
I add poland Kasia mos as one of worst dressed . please dont show so much boobs its looks as tacky as Serbia: Tijana Bogicevic and Iceland: Svala
jury hated it and televoter tired of so much boobs
This year wasn’t as bad as some other years, thankfully! My 3 worst:
Azerbaijan (looked like something a granny would wear)
Iceland (aggressive and off-putting)
Albania (not terrible, but sort of weird and that veil was so unnecessary)
i think germany. czech rep. latvia. was dressed modern well made hight fashion .
It has to be Spain, just as the crowning glory of their absolute epic fail this year.
I voted for Latvia, not a fan sorry.
Difficult this year, not as many bad outfits that don’t fit with the song a-la Trijntje’s aerial jump suit (or even the boob dress she wore at a rehearsal in Vienna).
A lot of people will probably vote Montenegro or Latvia but the acts were wacky to warrant it (had they worn Sweden’s outfits then it would make sense to be a costume in my opinion)
My actual pick for a bad outfit was the Czech Republic gold tinfoil number
Can we give it to Jamala, for her dress during the final’s interval act?
My thoughts exactly…
Voted for Serbia. Tijana’s outfit looked like she was wearing a swimsuit and got scrambled in a lot of pieces of cloth.
The Barbara Dex award often goes to acts that wear really outrageous outfits (like Ukraine 2007, Serbia 2013 and Lithuania 2014) that are intended to be odd. I prefer when the winner of the award is an act that’s outfit isn’t intended to be bad, but is ugly (like Netherlands 2015 and unfortunately, Croatia 2016). So I really hope that Slavko or Triana Park don’t win it this year just for wearing crazy costumes.
Albania the uncanny valley crazy bride
I think Switzerland deserves the vote because unlike other countries, that ugly dress and backdrop were the reason they didn’t qualify, honestly.
The I NF performance was classy and she looked amazing in the red dress
That’s what I think too, because the song seemed popular and did almost make it in but that ugly “Beauty and the Beast” knock-off dress and that hideous, cheap -looking pink and yellow backdrop threw everything off.
If so, then why did they place 10th in the televoting? It was four points away from qualifying after all.
Montenegro and Latvia are too obvious a choice – what is the point of awarding intentionally-outrageous outfits? For me, the B.Dex is about celebrating the clueless.
I vote for the all white + cape + odd chest window + unflattering crotch; Iceland – my dear – you slayed (the outfit.) Great song, though.
Portugal-Salvador Sobral worst dressed ever in the history of ESC!
hi! Actually “Oversized suit & jacket” is new trends in Manswear Fall-Winter/2017-2018 LOUIS VUITTON .BALENCIAGA.Dries Van Noten.
BURBERRY.GUCCI.PRADA .VALENTINO…..at Paris. Milan. London fashion week
This one is between Serbia, Albania and Montenegro, although nobody was unbearable like some were in past years.
Just suggesting, but wouldn’t it be cool to also acknowledge the best dressed ones, at least here on Wiwibloggs!
Serbia and Albania are in the discussion. (Montenegro was meant to be crazy)
San Marino, Croatia, Montenegro and Iceland
None of them were absolutely terrible though, unlike in previous years.
22 votes for Portugal? Really?