From Lulu to Bucks Fizz: The 20 greatest fashion moments from Eurovision

Fashion


From Lulu to Bucks Fizz: The 20 greatest fashion moments from Eurovision

By Stylist Team

Updated 5 years ago

Ah Eurovision. Crazy, loveable, Eurovision. Each year brings more and more countries singing in languages most of us can't understand, and wearing clothes all of us find dreadful. But that is, of course, part of the competition's charm.

While entrants used to stick to the current fashions (see Lulu, Sandie Shaw and Olivia Newton-John), over the years, competitors have begun to go all out on their costumes. Recently, we've even seen outfits that move, metallic sheets for dresses and strange cones as hats.

With this in mind, come celebrate 20 of the best (or worst, depending on how you look at it) fashion moments from previous Eurovision years.

Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performer: Sandie Shaw

Year: 1967

Representing: UK

Like A Puppet On A String was the first UK song to win the Eurovision song contest. Sandie Shaw rocked this pink babydoll mini dress which was classic 60s styling. And yes, she did go barefoot. That was her thing.


Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performer: Celine Dion

Year: 1988

Representing: Switzerland

Ah Celine, she knows how to (nearly) pull off strange fashion combos. Case in point: this double-breasted white tux jacket over a tutu. Look, it was the 80s, everyone was doing it.


Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performer: Olivia Newton-John

Year: 1974

Representing: UK

It was a travesty that Sandy didn't win this, especially considering she was wearing this rather fetching dressing-gown on stage. Unluckily, ABBA were playing that year, so of course they won.


Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performer: Bucks Fizz

Year: 1981

Representing: UK

If we could pick one favourite moment from the whole of Eurovision and not just in terms of fashion, we'd pick the skirt reveal moment from Bucks Fizz. Remind yourself of that epic moment with this video right here.


Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performer: Lulu

Year: 1969

Representing: UK

Singing her hit Boom Bang-a-Bang, Lulu opted for a short pink dress, not unlike Sandie Shaw's. It clearly did the trick as it came joint third in that year's competition.


Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performer: Dana International

Year: 1998

Representing: Israel

Dana International, the Eurovision's first transgender contestant and winner, put on a spectacular display of fashion with this parrot-inspired jacket.


Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performers: ABBA

Year: 1974

Representing: Sweden

Unsurprisingly, when ABBA were in the contest, they blew all the others out of the water with 24 points, miles in front of everyone else. Their outfits appeared to be some kind of amalgamation of cowboys and spacemen, but that didn't matter, they won! Hurrah!


Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performers: Silver Convention

Year: 1977

Representing: Germany

What's not to love about pastel pink with blue sequins? Nothing, that's what. Here, Germany gets 12 points for these incredible circus-style outfits.


Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performer: Sheeba

Year: 1981

Representing: Irish

'Kneel Before Zod' might be the first thing you think of when you see Irish group, Sheeba (no relation to the cat food, we hope) dressed in these blue spandex creations, but let's give them points for trying something different, OK?


Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performer: Ireen Sheer

Year: 1974

Representing: Luxembourg

This is quite a delicate little number. It's very 'of the moment' but the chiffon arms are incredible and, you know, will cover bingo wings.


Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performer: Kirsten & Søren

Year: 1988

Representing: Denmark

This couldn't have come from any other decade than the 80s, right? Just take a look at those shoulder pads, the hair, the earrings. We could go on but we won't. The picture does all the talking for us.


Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performer: Linda Williams

Year: 1981

Representing: Netherlands

Perhaps this yellow dress is where Kate Middleton got her recent inspiration from?


Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performer: Silvia Night

Year: 2006

Representing: Iceland

How do you describe this outfit? Part drag queen, part parrot, and part space Victorian. And check out those lace and silver gloves.


Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performer: Texas Lightning

Year: 2006

Representing: Germany

Another cowboy-inspired outfit, clearly it's a go-to trend for Eurovision. This time, it's Germany who have adopted this look, with a mix of Barbie in there too.


Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performer: Sestre

Year: 2002

Representing: Slovenia

Sequins and air hostesses is the clear theme here.


Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performer: Rebeka Dremelj

Year: 2008

Representing: Slovenia

This looks a little frightening and a bit sweaty if we're honest. Also, why has she got paper chains wrapped around her arms?


Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performer: Gisela

Year: 2008

Representing: Andorra

True, this one's a little bit of a Gaga rip-off, but who cares? The hair is on the right side of frizzy, and metallic corsets are always a winner in our books.


Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performer: AySel and Arash

Year: 2009

Representing: Azerbaijan

This one's a bit awkward, as she's not been told that half her trousers are missing.


Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performer: Zdob si Zdub

Year: 2011

Representing: Moldova

No, this isn't an audition for the latest kid's TV programme, this is still the fashion moments from Eurovision. Let's just say, we won't be wearing anything like this down our local anytime soon.


Fashion moments from Eurovision

Performer: Aliona Moon

Year: 2013

Representing: Moldova

This skirt is amazing. No really, we mean it. If you remember watching the actual performance (which we do btw, genuinely, we love Eurovision), then you'll recall that the dress grew in height as the song reached its climax. Not only that but it had a thunder and lightning storm going on too.


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