# Is Miss Australia's national costume is a 'travesty' or not? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 30, 2010, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558 "2010-07-30T06:30:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/21 "2010-07-30T10:53:28Z")
The key, I think, is that Australians are sensitive about being represented by the vulgar, the unsophisticated, the clueless. We like to think we’re just as cultured and intelligent as the big kids. It also doesn’t help that it looks like the designer was some pretentious twit obsessed with “irony”. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/22 "2010-07-30T10:57:16Z")
I have a question, but it may answer itself… why does she have to wear a “national costume”? Is the answer “because the organizers said so”? I mean, lots of countries don’t have anthing resembling a “traditional costume” (which I might see as meaningful) because they happen to have a lot of them and wearing a specific traditional costume when it’s not your tradition could range between absurd and offensive. Is this “national costume” supposed to represent the essence of the nation or something? Does that mean Spain should send a chick dressed up as a tortilla juliana (made up of lots of little bits)? ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/23 "2010-07-30T11:03:51Z")
I remember one year Miss New Zealand dressed in a modified, feminine version of the All Blacks’ uniform. I thought that was cool. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/24 "2010-07-30T11:07:15Z")
> [@Lobot](#): > > It also doesn’t help that it looks like the designer was some pretentious twit obsessed with “irony”. So that’s what happened to [Santino!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santino_Rice) Seriously, it looks like something he’d put together. Koxinga clutches his Straight Man Card and won’t give it up. My wife makes me watch Project Runway, OK?! ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/25 "2010-07-30T11:19:27Z")
> [@Lobot](#): > > Also, Ugg boots worn outside the house is a bogan stereotype. Wait, what? Teen girls here in the US seem to think Uggs should be worn everywhere, as often as possible (i.e., when it’s way way too cold for flip-flops, then it’s Ugg season). Are Uggs usually confined to around-the-house/around your property wear there? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/26 "2010-07-30T11:20:57Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > I remember one year Miss New Zealand dressed in a modified, feminine version of the All Blacks’ uniform. I thought that was cool. That does sound cool. Weren’t they the first with the skin tight jerseys? And it has that nice little Chinese collar. Did it have the mesh side panels for extra sex appeal? ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/27 "2010-07-30T11:53:19Z")
> [@Icerigger](#): > > It looks like she just walked off the Xena set. I was thinking it looks like something Xena might wear to a formal ball. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/28 "2010-07-30T13:02:34Z")
The skirt is awful. Is there something about it that resonates as a symbol of Australia? Or does it just represent an out-of-control designer with a fixation on applied ugliness? ---
**Author:** ![lynne-42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lynne-42/32/3138_2.png) [@lynne-42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynne-42)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/29 "2010-07-30T13:17:29Z")
Another Australian cringing. Yes, Ugg boots are only worn around the house unless you are really bogan. We don’t have a national costume. But we did have a smidgen of national pride. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/30 "2010-07-30T13:18:12Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > Or does it just represent an out-of-control designer with a fixation on applied ugliness? This one, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/31 "2010-07-30T13:21:57Z")
It’s terrible! I want to take it off her. Slowly. With my teeth. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/32 "2010-07-30T13:53:56Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > I have a question, but it may answer itself… why does she have to wear a “national costume”? Is the answer “because the organizers said so”? I mean, lots of countries don’t have anthing resembling a “traditional costume” (which I might see as meaningful) because they happen to have a lot of them and wearing a specific traditional costume when it’s not your tradition could range between absurd and offensive. Is this “national costume” supposed to represent the essence of the nation or something? Does that mean Spain should send a chick dressed up as a tortilla juliana (made up of lots of little bits)? If that’s the case, I really, really, really hope Miss Canada wears a Team Canada hockey uniform, with pads, helmet, skates, the works. It should say WICKENHEISER on the back and have bloodstains of Team Canada’s opponents. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/33 "2010-07-30T14:17:13Z")
Good gravy that is awful! The detail on the swimsuit is beautiful and I kind of like the shrug. :: shrugs :: I like the down-to-earth styling of her hair and makeup. The rest of it is horrendous. It’s completely schizoid. A gown in that brown with the painting on it (and of course she can have that same neckline, boys) would have been stunning. For shoes, she could have worn a nice pump or something in a Ugg-ish colored suede. I have a pair in my closet. I wonder if I can get them to her in time via Fedex. > [@VarlosZ](#): > > Let’s not judge until we see the stats on that outfit. The boots, for instance, probably give a large bonus to dexterity, while the skirt is (obviously) charisma booster. No. The SWIMSUIT is the charisma booster. Sheesh! The skirt looks like something she got stuck with because it’s cursed and she put it on by accident. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/34 "2010-07-30T15:08:05Z")
It’s like she and the designer brainstormed, wrote a list of everything they could think of that is Australian, and then tried to put all three of those concepts into a dress. Bogans never understand that less is more. Also, she should be forced to choose between hideous, messed up “national costume” or hideous, messed up spelling of “Jacinta” (Jesinta?), but both should not be allowed on the one person at the one time. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/35 "2010-07-30T15:22:23Z")
Must. Refrain. From. Didgeridoo. Joke. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/36 "2010-07-30T15:27:50Z")
The blurb claims the skirt is “flamenco-inspired” - really, that’s Australian? I guess I could buy it in the sense that Americans “adopt” and change lots of bits of culture from our immigrant peoples and send them into the melting pot, but I’m a tad dubious about the skirt regardless. > [@lynne-42](#): > > Another Australian cringing. Yes, Ugg boots are only worn around the house unless you are really bogan. We don’t have a national costume. But we did have a smidgen of national pride. Hmm. So the “national costume” as interpreted by this designer is part “Road Warrior” extra, part flamenco dancer, part hick. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/37 "2010-07-30T15:28:15Z")
Fashion design by committee. They couldn’t make a decison as to which idea to use so they tried to combine several different ideas to please everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/38 "2010-07-30T16:51:22Z")
If you take any single component of that outfit, and build the rest of the outfit around that theme, you could get a very pretty ensemble. Use any one of those half-dozen or so outfits as the “national outfit”, and then use a different one each year. But this? The kindest word I can think of is “eclectic”. The lady herself, though, is quite good-looking, for a beauty contestant. She doesn’t look nearly as vapid, shallow, or boring as most American beauty contestants do. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/39 "2010-07-30T16:58:59Z")
Actually, “travesty” should be reserved for Molly Ringwald’s dress in “Pretty in Pink”. This one is pretty silly, but it’s difficult to concentrate on that instead of staring at “the girls” which it displays quite nicely. That’s its saving grace. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558/40 "2010-07-30T17:14:31Z")
I kinda like it [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-miss-australias-national-costume-is-a-travesty-or-not/548558.md?page=3)