So you thought the "Merlion-dress" was tacky and hideous.

Wait until you check out the bevy of beauties at the Miss Universe 2008 pageant who were clad in outfits so bizarre and and outlandish that Miss Singapore Shenise Wong's much-criticised gown looks demure and sedate in comparison.

The 80 entries included a scarlet-feathered outift donned by Miss Venezuela who made it to the Top 10. Another Top 10 finalist, Miss Peru, donned a multi-coloured cape, tiered skirt, and laced-up open-toe high heels.

Other national costume entries were eye-openers. Miss USA was dressed as a Victoria Secrets-inspired giant snowflake, while Miss Brazil's green costume looks like a hybrid between Sandro Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus" and jungle foliage.

In this context, it becomes easy to see why local designer Francis Cheong gave the "Merlion-dress" his approval.

"National costumes at beauty pageants are usually larger than life," he said.

From deriding the dress, Singaporeans may now want to change their minds and clamour for something a little more OTT (over the top) next year, if we wish to stand out at the national costumes segment in Miss Universe 2009.