IT ALL STARTED earlier this week when Brian McFadden delved into the archives to send us back to Westlife’s high fashion meeting with the Queen in 1999.
But that only upped the curiosity levels for old Westlife outfits. And they pulled off so many ~interesting~ looks back in the day:
1. One of their first appearances in early 1999 saw them start with understated black – with a few leather jackets thrown in
2. But soon trench coats (with tracksuit bottoms?) were the order of the day
3. And white tank tops
4. Often, a rogue polo neck jumper will pop up out of nowhere. Exhibit A:
5. And Exhibit B:
6. They rocked quite a look for the launch party of ‘Coast to Coast’ in 2000
7. Multi-coloured jackets on stage at The Brits in 2001
8. And on the same night, an outfit change. Patches as far as the eye could see
9. Marvel at all the lads in racing jackets (for some reason)
10. And the flared slack look had arrived by the time they were launching ‘World Of Our Own’ in 2001
11. Jackets with lots of chest on show was a boyband prerequisite way back when
12. Who could forget the Big Sunglasses Era
13. It was a simpler time, a better time
14. Here are Shane and Nicky looking like Bertie Ahern at a G8 summit
15. The only redeeming factor in this getup was that it was for a Fashion Show in 2003
16. Here’s Westlife during their Grease phase
17. And as the fivepiece came to an end, things were decidedly muted on the clothes front
18. But in their first gig as a fourpiece, they went all out
19. The RatPack era was here
20. Here they are looking like they are about to pitch an idea to Dragons’ Den
21. By late 2005, bootcut jeans were standard issue
22. The lads, holding the world record for Most Style Changes for the period 1999-2006
What a ride.
