The costume vault

Since the very inception of the character of Wonder Woman, in October 1941, her costumes have been a continuing flashpoint of controversy in the media; a common point for many female characters throughout the decades. And so, in order to celebrate this past  International Women's Day , and also to protest for the unforgivable snub of Lindy Hemming's Wonder Woman Costume Design at the Oscars, I wanted to dissect the Wonder Woman's costume and analyze it in relation to the trappings of costume design for a female character in fantasy. FEMALES IN FANTASY Traditionally, females have fulfilled very particular roles in fantasy: the damsel in distress or the evil seductress most prominently. It wasn't until fairly recently that a new role appeared: the sexy fighter. A stunningly beautiful woman who also managed to be highly competent when it came to either martial arts or any form of fighting. But this skill has often been just an excuse to showcase her sex appeal. He...