Future Fashions: what not to wear

I write science fiction romance so to a large extent I have to build my worlds from the ground up. Yesterday I was hunting for costumes for my new heroine—something conservative, something that was an extrapolation of current fashions—and on my hunt I was reminded of when my love affair with SF began. 70s SF was a bit of a fashion nightmare but it has made me aware how important visualising and dressing my characters is to me. The images I have of them in my head helps me find my characters, what they wear saying a lot about who they are, their aspirations and where they come from.

Oh I’ll say here and now that I was a small child in the 70s…in case you were wondering ;-)

Sarah Jane Smith, Jo Grant and Leela from Doctor Who scarred my young eyes. Sarah infamous Andy Pandy suit, or Leela’s little leather outfit—that distracted even from Tom Baker’s scarf—are still with me. Looking at Leela, I have to admit to being a little envious now. And Jo Grant infamously hugged a Dalek whilst naked—which I didn’t see till much later. She had to be very careful with its plunger. Google her and see...

The men faired little better in the costume department. UFO’s string vests, Avon from Blake’s 7 with his leather and studs…and little pixie boots, or Space 1999’s grey, flared jumpsuits. Though Avon’s character overcame his costume—he was my first SF crush, so I would say that…

And as I’m writing this post, I realise I’m a bit of a hypocrite about shocking clothes. I wrapped Daned Traern from Gambit in little more than strips and strings of gold when I dressed him as flesh-pet, a man designed solely for pleasure. He wears it well though… *grin*.

So has any character's clothes made you envious...or made your eyes water?

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Gambit by Kim Knox

Available now from Carina Press.

Captain Chae Beyon is a hustler, a mercenary pilot, a wounded woman who prefers her men to be easily thrown aside.

Daned Traern is a first-caste Ladaian bound by tradition and DNA to protect his race. He's willing to align himself with the hot space captain if she'll transport him home in time to ensure the right candidate is crowned—and thus prevent a bloody war.

Disguised as Chae's sex toy, Daned is erotically bound to her through living gold, alien tech designed to increase pleasure. When he frees himself, their passion only increases...but succumbing to temptation will bind them together—permanently.

But there's more at stake than their needs. As Chae is dragged into a world of insane princes and sentient stones, hired killers hound them across the quadrant.

And then, as only her lousy luck would have it, Chae must choose between the good of the galaxy and her own heart...