# Why does spandex and lycra take over? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 26, 2002, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-spandex-and-lycra-take-over/133953 "2002-10-26T06:39:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![effac3d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@effac3d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/effac3d)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-spandex-and-lycra-take-over/133953/1 "2002-10-26T06:39:10Z")
What is up with people in sci-fi wearing skin tight outfits? I can’t imagine its very comfortable,at least not better than jeans and a T-shirt. Plus these people must have great body images,those body suits leave nothing to the imagination. Just a random observation,but some things can’t be improved by technology. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-spandex-and-lycra-take-over/133953/2 "2002-10-26T08:09:06Z")
Actually, I find spandex and lycra to be comfortable, especially as I gain weight and lose weight and gain weight and lose weight… ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-spandex-and-lycra-take-over/133953/3 "2002-10-26T11:27:50Z")
Plus in Sci Fi as in real life, spandex and lycra don’t seem to load up with perspiration like blue jeans and a T-shirt. Of course, perhaps sweat has been eliminated in the future. 11811 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-spandex-and-lycra-take-over/133953/4 "2002-10-26T14:51:20Z")
I like my lycra biking gear, it’s very comfortable. But I look scary in it. Try biking closely behind a beautiful woman wearing spandex shorts. Delightful is all I can say! My WAG: sci-fi movies and TV shows use it because they have beautiful performers who look great in it, and it clings so there is less tailoring needed to fit individuals. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-spandex-and-lycra-take-over/133953/5 "2002-10-26T15:07:01Z")
Thanks, you just reminded me of the woman who used to work in the cube next to me. Lets just say that it sould be illeagle to wear such stuff to work. :eek: I like spandex in my speedos, though they do tend to fall apart much easier then the older swim suits. And I will admit that I like to see the women on the swim team in thier lycra suits, it makes up for the woman in the next cube. ---
**Author:** ![YPOD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e99b99/32.png) [@YPOD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YPOD)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-spandex-and-lycra-take-over/133953/6 "2002-10-26T17:21:14Z")
I think there are two reasons: First, to show that the material is futuristic and man made, as opposed to say, deerskin or cotton. (as an aside, I always like the way they used wood (fake or real) as part of the Enterpise in TNG.) Second, to show off the bodies of the actresses (OK, maybe some actors too, for you wierdos). Could you imagine them showing (on a regular basis) Jerri Ryan (Seven of Nine) in a loose, cottom ankle length mumu? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-spandex-and-lycra-take-over/133953/7 "2002-10-26T17:38:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by YPOD \* > \*\*Could you imagine them showing (on a regular basis) Jerri Ryan (Seven of Nine) in a loose, cottom ankle length mumu? \*\* Well, maybe if they went to a lot of rainy planets… ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2002, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-spandex-and-lycra-take-over/133953/8 "2002-10-27T01:41:45Z")
If you look at clothing styles in America & Europe over the last 100 years, the general trend has been toward skin tight clothing. So the conclusion that spandex & lycra will take over isn’t so strange.