# Why superheroes dress like ballet dancers?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [April 22, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311 "2011-04-22T01:41:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/1 "2011-04-22T01:41:53Z")
I have always wonder why superheroes dress like ballet dancers?
Any clue? :dubious:
---
### Author:  [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/2 "2011-04-22T01:47:32Z")
[It’s hot.](http://www.flickr.com/photos/12499097@N03/1494216725/)
---
### Author:  [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2011, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/3 "2011-04-22T02:08:33Z")
Actually they dress like circus performers, especially acrobats and strong men.
---
### Author:  [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/4 "2011-04-22T02:14:59Z")
Was Superman the first superheroe, isn’t? I wonder if the author draw him that way purposely.
---
### Author:  [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2011, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/5 "2011-04-22T02:15:17Z")
> [@pinguin](#):
>
> I have always wonder why superheroes dress like ballet dancers?
Because they have perfect bodies. If the average person had a body like that, they’d probably often dress a lot more like superheroes; in tights and showing lots of skin. Plus their superhuman nature can make the inconveniences of such clothing irrelevant; a girl who can walk on the moon and lift a truck isn’t going to get cold from a skimpy outfit or sore ankles from high heels. Or, for that matter will she have much problem with sexual harassment no matter how she dresses.
---
### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2011, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/6 "2011-04-22T03:20:53Z")
You’re confused. Ballet dancers dress like superheroes. It makes them look more macho.
---
### Author:  [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2011, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/7 "2011-04-22T09:34:05Z")
I have never seen a superhero in a tutu.
---
### Author:  [@Sri\_Theo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sri_Theo)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2011, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/8 "2011-04-22T09:48:26Z")
It makes them easier to draw.
Seriously it’s tough to get normal clothes looking non-stupid in the air/space/damaged. Capes are there to make it easier to suggest movement. The colours are because old printers had difficulties with subtle shades.
---
### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2011, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/9 "2011-04-22T11:08:14Z")
Welcome to the SDMB, **pinguin**. We have a forum for the arts where we discuss both comic books and dance, so I’ll move this there.
**twickster** , MPSIMS moderator
---
### Author:  [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2011, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/10 "2011-04-22T11:17:55Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#):
>
> Because they have perfect bodies. If the average person had a body like that, they’d probably often dress a lot more like superheroes; in tights and showing lots of skin. Plus their superhuman nature can make the inconveniences of such clothing irrelevant; a girl who can walk on the moon and lift a truck isn’t going to get cold from a skimpy outfit or sore ankles from high heels. Or, for that matter will she have much problem with sexual harassment no matter how she dresses.
This. If I had good superpowers, I’d be damn tempted to wear the silliest thing I have, just to see what people said.
---
### Author:  [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2011, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/11 "2011-04-22T11:58:56Z")
> [@pinguin](#):
>
> Was Superman the first superheroe, isn’t? I wonder if the author draw him that way purposely.
I beleive The Phantom was the first hero to wear a skin-tight suit. bonus points for his white eye slits!
---
### Author:  [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/12 "2011-04-22T15:44:38Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#):
>
> Because they have perfect bodies. If the average person had a body like that, they’d probably often dress a lot more like superheroes; in tights and showing lots of skin.
This is 100% true in my experience. Literally every guy I know who hits the gym enough to be actually ripped (and not just “in shape”) starts wearing those skin-tight UnderArmor t-shirts instead of normal t-shirts everywhere once they hit a certain point of fitness.
---
### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/13 "2011-04-22T15:48:57Z")
Not ballet dancers - [acrobats](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Grayson).
---
### Author:  [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/14 "2011-04-22T16:12:35Z")
> [@pinguin](#):
>
> Was Superman the first superheroe, isn’t? I wonder if the author draw him that way purposely.
Lee Falk’s Phantom of the comic strip wore the garish tight uniform with the briefs on the outside and preceeded Superman by a couple of years.
---
### Author:  [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2011, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/15 "2011-04-22T16:20:38Z")
There’s a thread talking about capes, and the surmise is that circus strongmen of the early 20th century wore tights to show off their bodies, and used capes to wrap around and keep warm but easily shed for wrestling and whatnot. When comics were first visualizing superheros, they copied the motifs.
Ballet dancers wear skin-tight outfits for the same reason - to show off their form, and to not hinder movement.
---
### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/16 "2011-04-22T16:36:23Z")
> [@Sri\_Theo](#):
>
> …Capes are there to make it easier to suggest movement…
NO CAPES!: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy2YhxXn7NY&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy2YhxXn7NY&feature=related)
---
### Author:  [@Klytus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klytus)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/17 "2011-04-22T18:00:14Z")
> [@Sri\_Theo](#):
>
> It makes them easier to draw.
>
> Seriously it’s tough to get normal clothes looking non-stupid in the air/space/damaged. Capes are there to make it easier to suggest movement. The colours are because old printers had difficulties with subtle shades.
This.
The points others made about how skin-tight clothes don’t get in the way when doing super-heroic things is valid. I’ve also heard it said that they wear bright colors to draw attention to themselves and away from the innocent civilians. Again, that does have an internal logic. But in the end, the truth is that they were drawn that way because it was easier, and they used the colors they did because they were the easiest to use. Oddly enough, the _most_ easiest colors were purple and green, which is why they got used so much.
---
### Author:  [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/18 "2011-04-22T18:18:45Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#):
>
> NO CAPES!: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy2YhxXn7NY&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy2YhxXn7NY&feature=related)
I recall a Marvel comic scan I saw of a grinning Hercules throwing someone by his cape saying “A cape?! Why do you think I stopped wearing a lion skin over four thousand years ago?”
\*\ \
\*
---
### Author:  [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/19 "2011-04-26T00:17:46Z")
I like my mom’s theory that it makes them easier to recognize. I think there was another thread here where it was decided that Oliver Queen would be the only superhero you’d be able to recognize out of costume.
---
### Author:  [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2011, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311/20 "2011-04-26T00:28:49Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#):
>
> Because they have perfect bodies. If the average person had a body like that, they’d probably often dress a lot more like superheroes; in tights and showing lots of skin. Plus their superhuman nature can make the inconveniences of such clothing irrelevant; a girl who can walk on the moon and lift a truck isn’t going to get cold from a skimpy outfit or sore ankles from high heels. Or, for that matter will she have much problem with sexual harassment no matter how she dresses.
I went to school with the Naked Guy and at the time, I said that if I looked like him (and was a guy) I’d probably go around naked too…
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-superheroes-dress-like-ballet-dancers/579311.md?page=2)