Traditionally, gymnasts, acrobats, circus performers and dancers wear the unitard. It is a one-piece garment that is basically a combination between a leotard and tights. The unitard covers all of a person's body, but does not restrict movement in anyway. Lycra is blended with either cotton or polyester to create a stretchable fabric. Now we know what unitards are, lets take a look at some famous pop culture icons that have worn them.
The Super Hero Unitard
The superhero is always seen fighting crime whilst wearing a unitard. Spiderman, Superman, Batman: they have all sported the tight fitting outfit. If you watch the re-runs of the 60's Batman episodes, you will notice that both hero and villain are wearing the tight-fitting costume.
The man responsible for superheroes dressing like this was Lee Falk, who created "The Phantom". This superhero first appeared in a newspaper cartoon in 1936 and in its prime was read by over a million readers ever day. Falk got his inspiration for the superhero unitard from the images of Robin Hood and thus, the superhero outfit was born.
The Rock Star Unitard
Freddy Mercury was the first of a new breed of rock star to sport the garment. He paved the way for other flamboyant musicians to express themselves on stage. The 1980's saw an influx of hair-sprayed rock stars scissor kicking their way across the stage wearing these outfits. Popular pop stars of today have shot promotional music videos wearing them as well. From the iconic Britney Spears videos to the new singles being released by Lady Gaga. Every pop siren knows the effect a stylish unitard can have on their fan base.
The Cinematic Unitard
The garment can be used for more than fashion or performance. The unitard has been used to make motion capture possible. The character Gollum in the Lord of The Rings films made possible by a unitard. The actor playing the part wore the tight fitting garment that had motion detectors attached to it. These sensors would be picked up by a special camera and then painstakingly digitally transformed into an animated character. The same process was used in the hit movie, Avatar.
As you can see, this garment has cemented its place into popular culture. Whether you are a contortionist, a theater performer or a professional dancer, the chances are that you have worn one and taken advantage of the unrestricted freedom of movement it gives you.
Jennifer R. Scott has been writing for over ten years on a broad range of topics. She has a background that includes such diverse areas as environmentalism, cooking, animal care, and technology. If you would like more information on adult unitards, please visit this site.
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