History Main / SensualSpandex

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[[quoteright:330:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/iceskatespandex_3834.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:330:[[SecondPlaceIsForWinners Maybe second place ain't that bad.]] At least there's a nice view.]]

For marketing reasons, sports in both RealLife and in fiction tend to feature quite an expanse of revealed flesh -- or flesh ''not'' revealed, in artful ways. This trope is where {{Stripperific}} meets the sporting arena or other physical, practical activities (such as Starfleet uniforms or superspy suits), where audiences are equally likely to tune in for the form-fitting spandex {{Fanservice}} outfits and the actual sport or show itself.

Compare FormFittingWardrobe, LeotardOfPower, WalkingSwimsuitScene, SuperheroesWearTights.

This is a {{justified|Trope}} in situations where an outfit providing more coverage or concealment would be impractical in other ways. Sports such as gymnastics fall into the coverage without concealment category, as less form-fitting clothing would be restrictive, distracting, or get caught in the equipment while less coverage would expose the athletes to friction burns. In sports that prioritize the speed of the human body in motion, such as track and field, uniforms tend to provide minimal coverage and are cut to follow natural creases of the human body to avoid restriction and chafing. Conversely, sports that involve speeds high enough to make air resistance a factor such as speedskating tend to minimize the amount of exposed surface area to reduce drag. One of the few fanservice tropes that is often applied equally to both sexes.

For marketing reasons, sports in both RealLife and in fiction tend to feature quite an expanse of revealed flesh -- or flesh ''not'' revealed, in artful ways. This trope is where {{Stripperific}} meets the sporting arena or other physical, practical activities (such as Starfleet uniforms), where audiences are equally likely to tune in for the form-fitting spandex {{Fanservice}} outfits and the actual sport or show itself.

For some reason, sports in both RealLife and in fiction tend to feature quite an expanse of revealed flesh -- or flesh ''not'' revealed, in artful ways. This trope is where {{Stripperific}} meets the sporting arena, where audiences are equally likely to tune in for the {{Fanservice}} and the actual sport itself.

* ''Webcomic/GrrlPower'' has [[HornyDevils Dabbler]] [[http://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/2542 sport a version that's so skin-tight]] that some SpeechBubbleCensoring has to be employed at groin level to keep the strip PG-13.

* In the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'', it is the stock 'beginner' super-suit at SuperheroSchool Whateley Academy. The school provides a variety of basic colors, including white and gray and black. However, in her book on PowerPerversionPotential, HornyDevil Carmilla points out that while spandex costumes are popular for both heroes and villains, they are also ideally suited kinky bedroom roleplay...

* [[http://www.videogamesblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/taki-in-soul-calibur-4.jpg Taki]] from the ''VideoGame/SoulSeries''. Outfits in this series tend to take this trope UpToEleven.

[[caption-width-right:330:[[SecondPlaceIsForWinners Maybe second place ain't that bad.]]\\
At least there's a nice view.]]

** Deanna Troi from ''[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration The Next Generation]]'' was sometimes referred to as a cheerleader outfit. A reasoning was given that she's the Councilor and not part of the direct command structure so she didn't want her rank intimidate her patients and give them some breathing room without the uniform. After getting chewed out by a visiting captain in the fifth season, she starts wearing a standard uniform and does so in every subsequent appearance.

* Maria Hill (and most of S.H.I.E.L.D) in ''WesternAnimation/AvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'' wears a ''very'' skin-tight shiny dark-blue catsuit.

* Some productions of ''Theatre/{{Matilda}}'' have Mrs. Wormwood don 80s-style spandex attire for her "Loud" number.

** Tracer, D.Va and Widowmaker from ''most certainly'' apply.

* Tracer, D.Va and Widowmaker from [[VideoGame/OverWatch Overwatch]] ''most certainly'' apply. Mercy might be another candidate, but doesn't show that much thanks to her dress.
** Mercy does indeed apply, as do Mei and Sombra. All three of them wear skintight spandex leggings that outline their assets, even if they aren't always as visible as D.Va and Widowmaker.

--->"As you have undoubtedly noticed, the skintight garment worn by Seventh of Mine keeps her formidable breasts under tremendous pressure. When Proton and his crew are decorated before the United Earth Congress, her [[ManchurianAgent brain implants]] will trigger an instantaneous release of her catsuit, destroying everything in a ten mile radius!"

* In the ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' ParodyFic, "Farce Contact" by Odon, T'Pol's FutureSpandex is an experiment by the Vulcan Science Directorate -- they'd know humans had achieved true sentience [[MyEyesAreUpHere when they stopped talking to her chest]].

-->"As you have undoubtedly noticed, the skintight garment worn by Seventh of Mine keeps her formidable breasts under tremendous pressure. When Proton and his crew are decorated before the United Earth Congress, her [[ManchurianAgent brain implants]] will trigger an instantaneous release of her catsuit, destroying everything in a ten mile radius!"

* Occasionally, the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' series combines this with FutureSpandex. It was largely absent from the Original Series, but became pronounced in The Next Generation. Technically only the uniform from the first two seasons was spandex, but the updated version still looked like spandex despite being a two-piece. Later series emphasized it was more of a jumpsuit than spandex, with ''Enterprise'' making it look more like a military flight suit. Regular civilian clothing retained the one-piece look for most of the Next Generation era.

** In the case of Seven of Nine from ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'', it's given a HandWave as somehow medical because of her de-Borgification and leaving her body more sensitive to other clothing. While she has suits with different color variations, she keeps wearing it for the remainder of the shows run.

** Perhaps most obvious in the TNG episode, Legacy. The Enterprise crew meets their deceased crewmate's sister. When they meet her, she's wearing a utilitarian leather jacket, shirt, and pants. For some reason, when she starts working with the Enterprise crew, they put her in spandex.

* This is regularly played up for gymnast Makie in ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima''.

* Hwa Ryun's battle suit and mask outfit in ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod's'' Crown Game.

* Maria Hill (and most of S.H.I.E.L.D) in ''WesternAnimation/AvengersEarthMightiesHeroes'' wears a ''very'' skin-tight shiny dark-blue catsuit.