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When pop star Katy Perry and five other women made a much-publicized trip to the edge of space earlier this year, they faced sharp criticism across both social and , with skeptics questioning multiple aspects of the mission.

Much of the backlash centered on the emphasis the crew—which included broadcaster Gayle King and Jeff Bezos's now-wife, journalist Lauren Sánchez—placed on . Detractors saw their uniforms as at odds with the traditional image of astronauts as explorers, scientific pioneers and envoys of humankind venturing into space.

The flight suits were New York fashion house Monse Maison's co-founders, Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim. They also created Sánchez's 2024 Met Gala look.

The celebrity crew were first revealed in a photo shared by Blue Origin on April 12, two days before the launch. The unveiling was followed by a series of pre-flight interviews that touched on topics such as makeup, lash extensions and hair styling.

In one such segment, Perry quipped that the crew It's the type of comment that—while playful—reinforced the criticism that the flight prioritized spectacle over substance.

Having previously conducted on governance of space suit design and astronaut safety, I think much of the backlash targeting the crew's emphasis on glamour is misplaced. Fashion and style have long played a role in space exploration, a defining feature of both and real-world missions.

The all-women crew of Blue Origin, in their own way, carried forward this tradition, reinforcing the enduring connection between style, symbolism, and space travel.

Space-faring nations spend millions getting both public and private companies to design suits for intravehicular activity (IVA suits) and extravehicular activity (EVA suits). The priority is not just , but also creating impressive designs.

High fashion house Prada is currently with Axiom Inc. to design suits for the forthcoming Artemis Mission, a lunar exploration mission led by NASA. Another NASA next-generation spacesuit features an exterior cover designed by Esther M. Marquis, who was enlisted for the project after showcasing her visionary spacesuit designs in , an Apple TV Sci-Fi series.

The European Space Agency (ESA), meanwhile, has Maison Pierre Cardin to design the uniforms for training in its new lunar mission simulation facility, Luna, in Germany.

These and many other similar collaborations represent a continuation of the longstanding interplay between art, fashion and space technology. Science fiction books and movies have both influenced and been advancements developed for space travel.

Modern space fashion

Photos and videos from inside the International Space Station (ISS) reveal that their intravehicular activity (IVA) suits are designed for functionality and comfort rather than style.

It's a sensible approach, as most crew stay there for extended periods to conduct scientific experiments. In contrast, two of the billionaires most associated with space tourism—Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson—take a different approach. In to promote their emerging space tourism ventures, their own trips to space have been carefully curated—with fashion playing a key role.

From launch to landing, Bezos's own suborbital space travel with in 2021 lasted 11 minutes, while Branson's travel on VSS Unity lasted approximately 90 minutes, with four minutes of experience of weightlessness. However, they ensured that their "look" as they walked to their spacecraft would remain entrenched in our memories.

Branson entrusted sports brand to make a statement with a dark blue jumpsuit. Nine days later, Bezos appeared on the flight platform sporting a with his light blue flight suit.

Branson's crew won more fashion points with their —and he flew before Bezos—beating Blue Origin's flight by nine days. Yet Bezos and his crew traveled to a higher altitude.

As of the date of this article, Blue Origin has flown people into space, whereas Virgin Galactic has flown , including crew. Space suits are an integral part of the experience. No less than a picture-perfect design will be expected for the high price tag.

Elon Musk's SpaceX is the foremost private space enterprise and arguably the one with the —although the effects of the recent fallout between SpaceX founder Elon Musk and the US president, Donald Trump, on the company remain uncertain.

SpaceX has also stepped up its design efforts. Before the first-ever commercial astronaut spacewalk during the Polaris Dawn spaceflight, it unveiled its new , dubbed the

During spacewalks, EVA suits are essential for keeping humans alive, making them a vital piece of wearable technology. The space tux was designed by Hollywood costume designer, Jose Fernandez, who also designed the suits for Iron Man and Captain America (an interesting twist, given that the film version of Iron Man's alter ego, Tony Stark, who was by Musk).

Musk reportedly demanded both IVA and EVA suits to look while remaining practical. The mission was a , as the four-member civilian team, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, traveled further into space than any humans since the Apollo Missions to the moon.

As we continue to explore the cosmos, fashion will continue to play a role in how we present ourselves to the universe. Whether for scientific missions or private ventures, how we dress for space will reflect our identity and aspirations as a species. This phenomenon did not begin with these glamorous star-studded women embarking on space ventures in their signature bold styles, nor will it end with the scrutiny and negative publicity they have faced.

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