This is a phrase I’ve heard a couple of times when it comes to my interpretation of Wonder Woman, “She’s looks like Xena”, and to be perfectly frank it annoys me, especially considering the two outfit looks nothing alike. I’ve often wondered how people keep seeing Xena and I think it dawned on me this morning, I don’t think people really know what Xena looks like, that’s the only conclusion I can come too.
One thing I have noticed is that when ever someone in a forum or blog posts my design and brings up the Xena quote no one bothers to put up a picture of Xena for comparison, there just seems to be this belief that because she wears a hoplite skirt, because she wears leather, because it has Greek motifs, because it has seems, because she has (god forbid she has some support) straps that it must be similar to Xena’s outfit.
I get it that some fans don’t like the idea of ‘logic’ being applied to Wonder Woman in anyway shape or form, but that’s the way I’ve gone, the phrase ‘that’s just how it is’ doesn’t sit well with me. I’ve referenced many of WW designs throughout the years to ensure I’ve gotten the basics of the outfit right, colour scheme, stars, bracers etc, however I knew from the start of re-interpreting Wonder Woman with a more Greek design the costume would immediately draw Xena comparisons so I did the natural thing, I referenced Xena so that WW costume didn’t end up looking like Xena’s. And yet the comparison remains, damned if I do damned if I don’t. So I guess the question is, does anyone really know what Xena looks like?
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I myself can’t help but notice the similarities but to me it’s always been xena who looked like Diana not the other way around. The similarity is obviously more prevalent w/ your interpretation because your design IS more grounded in reality than the comic book version.
People seem to think if they’ve seen one outfit with a warskirt, they’ve seen every outfit with a warskirt.
I agree with you. I know what Xena looks like and the two outfits don’t really look alike. The style of skirt is simular but thats about it.
Most notable differences are, 1 has sandals 1 has boots, color scheme, 1 has shoulder guards the other doesn’t, 1 has arm bands the other doesn’t, 1 wears a belt the other doesn’t, 1 wears a tiara the other doesn’t, 1 carries weapons the other doesn’t (in most renders), design of the breast plates are different, bracers are different. stud patterns on the hoplite skirt are different.
The basic shape of the outfits though is the same because let’s face it not much can be changed from that outfit if you want something that looks authentic. They both have strapped leather armored bustiers, they both have studded hoplite skirts, they both have bracers, they both have armored footwear.
It’s like comparing Bat-suits, even though they might look similar at a glance there are huge differences when examined closer.
if it makes you feel better, Xena was a realistic warrior woman in a show set in ancient times. You are doing manips of a warrior woman using realistic outfits inspired by ancient times. There is some sort of overlap but I think Xena is a second rate wonder woman
The sandals push it over to Xena territory and too far away from the classic WW design.
^ Thing is Xena didn’t even wear sandals.
Sorry about that, don’t know much about Xena, just thought that’s why you gave WW sandals. I still think it removes it too much from WW’s classic design.
Might I add that all this “classic design” comments being spewed on your site is pure nonsense. Do your research people, Wonder Woman has just as many costume designs over the last 50 years as Batman. You can’t use the word “classic” unless you’re talking about her wearing granny panties and stilettos, UGH!
She looks nothing like Xena, and no true Wonder Woman fan, hell no true DC Comics fan would dare make that reference.