We get this kind of question a lot, often in relation to a particular concept or idea the asker has.  However, it’s impossible for us to provide a helpful response on a singular concept – simply because we don’t know all the information and frankly don’t have the time to absorb it all then provide a meaningful response.

This weekend there will be a follow up post to this is one with some ideas on how to avoid bikini armor, but for now the main advice I want to offer whenever you have such a dilemma is asking yourself these questions:

• How does the outfit serve your character?
• How does the outfit serve the story?
• How does it fit within the setting? How will others in the setting perceive it?
• How would you do it differently if the character was a man?

Most of the pressure that leads to the inclusion of bad female armor comes from the fact that it’s become a social norm.  Not that it achieves any purpose or that it’s clever, just that popular media has been doing it since this was the coolest dance move in western cinema:

I think it’s time we allowed ourselves to explore new options beyond bikini armor and its variants.

– wincenworks