Thanks to the blog Costumes Urbaines I have found a very rare piece of Xena history: the original costume designs done for the Hercules episodes in which Xena first appeared!
These designs come from Hercules & Xena - The Legendary Wikia, and are allegedly made by costume designer Barbara Darragh. And what's more interesting, they are NOT made for Lucy Lawless, but for the actress Vanessa Angel (who was originally cast as Xena). How amazing is that?
If you take a closer look, you'll see Xena was meant to sport a bat necklace. Which (as my friend and fellow Xenite Doug from Xena Warrior Replicas pointed out), actually exists!
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| See it here at Yourprops.com |
That has led us to realize that Xena's "evil" armor was supposed to be all bat-themed. The shoulder-guards (which I had always thought were dragon wings) are actually BAT wings! Mind-blowing.
If you need further proof, see how the costume's corset also has a bat medallion -- at the very bottom of the belly!
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| Also at Yourprops.com |
If interested, you can find other similar costume designs in the following link:
https://hercules-xena.fandom.com/wiki/Costume_Design?fbclid=IwAR2y8WTSrnzzhmyeoSpm6EraifDrQWmvqHBpaHcWkG9vFm46eZ7TgIU18I8
PS: Of course, my thanks also to our third Musketeer, Epiphane David! :)
