The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)

Costume Design by: Dee Robson ( notable efforts: Moonbase 3 (1973), Blake's 7 (Series 3, 1980), Doctor Who 'Arc of Infinity' & 'Terminus' (1983) )

Douglas Adams’ most famous work was adapted for television by the BBC in 1981, and for roughly six episodes in total – as such, the show had a pretty small budget and only a select few costumes were designed for the show in total (it helped that Arthur and Ford are in contemporary Earth clothes as well), but there's still an adherence to a science fiction aesthetic. The most recognisable of the futuristic outfits is the double-headed, triple-armed Zaphod Beeblebrox (Mark Wing-Davey), the brief President of the Galaxy and ‘Worst Dressed Sentient Being in the Known Universe’ with his purple jacket, orange trousers and striped jumper. Of note is how the jacket has is patterned in the design of a computer chip, fitting in with the scifi motif.

With Zaphod is Trilian (Sandra Dickinson) who technically has the most outfits in the series, though most of them are spins on the same basic design, the top always remains the same throughout meaning only the bottom half is changed – first there are no leggings, then its cut like a dress, then there are leggings, though at all times she has the same snazzy yellow-lined boots. When going out on the surface of Magrathea, she sports a red translucent red top over it.

The various thinkers who created the supercomputer Deep Thought are in a number of outfits. My personal favorites have to be the silver togas fitted with neckpieces made up of pointed metal fragments.

The second last episode of the series feature the cast ending up in Milliways, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, whose host, Max Quordlepleen (Colin Jeavons) is in an outfit of purple and gold, with his suit fitted with a pointed collar. Also appearing in various episodes is the reporter of the galactic news, who is always in a white shirt with silver bolt-like markings on each side.

Also at Milliways is the deceased (for tax reasons) space singer Hotblack Desiato, in a lurid blue and silver ‘armor’ outfit – his bodyguard is just in stereotypical gangster getup, so not worth including here.

One other notable outfit that gets only very little screentime is the armored uniform of the Vl'Hurg species, who wears translucent armor pieces, a red leather cape and shorts and a rather imposing mask that feels sightly inspired by the 'Sutton Hoo helmet', which costume designer Dee Robson had previously used as inspiration for the Vanir armor in the Doctor Who serial 'Terminus'. Similar abstract helmets are worn by the Norse gods briefly seen in Milliways.

There are also the endearingly cheesy golden outfits worn by the ancient Galactic explorers, dressed in a classic parody of 'Golden Age' science-fiction garb with a sun motif emblazoned on the front.

Lastly are the useless middlemen of the Golgafrinchans, who crash land on a prehistoric Earth and set up the human species as the bureaucratic mess it is now - the Golgafrinchans are dressed in a variety of futuristic wear such as the asymmetrical zip-up suit worn by another useless white collar midde management type.