Costume Design by Ester Krumbachová
Ester Krumbachova's costume designs for Oldrich Lipský's scifi comedy reflect its light-hearted tone; the costumes are in a light-colour palette, with whimsical flourishes inspired by modern artwork.
A good example is the future suit worn by Milos Kopecky's Josef when he has settled into the future. While the comically oversized bowtie and mismatched lapels appear to just be a 'wacky' design element, the suit also feels inspired by Constructivist artwork. If only there was colour photos of the suit.
Similarly whimsical yet modernist feeling is the costume designed for Radovan Lukavský as the alien 'Adam'. At first glance a typical 'space age' alien costume, the collar has feathery material gives Adam a fairytale quality, and the pattern print evokes Kandinsky's artwork.
Several futuristic jumpsuits were also constructed for the film, including miniature ones for child actors as future schoolkids. Some of the jumpsuits have specially made collars that call to mind neckerchiefs, others have typical 'space age' circular shiny collars.
The outfits worn by Anita Kajlichova as Eva are very much informed by 1960s fashion trends. Her first costume is a shiny wide-collared top, and her second a patterned miniskirt dress with a large panel around the collar. Both are worn with (presumably bought) leggings.
Eva's third costume is a unitard-like dress with chiffon panelling around the chest, fitted with a small cape of chiffon as well. The dress' pattern again continues the modern art influence, with the paint-streak pattern remniscient of Jackson Pollock's work.
A v-collar top is worn by Otomar Krejča as the 'Academic', made up of a vertical streak patterned fabric.
A similarly streak-patterned garment is worn by Vit Olmer as Petr, fitted with a shiny collar piece as well. The trousers also appear to be made of a streaked fabric.
Petr's second costume is a wraparound tunic made of a coarse-textured fabric, with an asymmetrical panel that acts as both a collar and lapel.
Petr's last costume is a futuristic spin on a polo jumper, with a collar fixed to the v-neck in the place where a shirt would be. Similar tops were made for Kopecky and other actors. Also must mention the other futuristic suits briefly seen when Kopecky is choosing his future wear.
Ester Krumbachova also was one of the costume designers on Ikarie XB-1, another Czech science-fiction film released two years later. Some of the costumes in Ikarie XB-1 bear a resemblance to Man in Outer Space.
Costume Reuse note: The spacesuits seen in
Man in Outer Space's opening sequence were originally made for 1960's
The Silent Star.
The Silent Star was released in the USA as
First Spaceship on Venus, which was the version that decades later landed a spot on
Mystery Science Theater 3000.
