In “Star Trek,” Lieutenant Uhura wore a miniskirt and go-go boots. Astronauts in “2001: A Space Odyssey” floated in snug orange, yellow and blue space suits. Jane Fonda’s interstellar Barbarella sported a see-through top.

Real astronaut Neil Armstrong wore a bulky Michelin Man moon suit, and from 1995 space shuttle astronauts launching into orbit wore orange outfits known as “pumpkin suits.” Scientists today on the international space station bounce around in frat-house fashion staples, including cargo shorts from Nebraska-based hunting and camping outfitter Cabela’s.

“It’s a step up from Walmart , ” sniffs Ted Southern, president of space-gear maker Final Frontier Design in Brooklyn, who previously designed wings for Victoria’s Secret runway models.

Now, it seems, the future will finally look like it was supposed to—cool. Space garb is entering a new dimension, propelled by competition among private ventures seeking to carry NASA astronauts—and eventually private citizens—into orbit. New technologies mean it will finally be possible to leave the planet in style.

Elon Musk recently revealed the sleek flight suit, topped by Daft Punk-style headgear, his company created for crews to wear inside its Dragon capsule when headed for the international space station. SpaceX says it is on track to start ferrying U.S. astronauts to the orbiting laboratory as soon as this fall.