Red Sonja's Chainmail Bikini: More Than Meets the Eye?

Okay, so I watched Red Sonja (1985) last night, and yeah, it's... something. The plot is paper thin, and the acting is... well, let's just say Brigitte Nielsen really sold the whole 'stoic warrior' vibe... or tried to, anyway. But as per usual, I was mostly focused on the costumes. And Red Sonja's iconic chainmail bikini got me thinking. On the surface, it screams 'male gaze fantasy' – and let’s be real, it probably is, at least partially. But I wonder if there's a little more depth to it than we give it credit for. Gedren is running around in full-on armor, trying to project this image of ultimate power and control. Sonja, on the other hand, is practically naked, and yet she's the one who ultimately wins. Is there something subversive in that? Like, she's rejecting conventional notions of power and protection, and her strength comes from within, almost like a 'I'm so powerful, I don't NEED armor' type of thing. Is it a stretch? Maybe. But I'm rolling with it. I'd love to hear other opinions on this. Is it just pure objectification, or is there a sliver of some sort of femininist interpretation of the costuming that I'm grasping at here. I mean, come on, the sheer impracticality is astounding, so it has to be deliberate, right? Also, Kalidor's leather pants were on point tbh. Just saying. Side note: does anyone know where I can get chainmail that looks that comfortable? Because all the chainmail I see looks incredibly itchy! And poor Sonja has to do all that fighting in it. I'm sure she's got some serious chafing going on.