most artists depict red sonja wearing a very brief "chainmail bikini" costume of scale armor, usually with boots and gauntlets. as originally drawn by barry smith for "the shadow of the vulture" and "the song of red sonja" in "conan the barbarian" issues 23 and 24 (1973), she did not have as full a figure and dressed a little more conservatively, in a long-sleeved mail shirt and short pants of red silk, a style that did not last long.