The much talked about genre-busting author Vanna Bonta made an appearance at NASA Ames Research Facility flagship party for "Yuri's Night," an April 12 global celebration of the anniversary of the first human being in space and the space shuttle.

Her blond hair teased in a flowing up do, Bonta looked half goddess, half retro airline stewardess in a vintage bright orange pencil skirt and jacket, white pumps and white gloves. The look blended moon landing 1961 classiness with futuristic Space Odyssey, and was punctuated with a glowing crystal earring.

The Flight author confessed from the stage to the crowd that, growing up, she would have been voted least likely to give a talk about fashion, and admitted she sometimes used paper clips for hair barrettes out of convenience.

Pointing to a Yves St. Laurent quote "Fashions fade, style is eternal," Bonta said space wear and future style is all about the “convergence of fashion and function” and that is something that the quantum fiction novelist can get excited about.

Bonta said looking to space is the best inspiration for Earth urban wear, too, which should multi-task as well as express and impress.

The crowd cheered as Bonta vivaciously shared fashion dreams that excited her. A bluetooth earring so she wouldn't have to hold her bluetooth in place while running, purses with interiors that illuminate when opened, and portable hydration balloon couture were a few.

Things like thermal fabric and velvet with fibers that are soft but also sensors would be hot haute in preparation for really high fashion, where, as space tourists, she said people will find it difficult to be haughty in the joyful bliss of zero gravity.

Other fabric themes that Bonta suggested should help get space get out of the little black-and-silver dress have plenty around to inspire them, such as brilliant colors of various planets, nebulae, and other cosmic beauty out there.

In closing, Bonta held up a pair of flats and extolled the virtue of sensible shoes. The shiny shoes had a surprise though. Introducing her Ever shoe design, a hybrid flat footwear that ejects heels, she explained as the heel popped out, “When you get there you need something to wear.”

An ensemble of three dancers called The Aerial Showgirls wowed the crowd, estimated at 7000 attendees, with an acrobatic performance with silk they made look like wings as they danced and flowed a special choreography to Bonta's original music.

Misuzu Onuki of Japan showcased space fashion from a 2007 Tokyo Space Couture design contest at the event, including the first place winning design by Midori Umetsu.

A familiar face as the actress who plays the cameo of the hero’s young mother in the HBO fixture classic fantasy movie, The Beastmaster, Bonta's career favored literary passion to Hollywood. She seems to have inherited the Renaissance gene from her mother's hometown Florence, Italy.

Bonta flew in zero gravity in 2006 and inadvertently made international fashion news when, as a panel member of a New Space conference, she presented her innovation of the 2Suit, a garment designed for cuddling, hanging out and sex in weightless environments of space.
Lisa Simms, Los Angeles and Tony Selvia contributed to this story.

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