Editing The Avengers (TV series) (section)

====Series transformation====
During the Gale era, Steed was transformed from a rugged trenchcoat-wearing agent into the stereotypical English gentleman, complete with [[Savile Row tailoring|Savile Row]] suit, [[bowler hat]] and umbrella, with clothes later designed by [[Pierre Cardin]]. (Steed had first donned bowler and carried his distinctive umbrella during the first series, as "The Frighteners" depicts.) The bowler and umbrella were soon revealed to be full of tricks, including a sword hidden within the umbrella handle and a steel plate concealed in the hat. These items were referred to in the French, German and Polish titles of the series, ''Chapeau melon et bottes de cuir'' ("Bowler hat and leather boots"), ''Mit Schirm, Charme und Melone'' ("With Umbrella, Charm and Bowler Hat") and ''Rewolwer i melonik'' ("A Revolver and a Bowler Hat"), respectively. With his impeccable manners, old-world sophistication and vintage car, Steed came to represent the traditional Englishman of an earlier era.

By contrast, Steed's partners were youthful, forward-looking and always attired in the latest mod fashions. Catherine Gale's innovative leather outfits suited her many athletic fight scenes. Honor Blackman became a star in Britain with her black leather outfits and boots (nicknamed "[[boot fetishism|kinky boots]]") and her judo-based fighting style. Patrick Macnee and Honor Blackman even released a novelty song called "[[Kinky Boots (song)|Kinky Boots]]". Honor Blackman also carried a pistol in "Killer Whale". Some of the clothes seen in ''The Avengers'' were designed at the studio of [[John Sutcliffe (designer)|John Sutcliffe]], who published the ''[[AtomAge]]'' [[fetish magazine]].

Series scriptwriter Dennis Spooner said that the series would frequently feature Steed visiting busy public places such as the main airport in London without anyone else present in the scene: "'Can't you afford extras?' they'd ask. Well, it wasn't like that. It's just that Steed had to be alone to be accepted. Put him in a crowd and he sticks out like a sore thumb! Let's face it, with normal people he's ''weird''. The trick to making him acceptable is never to show him in a normal world, just fighting villains who are odder than he is!"<ref name="PeelJohnEmmaLastYearp46" />