I grew up on Savage Sword of Conan, my aesthetic for "barbarians" and sword and sorcery involves not wearing a lot of practical clothing or armor. Everything is there to look awesome.
In my head canon, this is because the world in which such characters dwell is just that way. They like to wear rings in weird places, chain belts, pieces of armor... but show a lot of skin. This is bravery, fashion, boldness.
Of course it isn't realistic. If the setting has steel blades, you bet your ass they have armor and they would, in reality, wear that shit. But this is not reality, is it? This is fantasy. The internal logic of such a fantasy world stands: Barbarians can't be bothered with heavy armor and they like to be comfortable and they don't want to look like cowards.
Now, if we're talking sci-fi type fantasy, like planetary romance, it's actually a very easy thing to explain. Why is the space chick wearing a bikini and a hair helmet? Because they use laser pistols and they have energy screen shields. Nobody wears armor, you kidding me?
Ultimately... it's a style thing. I'm not saying I must have scantily clad characters in my comics or other arts... but I am saying I enjoy the fuck out of it when it happens.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Featured art: Savage Sword of Conan issue 50. Cover art by Nestor Redondo.
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