Despite the fact that they're both about space wars, Star Wars and Machineries of Empire give me a very different vibe which makes it difficult for me to really think about them both in combination haha. But having made it to partway through the third book, I do know what you're talking about. Also, I've always thought spider worked really well as an animal associated with Palpatine. I also love spiders and find them fascinating, though I wish they didn't like my bed so much. It's not safe for them there!

And I agree, I actually think his hair looks red in that image, but then hair color is one of those things people seem notoriously prone to disagreement on! I think that given the other colors in the picture, that part needed to be made darker, and due to the bright red in the background, it needed to be desaturated somewhat to contrast. But I still think it looks red!

Also, because I interpret the colors for Palpatine as desaturated, I see dark and light blue with yellow instead of black and grey, but I can totally see why people could be seeing black instead of dark blue. Either way, it's a great new outfit that I can imagine Ambassador Palpatine wearing. Perhaps I will even put it in my fic. And thanks for pointing out the intriguing neckline design!

Your Star Trek mention got me thinking of Palpatine and Plagueis in a Star Trek Starfleet ship and my mind immediately went to the absolute mayhem that would result haha.