Who is the Best-Dressed Out-of-Costume Superhero?

By Chris Gore | February 1, 2019

Superheroes wouldn’t quite look the part without their kick-a*s ensemble. Generally, they are head to toe in bright, bold colored latex featuring their memorable icon, their costume really can be the making of them. But when they aren’t having high impact fights with their arch nemesis, who still has the swagger? Read on as we list our top five stylish superheroes…

5. Daredevil

Matt Murdock, a.k.a Daredevil has a more rugged style in comparison to his superhero counterparts however, still remains stylish. Similar to superhero style icons Batman and Iron Man, he’s a fan of a three-piece suit when he’s not out fighting the bad guys.

Even though he can be seen dressed up in a smart suit, when it comes to prints and color he likes to keep it simple. Costume designer Stephanie Maslansky explained that this is because since he cannot see his clothes, he needs to know that whatever he pulls out of the wardrobe will pair well together. She also revealed that the majority of his suits came from designer Paul Smith, as these had the best fit for Daredevil.

When it comes to his shirts, Matt likes to vary the style. He sports textured Oxford cloth button down shirts, which gives him a more ruffled look compared to those billionaire superheroes such as Tony Stark. His oval sunglasses finish off every look with a touch of style too.

4. Batman

He is the most well off man in Gotham, and this shows in his wardrobe. He adopts more of a reserved style and he isn’t one for flashy suits or garish outfits. But there’s no denying that he knows how to dress.

He lets his rich playboy persona show when he dons a Giorgio Armani suit in the 2008 film, The Dark Knight. The suit designer reveals that by wearing a made-to-measure suit like this, Wayne can demonstrate his status as a “discriminating and sophisticated connoisseur of fine fashion, while also showing he has individual taste.”

Wearing darker shades such as midnight blues and charcoal grays seems to be when Wayne is most comfortable, similar to his iconic batsuit. These keep him looking suave and stylish when he’s off-duty. Similar to Murdock, Wayne is partial to a pair of mysterious sunglasses. He opts for wayfarer sunglasses instead, which match well with his conservative image.

3. Black Widow

Natasha Romanoff definitely deserves to be recognized for her style. When she’s not head-to-toe in low-cut latex, she’s channelling 1950s vibes with feminine frills and sweetheart necklines.

Her office chic off-duty look is exactly why she has made our list. In 2014’s Captain America sequel, Romanoff opts for a sleek leather blazer to run her off-duty errands. Paired with black pants and knee-high boots she still brings a powerful demeanor even without carrying out any of her complex maneuvers.

She is often seen looking extremely sophisticated in buttoned blouses, pencil skirts and high stiletto pumps. She knows how to color co-ordinate too. Take her meeting with Captain American and Pepper Potts in Monaco in Iron Man 2. Romanoff shows up wearing a fitted red dress and red lips — both of which complement her glossy red hair.

2. Iron Man

An expensive three-piece suit for Iron Man, Tony Stark’s alter ego, is a go to look. He certainly doesn’t shy away from flashy, expensive clothes.

He is quite like Bruce Wayne, in the way that his out-of-costume dress, fits in with his superhero attire colour – red. He’s been spotted creating a bold contrast with dark suit jackets and red dress shirt, showing that he’s confident in what he wears and conveying power with the bold tone.

He is not someone to stay away from accessories either. From expensive watches and smart inventions to loud sunglasses he likes to spend his cash on items other than clothing. His sunglasses of choice seem to be low tinted aviators, and he’s been seen wearing red, brown, and violet colored lenses — not your traditional wayfarer styles!

It’s the well-groomed beard and pinstripe patterns that keeps him looking suave. Take his grey pinstripe suit that he wears before a Senate hearing in Iron Man 2 for example. Of course, Stark pairs it with a chunky yellow tie — he’s not one to be plain!

If he’s not rocking a suit though, he’s kicking back in a vintage tee — of course, he still looks the part!

1. Black Panther

Black Panther, informally known as T’Challa, stands out from the rest with his traditional fashion sense.

All of the outfits were designed by Ruth E. Carter. She said that she based T’Challa’s look on 18^th century designs, complete with embroidered panels which resemble a Nigerian style.

Throughout the film his looks are always suited to someone not just a king but also a military leader. Take the first time he is spotted on the throne for example, his black and grey embroidered jacket stands out from the rest of his look and sets the tone for his fashion sense throughout the rest of the film. In another scene, he wears a white embroidered tunic, crafted with patterns that represent cultures from around the world — something truly unique!

However, even a king can’t please everyone all of the time. Even his sister Shuri mocks his sandals in the film, but in reality, they were modified Alexander McQueen shoes!

In the final scene, he wears a fitted black-on-black suit and accessories with a colorful print silk scarf – tribute to the beauty of black people. This scarf was designed by Wale Oyéjidé who named the piece “From Wakanda, With Love’.”

From suave three-pieces to dynamic scarves, our superheroes certainly know how to dress when they’re not in costume.