The best-dressed superheroes: Out-of-costume

Superheroes aren’t just known for their superpower antics – ya gotta have a kick-a$$ fashion ensemble, too, like wearing special force watches. Usually made from body-hugging latex of bold colors and featuring a memorable icon, the costume of a superhero can make or break him or her. But when they’re not saving the world or fighting archnemeses, who still gots the swagger? Film Daily as usual brings the fire with this rundown of the very most stylish superheroes.

5.    Daredevil

Dressed ruggedly compared to his superhero counterparts, Daredevil (also known as Matthew Michael Murdock), has an edgy style all his own. Adopting a somewhat formal touch like superhero style icons Batman and Iron Man, he’s also a fan of the three-piece suit when he’s not out fighting bad guys.

Although Daredevil is partial to smart attire, he keeps it simple when it comes to colors and prints. Costume designer Stephanie Maslansky explained the quite sensible reason: since he can’t see his clothes, he needs to know whatever he pulls out of the wardrobe will match. She also revealed the majority of his suits came from designer Paul Smith as they had the best fit.

Murdock does mix it up when it comes to his men’s shirts, though. He sports textured Oxford cloth button-down shirts that give him a more ruffled look compared to his billionaire compatriots like Tony Stark. And his special oval shades finish off every look with a unique edge.

4.    Batman

As the wealthiest man in Gotham, Bruce Wayne would be doing something wrong if he didn’t make this list. As a patron of the city’s institutions, he tends to a more reserved style – Mr. Wayne isn’t one for flashy suits or garish outfits. But there’s no denying he knows how to dress.

Wayne lets his rich playboy persona show in a Giorgio Armani suit in 2008’s The Dark Knight. Lindy Hemming reveals that by wearing a made-to-measure suit like this, the tycoon demonstrates his status as a “discriminating and sophisticated connoisseur of fine fashion, while also showing he has individual taste.”

It appears Mr. Wayne is most comfortable when wearing hues similar to his iconic batsuit, such as charcoal greys & midnight blues that keep him looking suave & stylish when he’s off-duty. Like Murdock, Wayne is also partial to mysterious sunglasses, wayfarers in this case, which match well with his conservative image.

3.    Black Widow

Natasha Romanoff, a.k.a. Black Widow, has a look that deserves to be recognized. When she’s not head-to-toe in low-cut latex, she’s channeling 1950s vibes with feminine frills and sweetheart necklines.

Romanoff’s off-duty look can be described as stylish office chic. In 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, she opts for a sleek leather blazer to run her errands off the clock. Paired with black pants and knee-high boots, she still displays a powerful demeanor even without those complex battle maneuvers.

In other scenes, she’s been spotted in pencil skirts, tall stiletto pumps, and buttoned blouses of exquisite tailoring and impeccable style. She knows how to color coordinate, too. Take her meeting with Captain America 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

When it comes to inveterate showman and defense industry gagillionaire Tony Stark, expensive, flashy three-piece suits are the name of the game. Like Bruce Wayne, Tony Stark often drops in the color of his costume: red. He’s been spotted creating bold contrasts with dark suit jackets and a red dress shirt, conveying power & confidence.

Stark doesn’t shy away from accessorizing, either. From expensive watches and smart inventions to loud sunglasses, he takes obvious pleasure in fine details. Sunglasses of choice are low-tinted aviators with unusual lens colors like red, amber, and even violet. As a technology innovator, Stark is all about the edge.

It’s the well-groomed beard and sharp patterns keeping the CEO of Stark Industries looking so suave. Take the grey pinstripe suit he wears before a Senate hearing in Iron Man 2, for example. Of course, Stark pairs it with a chunky yellow tie – suave does not mean plain.

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

1.    Black Panther

T’Challa, or Black Panther, bases all his looks on tradition and it’s why he stands out from the rest.

All of T’Challa’s outfits were designed by Ruth E. Carter. She said she based T’Challa’s look on eighteenth-century designs, complete with embroidered panels resembling a Nigerian style. He wears a few different looks throughout the film, but they’re all suited to not only a king but a military leader.

Take the first time T’Challa is spotted on the throne for example. His black & 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 representing cultures from around the world to give him that universal touch.

Just because he’s a style king doesn’t mean that T’Challa’s look pleases everyone. Even his sister Shuri mocks his sandals in the film – little did she know they were modified Alexander McQueen!

In the final scene, T’Challa wears a fitted black-on-black suit accessorized with a colorful print silk scarf – tribute to the beauty of dark skin. This scarf was designed by Wale Oyéjidé, who named the piece “From Wakanda, With Love”.