Clothing Makes the (Super) Man

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern Jul 28, 2008

New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art recently opened “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy,” an exhibit devoted to the clothing of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Iron Man. With more comic book heroes flying off the pages and onto movie and television screens lately, super-powered protectors have enjoyed a resurgence in pop culture status.

It’s important to make a good impression while fighting crime. The Incredible Hulk doesn’t win fans with the rags he wears. But the costumes may be even more important when courting romantic interests. Credit the ladies (Lois Lane [Superman], Mary Jane Watson [Spider-Man], Rachel Dawes [Batman], Tina Carlyle [The Mask], Roxanne Simpson [Ghost Rider], etc.) with having good taste in clothes as well as men.

The unisex look works well for The Fantastic Four, but that’s an exception to the rule. Generally the superheroes are men who wear form-fitting clothes (like Superman’s infamous blue tights) that enhance their appearance and don’t impede their abilities to fight crime. That’s the thing about superheroes: Their super powers work no matter what they’re wearing.

Batman, however, stands alone. Not the campy television Batman, but the cooler Batman movie series initiated by director Tim Burton in 1989 that evolved over the years into director Christopher Nolan’s well-clad Dark Knight of 2008. Lacking any real super powers, other than an exceptionally bad attitude and super amounts of money, his costume and car come equipped with high-tech weaponry, fun mechanical gadgets, and lots of tough-guy style. His clothes actually make him super. His identity-concealing black leather outfit simultaneously intimidates villains while attracting ladies.

Batman dresses for success. There’s something about a well-cut black suit over a lean, muscled body that distinctly says “superhero.” Just ask The Men in Black. It’s the last suit they’ll ever wear.