The Marvel Cinematic Universe and significant costumes go certainly hand in hand, and it’s nearly impossible to separate the two. The audience tends to remember different superheroes by the specific costumes they wear to essentially save the world, and it’s become so signature of them that many of us forget they also have to wear civilians outfits when off-duty.
The costume designers hold just as much value as the writers on the team, as outlined by CNN, given how they also give the characters their own essence by dressing them up. A lot of thought is put into designing the outfits that would best represent their personalities. Let’s take a look at the best civilian fashion moments of our favorite MCU heroes.
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8 Yelena’s Brown Fur Coat
Marvel Studios / Disney
Trained as a Black Widow assassin for the entirety of her life, Yelena Belova hadn’t had much of a wardrobe choice before escaping the clutches of the Red Room. She was either dressed in the all-black Black Widow costume used for the assassination of political enemies all over the world or clothes given by Dreykov and his staff. Having the freedom to choose her own outfits has been made such a big deal in the MCU that the first thing Yelena bought with her own money was a nice vest that showcased her personality, later gifted to Natasha. The fashion choices from then on have been nothing but immaculate, as outlined by Insider, with the brown fur coat and a crop-top underneath at the very top on our list. Yelena wears this outfit in Hawkeye as she spies on Kate Bishop’s mother to find out who she’s really working with. We can’t wait what kind of fashion her character will bring in the upcoming Thunderbolts.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
7 Ying Li’s Traditional Clothing
Although appearing for very brief moments in Shangi-Chi, Ying Li played by Fala Chen has left a strong impression on all of us. Her character plays a central role in the movie’s storyline. As the backbone of Shang-Chi’s nuclear family, Wenwu’s love and devotion for her drives him to commit violence against her own family. The elements of Chinese culture and traditions are depicted right from the beginning when Ying Li and Wenwu first meet and have a fight executed almost in a dance-like manner. The warmth exuding from her is not just from the calm way she carries herself, but also the vibrant traditional clothing that is signature of the Ta Lo village she comes from.
6 Aunt May’s Bell-Bottoms
In comparison to the other Spider-Man franchises, the MCU decided to take a different approach with Aunt May’s character. Instead of making her an elderly lady like she’s often depicted, the Aunt May to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, played by Marisa Tomei, carries a cool aunt vibe through and through. She’s on the younger scale of parental characters in the MCU and her outfits tell just that. She is usually seen pulling off outfits that keep up with trends, but also give off a retro vibe. We often see her wear bell-bottoms styled with different blouses, shirts and tank tops, and she honestly never misses.
5 Carol Danvers Civilian Outfit
Having her memories of civilian life erased, Captain Marvel didn’t at first remember what her styling choices used to be. Abducted from Earth and brought to the planet Hala, Carol only remembered herself as a Kree warrior, often seen wearing her green suit. After she crashes to Earth and is in search of the initially-thought enemies the Skrulls, Carol is forced to find her own human fashion style to fit in with other civilians. By choosing a cap, a leather jacket, and a casual white tee, her styling choice very much confirms that the Captain Marvel is for the female gaze.
4 Loki’s TVA Uniform
Disney Platform Distribution
It wasn’t very often that we saw Loki in different outfits in the MCU than his signature green costume sometimes accompanied by horns and a spear. However, once captured by the TVA for breaking the rules of the Sacred Timeline in his eponymous Disney+ series, he is forced to fully undress and at first wear the prison uniform in beige colors. As cunning as Loki is, he manages to get away with things and becomes part of the investigation in search of a Variant of himself. Just like the others, he’s given the TVA uniform consisting of a simple gray jacket with a shirt and tie underneath. Despite appearing simple, the change to Loki’s look feels like a refreshing sight to watch.
3 Wanda’s 80s Overalls
If there’s a show or a movie in the MCU franchise that’s provided us with a variety of unique looks, it has to be WandaVision. Inspired by different TV series popular in varying decades of television history, the outfits change just as rapidly as the decades. By using her abilities, Wanda puts the town of Westview under a strong spell, which compels them to act as characters in her own sitcom. Although we see her wear a range of outfits, from a 50s housewife to a modern depressed mum, our personal favorite has to be the high-waisted jeans with a red-blue checkered shirt tucked in and overalls completing the look. Can we please bring 80s fashion back?
2 Kate Bishop’s Suit
The MCU is creating more and more women characters that are definitely designed for the female gaze, and Kate Bishop is certainly one of them. Her eccentric and rebellious personality is shown right in the opening scene when she destroys a whole bell tower solely because of a bet. Raised in a wealthy family, she’s had the privilege to attend different courses to become the person she’s always admired ever since he saved her life: Hawkeye. Kate’s rebelliousness and the need to defy societal norms are also showcased with her style. When her mother asks her to wear a dress that she’s prepared for Kate for a charity event, Kate decides to show up in a full-on black tuxedo instead, and we couldn’t be more thankful for the styling choices.
1 Nakia’s Busan Dress
Last but not least, the queen herself: the gorgeous Nakia. As a member of the War Dogs and T’Challa’s one and only love, Nakia has seen the injustice done to their people all across the world and has always actively advocated for Wakanda to lend a helping hand to others. Although the MCU has been raising their numbers of strong women characters, Nakia stays at the top. The outfits and costumes celebrate Black culture and heritage as a whole, and it also applies for Nakia’s usually green outfits. Whether dressed up in the Dora Milaje costumes or in her own clothes, she rocks everything she wears. Of course, the one especially liked by the audience has to be the green dress that she wears in Busan, South Korea.
