The Marvel Cinematic Universe and important costumes certainly go hand in hand, and it’s almost impossible to separate the two. The public tends to remind various superheroes of the specific costumes they wear to essentially save the world, and it’s become so characteristic of them that many of us forget to wear civilian outfits when they’re off duty as well.
The costume designers are just as valuable as the writers on the team, as explained by CNN, considering how they also give the characters their own essence by dressing them up. A lot of attention is paid to designing the outfits that best suit their personality. Let’s take a look at the best civilian fashion moments from our favorite MCU heroes.
8 Yelena’s brown fur coat
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Trained as a Black Widow assassin all her life, Yelena Belova hadn’t had many clothing choices before escaping the clutches of the Red Chamber. She was either dressed in the all-black Black Widow costume used for the assassination of political enemies around the world, or in clothes donated by Dreykov and his staff. The freedom to choose her own outfits has become such a big deal in the MCU that the first thing Yelena bought with her own money was a nice cardigan that showed her personality, later donated to Natasha. The fashion choices from then on were nothing but flawless, as outlined by Insider, with the brown fur coat and crop top underneath at the very top of our list. Yelena wears this outfit in hawkeye as she spies on Kate Bishop’s mother to find out who she is really working with. We can’t wait to see what kind of fashion her character will bring in the near future Lightning strikes.
7 Traditional clothing of Ying Li
Although appearing for very short moments in Shangi-Chic, Ying Li played by Fala Chen has left a strong impression on all of us. Her character plays a central role in the film’s storyline. As the backbone of Shang-Chi’s nuclear family, Wenwu’s love and devotion to her drives him to commit violence against her own family. The elements of Chinese culture and traditions are depicted from the very beginning when Ying Li and Wenwu first meet and get into a fight that is performed almost in a dance-like manner. The warmth that radiates from her comes not only from the calm way she carries herself, but also from the lively traditional clothing that characterizes the Ta Lo village where she comes from.
6 Aunt May’s Bell-Bottoms
Compared to the others Spider Man franchises, the MCU decided to take a different approach with the character of Aunt May. Rather than making her an elderly lady as she’s often portrayed, Aunt May to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, played by Marisa Tomei, carries a cool auntie 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 wearing outfits that keep up with trends but also exude a retro vibe. We often see her wearing baggy pants styled with various blouses, shirts and tank tops, and she honestly never misses.
5 Carol Danvers civilian outfit
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After her memories of civilian life were erased, Captain Marvel initially didn’t remember what her style choices were. Kidnapped from Earth and brought to the planet Hala, Carol only remembered herself as a Kree warrior, often seen in her green suit. After crashing to Earth in search of the initially supposed enemies the Skrulls, Carol is forced to find her own human fashion style to suit other citizens. By choosing a cap, a leather jacket and a casual white T-shirt, her choice of style strongly confirms that the Captain Marvel is for the feminine gaze.
4 Loki’s TVA uniform
It wasn’t often that we saw Loki in different outfits in the MCU than his signature green costume, sometimes accompanied by horns and a spear. However, after he is caught by the TVA violating the rules of the Sacred Timeline in his Disney+ series of the same name, he is forced to completely undress and initially 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 into a variant of himself. Like the others, he is given the TVA uniform which consists of a simple gray jacket with a shirt and tie underneath. Despite looking simple, the change in Loki’s appearance feels like a refreshing sight to look at.
3 Wanda’s 80s overalls
If there’s a show or movie in the MCU franchise that has given us a variety of unique looks, it must be WandaVision. Inspired by various TV series popular in different decades of television history, the outfits change as fast as the decades. Using her skills, Wanda casts a strong spell on the town of Westview, forcing them to act as characters in her own sitcom. While we see her wearing a range of outfits from a 1950s housewife to a modern depressed mom, our personal favorite has to be the high-waisted jeans with a red-and-blue plaid shirt and overalls to complete the look. Can we please bring back 80s fashion?
2 Kate Bishop’s suit
The MCU is creating more and more female characters that are absolutely designed for the female gaze, and Kate Bishop is definitely one of them. Her eccentric and rebellious personality is shown right in the opening scene when she destroys an entire clock tower just because of a bet. Raised in a wealthy family, she has had the privilege of taking several courses to become the person she has always admired since he saved her life: Hawkeye. Kate’s defiance and the need to defy societal norms are also showcased in her style. When her mom asks her to wear a dress she prepared for Kate for a charity event, Kate decides to show up in an all-black tuxedo instead, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the styling choices.
1 Nakia’s Busan Dress
Last but not least, the queen herself: the beautiful Nakia. A member of the War Dogs and T’Challa’s one true love, Nakia has seen the injustice done to their people around the world and has always actively advocated for Wakanda to lend a helping hand to others. Although the MCU has increased their number of strong female characters, Nakia remains at the top. The outfits and costumes celebrate black culture and heritage as a whole, and so do Nakia’s typically green outfits. Whether she’s dressed in the Dora Milaje costumes or in her own clothes, she rocks everything she wears. Of course, the one that most appeals to the public is the green dress she wears in Busan, South Korea.