"A masked adventurer's costume is one of those things nobody really thinks about. Should it have a cape, or no cape? Should it be thick and armored to protect you from harm, or flexible and lightweight to allow maneuverability? What sort of mask should it have? Do bright colors make you more of a target than dark ones? All of these were things I had to consider."
— Hollis Mason, from his autobiography Under the Hood, Watchmen
Capes, tights, masks, underwear outside of pants, these are the tropes about the costumes worn by the heroes and villains of superhero stories.
Some of these can even involve Clark Kenting, and often lead to an Iconic Outfit.
And it doesn't hurt to have a Heroic Build, or the Most Common Superpower, when wearing these.
Tropes:
Related:
- Adaptive Armor
- Badass Cape
- Badass Longcoat
- Beta Outfit
- Blue Is Heroic: Heroes with blue costumes.
- Brought to You by the Letter "S"
- Captain Geographic (as the costume is what signifies where they come from)
- Changing Clothes Is a Free Action
- Cheap Costume
- Chest Insignia: A logo on the chest of the costume.
- Civvie Spandex
- Clark Kent Outfit
- Cleavage Window: An open patch on the torso of the costume to show off some chest.
- Clothes Make the Legend
- Clothes Make the Superman
- Coat, Hat, Mask
- Combat Stilettos: Fighting in high heels.
- Containment Clothing
- Costume Evolution
- Domino Mask
- Dressed in Layers
- Embarrassing but Empowering Outfit
- Evil Costume Switch
- Eyepatch of Power: A cool eyepatch.
- Fashion-Victim Villain
- Fur Bikini: Animal hides that don’t hide much.
- Future Spandex
- Good Costume Switch
- An Ice Suit: An ice-themed costume for an ice user.
- Kryptonite-Proof Suit
- Leotard of Power
- Loincloth
- Minidress of Power
- Movie Superheroes Wear Black: Many film adaptations ditch the outlandish colors and go the edgy route.
- Mystical High Collar
- My Suit Is Also Super
- Non-Powered Costumed Hero: Superhero suits aren’t just for superpowered individuals.
- Not Wearing Tights
- Painted-On Pants
- Powered Armor
- Primary-Color Champion: Red, blue, and yellow for a crime-fighting fellow.
- Red Is Heroic: Heroes dressed in red.
- Spandex, Latex, or Leather
- Star-Spangled Spandex
- Super Costume Clothier
- Superheroes Wear Capes
- Superheroes Wear Tights
- Superhero Team Uniform
- Symbol Motif Clothing
- Throwback Threads
- Underwear of Power
- Utility Belt
- Wearing a Flag on Your Head: A costume patterned after the hero’s national flag.
- Your Costume Needs Work: A genuine super is mistaken for a cosplayer.
