History Main / ImpossiblyCoolClothes

* Contrasting with ''Batman'', the 2008 ''Film/IronMan'' film demonstrates the hundreds, if not thousands, of parts to Tony Stark's [[PoweredArmor armor]] being assembled around him to "suit up" in [[TechnologyPorn a breathtaking CGI sequence]]. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaokZWJ1gBM Watchable here.]] Lampshaded when he's trying to get the damaged armor taken OFF.

** Vulcano Rosso is probably one of the worst offenders out of the Street Fighter series (albeit the Arika-developed Street Fighter EX series), whose patched-up, 20-zipper outfit consists of what is basically [[http://streetfighter.wikia.com/wiki/File:VulcanoRossoSFEX2.jpg a long jacket, jumpsuit, assless chaps, and gloves all at once.]]

* Bloodberry's usual outfit in ''Anime/SaberMarionetteJ'' and its sequels includes two loops of rope which circle her shoulders at some distance, and simply can not be made to work (and look right) in the real world. (As seen in a brief clip of a [[BreakTheSecondDimension live actress]] in a Bloodberry costume shown in the closing credits of ''SaberMarionetteJToX''.)

** In the 2040 series it's at least mentioned that Sylia had significant input into the design, and she's a slightly unstable, bisexual fashion designer, explaining some of the slightly out of place sexiness of the designs.

** In the 2040 series it's at least mentioned that Silvia had significant input into the design, and she's a slightly unstable, bisexual fashion designer, explaining some of the slightly out of place sexiness of the designs.

* Parodied in ''TheIncredibles'' with the character Edna Mode, costume designer for the superheroes (herself a parody of RealLife Hollywood costume designer Edith Head). The super-suits she designed could absorb tremendous levels of damage and stretch incredibly without significant tearing or abrasion (and yet it breathes like Egyptian cotton!). Also somewhat deconstructed, as it's shown that Edna stopped making her suits with capes ("NO CAPES!") because if they ever got caught on anything, they're indestructible and you'd be stuck to or sucked into such things as rockets, jet engines... which [[FridgeLogic begs the question]] of "why did they go to the extra effort of making the cape indestructible?"
** Because then they could use it as an impromptu shield when in a pinch.

* Another real life example is when people successfully pull off [[ElegantGothicLolita Lolita fashion.]] [[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D6bdv2JFr-4/SxGsmdbKs9I/AAAAAAAABDk/Jmw9hbWaQLg/s1600/SCAN0486.jpg Frills... Do want.]]

* In the first of the TheDresdenFillies DresdenFiles / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic crossover fanfics, Rarity notes that she has had to use her skill with [[MasterOfIllusion illusion magic]] to make client-commissioned ImpossiblyCoolClothes that actually were impossible to make with just her skills as a fashion designer.

* There exist skin-tight "plug suits" in ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''.Of note is the fact that only the ''male'' Evangelion pilots (Shinji, [[spoiler:Touji]], Kaworu) have breastplates. The girls' are mysteriously lacking, allowing the skintight plug suits to more effectively show off their "assets"; Asuka doesn't even have the "cleavage defibrillator", somewhat compensating for the fact that she lacks large breasts of the other females.

* ''Franchise/StarTrek'': Almost all of the Star Trek uniforms are the source of constant complaints. The miniskirts in the original would be horribly impractical outside the ship, and the sleeveless version in the reboot were horrifically cold on-set. Several characters in TNG developed back problems from the one-pieces, which were modified over the years to be more comfortable. The movies averted this, including the [[AwesomeYetPractical]] Starfleet [[http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080508061702/memoryalpha/en/images/b/b9/James_T._Kirk_and_crew_face_Federation_Council.jpg uniforms]] used from ''[[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan The Wrath of Khan]]'' onwards, and the three-piece grey uniforms used starting in Film/StarTrekFirstContact and the similar design in Series/StarTrekEnterprise. A massive upgrade compared to the [[WTHCostumingDepartment ghastly]] [[SpaceClothes Starfleet pajamas]] in ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture'', which was the low point in the series.

* Felicia and Morrigan of ''Darkstalkers'', who have the excuse of them not actually being clothes (but rather fur and magically shaped bats, respectively).

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' is the king of ImpossiblyCoolClothes. ''Everybody'' dresses in the most incredibly ''[[MemeticMutation fabulous]]'' way possible. Part 5 went [[HotFuzz off the chain]] with [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Giorno_Giovanna.png this]].

* ''{{Spider-man}}'' seems to openly oppose this trope in most of its formats, other than [[Film/{{Spider-Man}} the movie]]. In the comics and the original animated series, Peter Parker was known to occasionally patch up his costume with needle and thread. In ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'' Mary Jane makes and repairs his costume, and there have been several episodes where he's had to go in [[CheapCostume less than perfect versions of it]] due to fights with Mary Jane, or because he damaged it so much that she's not finished fixing it. In fact, the only time {{Spider-Man}} ever wore ImpossiblyCoolClothes, they turned out to be [[SubvertedTrope a symbiote]].

*** The Flash ''Rogues'' however are all decked out in ImpossiblyCoolClothes courtesy of Central City's own Paul Gambi.

** ImpossiblyCoolClothes in general are a must in the setting that ''runs on'' a RuleOfCool. While Astartes, Inquisitors and Eldar Farseers are in the top tier, high-level [[RedShirtArmy Imperial Guard]] officers would also be a tough contenders simply on the matter of [[BlingOfWar battle bling]], and Ork Warbosses are cool in a RummageSaleReject way turned UpToEleven, the cake probably goes to the [[http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/mediawiki/images/9/9b/The_Emperor.jpg Emperor's armor]].

*** Many of the summoners wear ImpossiblyCoolClothes.

* Both sexes get this in the ''KingdomHearts'' games. Indeed, one of the most hilarious views in the game is Goofy, DonaldDuck and (in the sequel) Mickey Mouse and Pete, in anime-style ImpossiblyCoolClothes. Mickey, Donald and Goofy's are also based on their classic looks. And, hey, Donald has a ''zipper'' on his ''hat'', yet it works, according to some, anyway.

* Played completely straight in ''NoMoreHeroes'' (of all things). All the characters have the most ridiculously awesome outfits, but the shining example is Travis himself, who goes to a store that sells ''only'' ImpossiblyCoolClothes.

** And when we say everyone, we MEAN everyone. Even the ''nameless'' [=NPCs=]. One can assume that ImpossiblyCoolClothes are the norm in this world.

** And that's just the outfits made by the developers. Thanks to a healthy and active [[GameMod modding]] community the list of ImpossiblyCoolClothes ranges from ninja suits to barely-there bikinis...that still have a higher armor rating than the best default armor in the game.

* ''{{Persona 3}}'' and ''{{Persona 4}}'' manage to turn ''school uniforms'' into ImpossiblyCoolClothes. ''3'' in [[http://images.wikia.com/megamitensei/images/5/51/GekkoukanUniform.jpg particular]].

* Bally's super-cool ''Pinball/DrDude'' and his leopard-skin jacket.

* In ''Anime/ReadOrDie'', Ms. Deep's leather catsuit with its impressively low-cut decolletage would be impossible to wear in the real world without its occupant suddenly violating indecent exposure laws every few minutes. (See {{Gainaxing}}, TheissTitillationTheory.)
** [[CompletelyMissingThePoint That depends what country she is in]]...it is perfectly legal for women to go topless in the United States.
*** "Not illegal at the federal level" would be more accurate. States or municipalities may (and usually do) have stricter laws. Whether or not those laws are or constitutionally ''can be'' enforced is a separate matter, but any woman going topless most places in the US can at minimum expect to be hassled and possibly arrested.

* ''{{Batman}}'' was one of the earlier examples of this trope, although there were many superhero-based film serials in the 1940s who showed it as well. The difficulties inherent in creating an authentic-looking Bat-cowl that allows the actor to move his head and neck have plagued every film incarnation of the hero. The ''Begins'' reboot came pretty close.

** Batman's RoguesGallery are generally kitted out in ImpossiblyCoolClothes. If Batman really wants to track down all those supervillains, why doesn't he just start investigating Gotham City's tailors to see who's making all those question-mark leotards and three-piece purple suits?

* The live-action version of ''TheFlash'' had to resort to (movie) ''{{Batman}}''-style sculpted rubber, which didn't look nearly as good as it did on Burton's Batman. It was explained as being originally designed as a Soviet space-suit. The justification for using it was that normal clothes just ripped right off his body when he ran at top speed.

* Uryu Ishida of ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' wears head-to-toe white when fighting. His clothing often shows dust and damage for the first few minutes after it happens, but inexplicably seems to regenerate itself until all-over marks become a single scuff on the shoulder. It seems that Quincy have an additional 'stay-white' power that applies to their costumes.
** The same character manages to procure one of his costume's requisite capes from apparently nowhere when the original is ripped.
** This is lampshaded in a handful of places, as a few jokes and omakes will involve Uryu always bringing spares of his clothes in case they get damaged.
** Bleach's chapter covers almost always feature one or more characters in very trendy clothing. Tite Kubo has said in an interview that after he finishes Bleach he wants to design clothes.

* At least somewhat averted in ''{{Starcraft2}}'' - Space Marine suits are constructed around the marine. They also consciously break away from just scaling up everything around the marine to achieve bigger body height: A marine's hands are actually in the forearms of his armour and move the suit's hands by feedback. They still seem to work pretty fine with regards to manual dexterity as experienced users like Tychus can for example hold a cigar for smoking without either dropping or crushing it.

*** [[Squick Yuri's actor, too.]]

* In ''PrincessTutu'', Kraehe's bodice always stays in the exact right place without any straps.

** And ''KessenII'' takes it even further than that, with almost ludicrously gaudy outfits for everyone.