History Main / CivvieSpandex

* ''WesternAnimation/XMen'':
** The animated version of Morph from ''X-Men'' sometimes wore a jacket over his spandex and Rogue always did.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan's'' Doctor Octopus tops his [[MultiArmedAndDangerous four-armed]] [[ArtificialLimbs robotic harness]] and jumpsuit with an ordinary [[BadassLongcoat trenchcoat]]. Instead of huge goggles, he sports CoolShades.
** That coat probably came from TheMovie version of Doc Ock.

* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'':

** Likewise, the abductees who later get superpowers (three of whom are based on Samurai, El Dorado, and Apache Chief of the {{WesternAnimation/Superfriends}}, and the other one who is [[{{WesternAnimation/StaticShock}} Static]], since Black Lightning already exists in the series) wear normal clothing. Since the bad guys already know what they look like, it's pointless to attempt a disguise.

* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': Kaminari's and Jiro's costumes (made by the same designer) are dark jackets and pants paired with civilian-looking shirts, making them look more like they're going to a rock concert than superheroes in training. Averted with everyone else, who go for more outlandish, superhero-like designs.

** ComicBook/{{Storm}}'s initial definitive shift from her gentle TeamMom/Nature Goddess persona during the '80s was punctuated with both an ImportantHaircut and abandonment of her outfit for a black leather tube-top/vest/tight pants/boots ensemble. Some readers took it as her [[LesYay coming out]] as well, especially after her "night out" with Yukio.

* In ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDoom'', Cheetah's outfit is a sports bra and shorts (along with FingerlessGloves and ankle wraps), and would not be out of place at a gym.

** In all three of [[Film/XMenOriginsWolverine his]] [[Film/TheWolverine solo]] [[Film/{{Logan}} films]], {{Wolverine}} takes this even further by not even wearing the leather costume. He just fights bad guys while wearing ordinary street clothes usually consisting of jeans, boots, and white tank top.

[[quoteright:320:[[ComicBook/SuperboyAndTheRavers https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/superboy001.png]]]]

* There was an obscure Creator/DCComics AntiHero named Wild Dog, who wore Army pants, a football shirt, and a hockey mask. Max Allan Collins created Wild Dog in ''Amazing Heroes'' #119, as a modern version of Radio/TheShadow, Radio/TheGreenHornet, Franchise/{{Zorro}} and Radio/TheLoneRanger. Collins [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] that Wild Dog did not wear spandex by having a young boy talking with some other youths and wondering why they thought that spandex and a cape made a sensible costume. Collins notes that "I don’t see how any intelligent writer can approach a story about people in long underwear and capes without either removing their brain or putting their tongue in their cheek to a degree……. [On [presumably] the Christopher Reeve ''Film/{{Superman}}'' films] The ''Superman'' movies have all, as far as I’m concerned fallen to a degree into the ''Series/Batman1966'' TV show approach-maybe not quite as broad…..And I think they did that because there’s no other way you can play it. It just doesn’t work. I mean, look at that costume".

* Grifter from ''ComicBook/{{Wildcats}}'' has the longcoat, cargo pants, combat boots version, combined with a CoolMask.

** Although Comicbook/{{Mysterio}} starts with a comic-accurate fishbowl-and-cape outfit, [[spoiler: he spends his two fights with Spider-Man wearing a motion capture suit with eye symbols and a clear helmet; the comics suit is actually either an illusion or showpiece, depending on his needs]].

** A flashback to Oliver Queen's initial vigilante activities has him wearing the green hood he inherited from Shado with a green vest and pants.

* Probably one of the most prominent users of this trope is Comicbook/LukeCageHeroForHire, who has never worn a 'proper' costume, instead wearing normal civvies, usually ones with yellow. He did formerly wear a headband ([[VideoGame/SpiderManWebOfShadows *cough*Tiara*cough*]]) but has since abandoned it. He also sometimes wears a jacket, but mostly, he just wears whatever he was wearing at the moment he saw trouble. It helps that his ID is public, so he doesn't have to worry about any secret identity issues.

** ComicBook/{{Jubilee}}'s signature look is a bright yellow coat worn over her uniform. Her original costume was just a magenta top and blue shorts with the yellow coat.

** In the Season 2 finale, Roy Harper's "costume" is a red hoodie and DominoMask. He begins wearing a proper, comic-accurate costume as Arsenal in Season 3. Later his girlfriend Thea Queen adapts the Arsenal costume when she becomes Speedy until she got PutOnABus, but in Season 8 when TheBusCameBack Thea's just wearing dark jeans and jacket with a red hoodie.

This page may also contain examples of characters who identify as superheroes, but do not wear a typical costume of any kind, as NotWearingTights is a different trope entirely. (This type, such as the quoted Jenny Sparks, tend to have a set civilian outfit that does the same job.) See CoatHatMask for the minimum amount of spandex needed for this trope to apply. Also, SpandexLatexOrLeather for other issues involving costuming.

* Perhaps the first such character was actually ''ComicBook/TheSpirit'', who in most of his 60+ year run has worn a fairly ordinary business suit, trenchcoat and fedora, with only a DominoMask and gloves to even hint that he is in costume. Of course, he's not strictly a {{superhero}}, being more of a two-fisted pulp detective; creator Creator/WillEisner only added the mask as a token submission to his publisher's belief that a comic book hero is always a costumed hero. See also CoatHatMask.

** The Crimson Avenger and Wing, who were [[CaptainErsatz closely modeled on]] the Hornet and Kato, started out with the trenchcoat-and-fedora look, but quickly gained costumes to distinguish themselves, with a ChestInsignia resembling a sunburst. When the [[LegacyCharacter modern Crimson Avenger]] was introduced, she claimed the insignia was a stylised bullethole, and wore CivvieSpandex comprising leather pants, a BadassLongcoat and a T-shirt with a ''real'', blood-spattered bullethole.
** Of course, the ur-instance of this trope would be ''Radio/TheShadow'', even older than ''The Spirit'', who dresses in a black and red suit, cape and fedora with the only unusual garment being a silk mask over his lower face.

** The GoldenAge ComicBook/BlueBeetle originally wore a business suit and fedora,and only gained his iconic superhero costume later.
* ''Comicbook/TheAvengers'' had ComicBook/WonderMan, who wore a red safari jacket over a black tee shirt and jeans through the late 1970s and early 1980s. When he was a member of the Mighty Avengers he wore the red safari jacket, but in his own mini series that largely took place ''in his own house'' he walked around in his spandex uniform.
** There was a point in the early 90s DorkAge of the Avengers where every member wore a leather jacket. This includes the Black Knight. Yes, he wore a jacket over his armor. And you wonder why they did ''ComicBook/{{Onslaught}}''...

* ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'': The very first few issues of the series had the team working in regular clothing. Justified, as the entire premise of the book was to do away with superhero cliches like costumes and secret identities. The writing team was forced to add the now iconic blue and black tights after numerous protests by fans.

* For a mercifully brief period in the [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1987 '90s]], Franchise/WonderWoman's uniform included a jacket and bicycle shorts. (Her usual outfit had been co-opted, along with her title, by [[ComicBook/{{Artemis}} another Amazon]].)

* The Linda Danvers [[ComicBook/Supergirl1996 Supergirl]]'s best known costume consisted of shorts and a white belly shirt with the S-shield insignia on it.

* Jason Todd's original ComicBook/RedHood getup consisted of combat boots, cargo pants, a bomber jacket and a motorcycle helmet. After the ''ComicBook/New52'', his costume was changed to incorporate an armored bodysuit and his helmet was upgraded, but he kept the jacket.

* Shadowman from Creator/ValiantComics started out wearing a spandex costume. About a year and a half after his debut, he switched to wearing leather pants, boots, leather jacket and a shirt with the logo he used for the spandex costume.
* In the 90's a number of characters adopted the Leather Trenchcoat or Duster look. It was essentially the modern replacement for the cape.
* Crimebuster, a [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] teen superhero, started out with wearing his school hockey uniform and a cape for a costume. Several years later, he traded it for a more mundane outfit, wearing jeans and practical shoes with his hockey jersey. At the very end of the feature's run, he switched to wearing various civilian outfits, but by that point (thanks to the GenreShift), he was barely acting as a superhero anyway.

** [[ComicBook/DoctorOctopus Dr. Octopus]]' costume has traditionally consisted of a lab coat or sometimes just a plain suit. During the 70's and 80's, he wore green spandex, but otherwise, he stuck to civvies.

* While he's usually portrayed with a full body suit, Comicbook/ThePunisher is shown as just wearing a T-shirt with a skull on it in his more "serious" outings including most appearances in ''Comicbook/ThePunisherMAX''.

* [[Comicbook/IncredibleHulk The Hulk]], in most incarnations, just wears a pair of [[MagicPants pants.]] Some versions added a tank top or short sleeved shirt. As Joe Fixit, he wore suits. It was only during his time on the planet Sakkar (and maybe during the Pantheon era) that he wore any sort of costume: gladiator armor.

* There was an obscure Creator/DCComics AntiHero named Wild Dog, who wore Army pants, a football shirt, and a hockey mask. Max Allan Collins created Wild Dog in ''Amazing Heroes'' #119, as a modern version of Radio/TheShadow, Radio/TheGreenHornet, Franchise/{{Zorro}} and Radio/TheLoneRanger. Collins [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] that Wild Dog did not wear spandex by having a young boy talking with some other youths and wondering why they thought that spandex and a cape made a sensible costume. Collins notes that "I don’t see how any intelligent writer can approach a story about people in long underwear and capes without either removing their brain or putting their tongue in their cheek to a degree……. [On [presumably] the Christopher Reeve ''Film/{{Superman}}'' films] The ''Superman'' movies have all, as far as I’m concerned fallen to a degree into the ''Series/Batman1966'' TV show approach-maybe not quite as broad…..And I think they did that because because there’s no other way you can play it. It just doesn’t work. I mean, look at that costume".
* Most versions of Comicbook/GhostRider wore standard biker clothes. They gave him a costume back in the late 90's but... [[DorkAge it didn't work out.]]

* Probably one of the most prominant users of this trope is Comicbook/LukeCageHeroForHire, who has never worn a 'proper' costume, instead wearing normal civvies, usually ones with yellow. He did formerly wear a headband ([[VideoGame/SpiderManWebOfShadows *cough*Tiara*cough*]]), but has since abandoned it. He also sometimes wears a jacket, but mostly, he just wears whatever he was wearing at the moment he saw trouble. It helps that his ID is public, so he doesn't have to worry about any secret identity issues.

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5985759/8/Colors-and-Capes Colors and Capes]]'', Xander's Flannel Man costume is a head scarf with eye holes cut in it. The actual flannel he's named for he just wears because Gotham is cold and foggy.
* In ''Fanfic/AmazingFantasy'', Peter stops the Rocket Racer Gang while only wearing the top half of his Spider-Man costume. Everything below the waste is just sweatpants and shoes.

* In ''WesternAnimation/SupermanManOfTomorrow'', Clark's BetaOutfit involves an aviator cap, a black leather jacket and jeans which gets absolutely torn to shreds in his first fight with Lobo until he's in nothing but his birthday suit. He obtains his much more durable classic red and blue outfit complete with red trunks, constructed by his parents later in the film.

* Used in the [[Film/SpiderMan2 second]] and [[Film/SpiderMan3 third]] films from the ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy''. ComicBook/DoctorOctopus wears a leather trenchcoat, sunglasses and sometimes a fedora. The Sandman, meanwhile, sticks to a pair of khakis and a green striped shirt while in Flint Marko form.

** In all three of [[Film/XMenOriginsWolverine his]] [[Film/TheWolverine solo]] [[Film/{{Logan}} films]], {{Wolverine}} takes this even further by not even wearing the leather costume. He just fights bad guys while wearing ordinary street clothes usually consisting of jeans, boots and white tank top.

** In ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'', Quicksilver does not wear a costume, but instead has a silver leather jacket and a pair of goggles.

* ''Film/SkyHigh2005'': Will Stronghold wears red-white-and-blue civvies when in action. The rest of the kids in Sky High wear ordinary clothes, but have some sort of recurring color motif that suggests uniforms.

* The titular character of ''Film/{{Hancock}}'' wears in the second half of the movie a leather suit similar to the ones the film versions of the X-Men wore, though it had small yellow stripes and an eagle emblem on the back. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in the post credit scene.

* ''Film/TheMask'' is a slight variation. The film version creates normal clothes to wear, but they're usually clothes from The Forties or therebouts.
* ''Film/TheRocketeer'': Cliff Secord's "costume" consists of pretty standard '30s pilot's gear, a funny-looking helmet and a jetpack.

** Justified in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger''. Steve Rogers starts off wearing corny CaptainPatriotic tights for USO propaganda shows, because he's never meant to see combat. When he rushes off on an unauthorized mission to save some POW's, he puts on a leather jacket and other 'borrowed' military gear on top of the outfit. After this he becomes a genuine SuperSoldier and so designs a more practical uniform for combat, but keeps the CaptainPatriotic motif because he admits the shtick has grown on him (and because he's still being used for propaganda, albeit of a more genuine kind).

* ''Series/KamenRiderDecade'' has an example brought about by RealLifeWritesThePlot. During production of TheMovie, the makers decided that they wanted to update the [[Series/KamenRiderV3 Riderman]] costume, especially since Music/{{Gackt}} was signed on to play the character. Unfortunately they couldn't get the suit done in time, so during his cameo Gackt simply wears a leather jacket, white T-shirt, and leather pants, while during the final battle Riderman is portrayed by a stuntman wearing the 35-year-old spandex suit.

** A flashback to Oliver Queen's initial vigilante activities have him wearing the green hood he inherited from Shado with a green vest and pants.

** Killer Frost's GoodCostumeSwitch consists of a light blue jacket which, apart form having her insignia on it and being slightly longer, looks like a normal denim jacket. Due to the fact that she's a SplitPersonality of Caitlin, she probably uses it because [[BoringButPractical it's quick and easy to change into]] unlike the outfit she wore in the third season.

** When Lady Sif shows up in Season 1, she wears her Asgardian battle armor like in the comics. However, when she makes a return appearance in Season 2, she sports a less conspicuous outfit consisting of jeans, a T-shirt and a black leather jacket.

* The President of the United States in ''Videogame/SaintsRowIV'' has access to superpowers while in the [[LotusEaterMachine Zin's simulation]] (and thus, most of the game), and thanks to the heavy customization, the player can fight the Zin Empire in anything from bluejeans and a T-shirt, medieval knight armor, or while [[FullFrontalAssault full nude]].

* [[Webcomic/AttackOfTheSuperWizards Big Red McLane]] wears a button down shirt, jeans and work boots while defeating [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien space gods]] or going to a MagicalLand.

* Captain Hammer in ''WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog'' has a costume that consists only of boots, fatigues, gloves and a t-shirt with his symbol on it.

* Used in the [[Film/SpiderMan2 second]] and [[Film/SpiderMan3 third]] films from the ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy''. ComicBook/DoctorOctopus wears a trenchcoat and a suit. The Sandman, meanwhile, sticks to a pair of khakis and a green striped shirt while in Flint Marko form.

** In all three of [[Film/XMenOriginsWolverine his]] [[Film/TheWolverine solo]] [[Film/{{Logan}} films]], {{Wolverine}} takes this even further by not even wearing the leather costume. He just fights bad guys while wearing ordinary street clothes.

** In ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'', Quicksilver does not wear a costume, but instead has a "cool jacket" and a pair of goggles.

** Comicbook/StarLord doesn't wear a proper costume in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'', instead opting for a BadassLongCoat and a metal helmet. The comics version of Star-Lord quickly adopted the same look.

** In ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'', ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}} and ComicBook/ScarletWitch wear ordinary clothes that resemble their comic book costumes instead of actual superhero duds, with blue and grey athletic gear for Quicksilver and a black dress and red leather jacket for Scarlet Witch. At the end of the film, [[spoiler: Scarlet Witch dons a more traditional red leather costume with BadassLongcoat, after she joins the new Avengers team]].

** A flashback to Oliver Queen's initial vigilante activities have him wearing a the green hood he inherited from Shado with a green vest and pants.

* ''Series/{{Arrow}}''. In the Season 2 finale, Roy Harper's "costume" is a red hoodie and DominoMask. He begins wearing a proper, comic-accurate costume as Arsenal in Season 3. Later his girlfriend Thea Queen adapts the Arsenal costume when she becomes Speedy until she got PutOnABus, but in Season 8 when TheBusCameBack Thea's just wearing dark jeans and jacket with a red hoodie.

* In the Season 2 finale of ''Series/{{Arrow}}'', Roy Harper's "costume" is a red hoodie and DominoMask. He begins wearing a proper, comic-accurate costume as Arsenal in Season 3.

* The titular Literature/CaptainUnderpants has his own version... going around wearing only mundane ''underwear'' (of which the title is rather ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin). The reason behind that by the characters who created him (it's a long story) is that many superheroes flying in spandex, and so, looks like they're flying around in their underwear. Captain Underpants, as you've been told, ''really is''.

* The President of the United States in ''Videogame/SaintsRowIV'' has access to superpowers while in the [[LotusEaterMachine Zin's simulation]] (and thus, most of the game), and thanks to the heavy customization, the player can fight the Zin Empire in anything from bluejeans and a T-shirt, medieval knight armor, or while [[FullFrontalAssault full nude]]

* The ComicBook/MilesMorales of ''WesternAnimation/SpidermanIntoTheSpiderVerse'' eventually does this. Most versions of Miles just wear the standard spider suit, but this Miles adds a black-and-red hoodie, basketball shorts, and sneakers to his ensemble. The look has made its way back into the comics.

* The ComicBook/MilesMorales of ''WesternAnimation/SpidermanIntoTheSpiderverse'' eventually does this. Most versions of Miles just wear the standard spider suit, but this Miles adds a black-and-red hoodie, basketball shorts, and sneakers to his ensemble. The look has made its way back into the comics.

* The ComicBook/MilesMorales of ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderverse'' eventually does this. Most versions of Miles just wear the standard spider suit, but this Miles adds a black-and-red hoodie, basketball shorts, and sneakers to his ensemble. The look has made its way back into the comics.

[[folder:FIlms -- Animation]]
* The ComicBook/MilesMorales of ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderverse'' eventually dons this costume. Most versions of Miles just wear the standard spider suit, but this Miles adds a black hoodie and sneakers to his ensemble. The look has made its way back into the comics.

** ComicBook/BlackCanary's look is pretty close to the comic version save shorter hair and facepaint shaped like a domino mask, though the fact that her costume consists of a rather stripperific outfit with fishnets is most likely the cause.
** ComicBook/GreenArrow goes full-out in this mode in the Season 10 episode "Beacon." Wisely, because at that point both his civilian AND his superhero identity were among the most-wanted by the Vigilante Registration Act officers. He adopts a basic hoodie in order to fight crime (as well as just to set foot outdoors in general).

* Huntress on ''Series/BirdsOfPrey'' wore black leather and, oddly, no mask. Somehow she still had a secret identity. Lampshaded by the others. Her alter-ego barely stands up to scrutiny.