Dante – Devil May Cry
On paper, the mixture of white hair, a long, red leather coat, and way too many buckles might sound like the most overwrought, gothy outfit ever, but on Dante it works. He somehow manages to ooze style in pretty much every game in the Devil May Cry series.
The leather pants occasionally manifest as chaps, but one thing that remains constant throughout the series is that sweeping red jacket. The jacket was one of the first things included in his design, as the series creator Hideki Kamiya thought it signified Dante as “showy”.
Dante’s bombastic fashion taste hasn’t gone away in DMC5, either. His look gets a fresh update – the leather is back in full force, but with a more relaxed and, dare we say it, practical fit that works with his biker aesthetic.
Lightning – Final Fantasy
It gets pretty hard to narrow down the list of fashionable Final Fantasy characters, especially in the more recent games. Final Fantasy XIII has some of the best offerings in this category, with an unbelievably chic cast, but Lightning takes the cake.
With an aesthetic that’s both edgy and delicate, she sports a number of stunning garments, from her sleek signature Equilibrium garb to the more casual belt and pocket-strapped everyday wear.
Not to mention that Lightning spends her spare time moonlighting as an actual, real-life model for Louis Vuitton. Back in 2016, the fashion house used Lightning in their ad campaign, and she even did an ‘interview’ with the Telegraph about her foray into the fashion world.
Adam Jensen – Deus Ex
The whole of Deus Ex’s costuming deserves a special note here but especially Human Revolution, where the futuristic Detroit style is cyberpunk meets Elizabethan revival, and Jensen‘s no different.
His aesthetic might be a bit more subdued than the standing-collars and ruffs you see in the game, but his badass all-black ensemble still sees some Renaissance touches. The Baroque-patterned lining of his jacket is a subtle nod, and Eidos Montréal actually collaborated with the real fashion label Acronym Clothing to bring Jensen’s jacket to life.
In a world where people flex their augmentations for street cred, Jensen’s augs definitely count towards his style points. The fact that he has shades literally built into his eye-sockets is awesome… and maybe a little disturbing.
Bayonetta
Bayonetta takes the dominatrix look to a whole other level. Although she can unlock a number of different outrageous outfits, it’s her bodysuit that she’s best known for.
She’s undergone some minor changes throughout the games, but she still keeps her classic style, which you can put down to the magical hair that wraps around her body to form clothes. Black, leather, and with strategically-placed cutouts, the witch‘s catsuit is somehow revealing and conservative at the same time, at least until she starts using that hair for summoning.
Let’s not forget shoes either, as each pointed boot is strapped with a gun. It’s also pretty unusual to see a glasses-wearing hero, but Bayonetta’s slim rectangular frames give her S&M-tacular get-up a touch of sophistication.
Albert Wesker – Resident Evil
If there’s anything more enjoyable than a good villain it’s one that’s well-dressed. Albert Wesker may be a cold-blooded mastermind but you can’t deny the man’s got style.
Over the course of the Resident Evil series (and even some of the butchered movie adaptations) Wesker’s been decked out in enough black trench coats and sunglasses to look like he stepped straight out of The Matrix. If all that black doesn’t already tell you he’s a baddie, the slicked-back blond hair lets you know he’s got the sleek villain thing down even before the reveal.
Special mention goes to the not-super-convincing good guy disguise he dons as the leader of STARS. Sure, the cop uniform may look wholesome and heroic, but for some reason, we just don’t buy it.
Agent 47 – Hitman
If you take effortlessly assassinating targets out of the equation, if there’s one thing Agent 47 has mastered it’s wearing a tailored suit, and boy does he pull it off. Those clean, sharp lines haven’t changed much over the course of the games, although Agent 47 seems to have a fondness for red ties.
There aren’t many situations the contract killer is ill-equipped for in his dapper attire. A smart suit is always situation-appropriate, making it the perfect choice for blending in.
47’s not satisfied with that, though, as he happens to have a whole extended roster of disguises that he can switch out for any given situation. From simple camo to a pizza delivery uniform, 47 is always dressed for the occasion.
Joker – Persona 5
The main characters of Persona 5 are just dripping with style. In fact, the game itself is probably the most striking of the series, and Joker’s no exception.
As day-to-day clothing, the default Shujin Academy school uniform is pretty slick: plaid pants, a smart school blazer, and a pair of glasses that he probably doesn’t even need, considering how quick he is to discard them.
But the main event is absolutely Joker‘s Phantom Thief attire, which has already become one of the most popular cosplays of recent years. It’s comprised of a black suit with tails that almost reach the floor, a high-neck gray waistcoat, and his hawkish black and white eye-mask.
Plus some scarlet gloves, in case all that monochrome is a bit much.
Elizabeth – Bioshock Infinite
Elizabeth’s clothing reflects the tremendous journey she goes through in Bioshock Infinite. As the innocent lamb locked in her tower, Elizabeth’s simple dress and ponytail are reminiscent of a Disney princess, and she’s been compared to Belle ever since the game’s release.
As she matures and gains independence, she gets a symbolic outfit change. She gives herself a blunt bob and loses the blouse in favor of a corset and bolero. As beautiful as it looks, the fact that they’re her dead mother’s clothes is something you should probably ignore.
She gets yet another costume change in the DLC, where she’s kitted out in a pencil skirt and fishnets. Her new look reflects the noir storyline, and that Elizabeth’s grown cynical with time.
Link – The Legend of Zelda
Simple though it may be, is there an outfit more iconic than Link’s? Since the mid-80s they’ve undergone minor changes, but the trademark green tunic and pointed hat have endured and are instantly recognizable.
Link‘s style skills get an upgrade in Breath of the Wild, where clothing has never been more important. There’s a ton of options for clothes and armor that not only protect Link from a bunch of different dangers, but they look pretty amazing too.
Some are richly detailed, like the Ancient Armor, which has the valuable trait of giving you more defense against those pesky Guardians. Others rely on simplicity for their style, like the Climber or Snowquill sets. The freedom you get in BotW extends to your personal style too, and Link has never looked better.
Phoenix Wright – Ace Attorney
Despite the lawyer’s recurring self-doubt issues, Phoenix Wright‘s ensemble is never anything short of dapper, and he’s usually the best-dressed person in the courtroom. They say what you wear influences how you come across and Wright’s dressing skills have him looking sharp and confident while he spends all day objecting in court.
He’s rarely seen not wearing his royal blue three-piece suit, which is really going the extra mile, as far as suits go. It’s complemented by a red tie, pocket-chain, and a hairstyle that’s perfectly styled, if a little Wolverine-esque.
He’s sometimes seen in more casual clothes, like in his pre-lawyering days and after being disbarred. While he pulls off the cute, oversized sweater and beanie just as well, it’s all a bit too slouchy, and we’re all just waiting for the suit to make a comeback.
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