Have you ever wondered what’s in Selina Kyle’s closet? I’m guessing there are plenty of jewels, some love letters from Bruce Wayne (probably ghostwritten by Alfred) and lots and lots of costumes. We’re talking tons! Since her debut in 1940, Catwoman has been one of the DC Universe’s most prominent fashion icons. Some of her costumes are beautifully designed visual treats. Others are…well…um…let’s just say ditching the realistic cat mask she used to wear was the right call.
Let’s take a look at twelve of Catwoman’s more memorable costumes.
Taking the Name Literally
First Seen: 1940’s Batman #3
In her debut two issues prior, Selina Kyle’s “costume” consisted of a green dress. That was it. She must have realized that being a Gotham criminal means wearing an outfit, however, because when she reappeared, she had taken to wearing a mask. But rather than the cat-cowl she usually wears, this was a realistic cat mask complete with fur and whiskers. The look also added a cape, making her more visually similar to Batman, but we’re forever grateful she chose to follow his lead in eventually transitioning to a cowl rather than inspiring him to take on a more realistic-looking mask.
The Classic Look
First Seen: 1946’s Batman #35
In 1946, Selina ditched the realistic mask and started wearing a purple dress and green cape. This outfit was modified over the years, but for the most part it became her signature look. Even as she switched to other outfits throughout the Silver and Bronze Age, she always went back to this one, wearing it on-again-off-again through the years, including in the new animated series, Batman: Caped Crusader.
The Julie/Lee/Eartha Look
First Seen: Batman Season 1 Episode 19, “The Purr-fect Crime”
In 1966, Catwoman came to television, where over the life of the Batman TV series and its film spinoff, the Feline Fatale was played by Julie Newman, Lee Meriwether and Eartha Kitt. For her small screen debut, Catwoman ditched the cape and the cowl, trading it in for a sleek black jumpsuit, domino cat mask and a cat ears headband. Notably, this was the first time Catwoman wore an all-black jumpsuit.
Now Look-Era Catwoman
First Seen: 1967’s Batman #197
In 1967, Selina began wearing a new outfit, which she called her “Now Look.” This was most likely a playful reference to the New Look revamp Batman had undergone a few years earlier. The outfit resembled Selina’s TV look, but the jumpsuit was green instead of black. The domino mask was also oversized, making Catwoman look like she was attending a 19th century masquerade ball. I’m not sure what any of this has to do with cats, but I would be happy to have this dance, milady.
The Bronze Age Look
First Seen: 1969’s Batman #210
The Bronze Age meant that it was time for another makeover. This version of the outfit has a lot going on. There’s the pirate-style boots with heels, the black aerobics-style jumpsuit, the big neck collar, the giant red domino mask and the tail. It’s a busy outfit, but it’s also the first time Selina wore a black jumpsuit in the comics (she briefly wore a black dress in the Golden Age).
The Year One Look
First Seen: Batman: Year One
The Post-Crisis era of comics meant a more serious and grounded DC Universe, which meant a more serious and grounded Catwoman costume. Selina donned a simple gray cat jumpsuit, complete with tails and whiskers. The costume looked good, especially when it was penciled by David Mazzucchelli.
Michelle Pfeiffer’s Black Leather
First Seen: Batman Returns
A skintight black suit made from the remnants of leather jackets. Michelle Pfeiffer wore this now-iconic ensemble for the 1992 film Batman Returns. The all-black look is classic Tim Burton and a great way to make Catwoman into a dark mirror of Batman. Visually stunning and not overly complicated, the design feels so right for Catwoman that it’s amazing she hadn’t worn it before 1992.
The '90s Look
First Seen: Batman #498
For Selina Kyle, the ‘90s were all about purple as she took to wearing a plum-colored jumpsuit with long black gloves and leggings. The cowl had a hole in the back, so Selina was able to let her long black hair flow for the first time in years. This was Catwoman’s standard look for much of the decade, as seen in her first ongoing series, Knightfall, Contagion and various other Bat-Family crossovers.
Catwoman of the New Millenium
First Seen: 2001’s Catwoman #1
After a near death experience and a personal crisis, Selina decided to reinvent herself. She focused less on burglary and became the protector of Gotham’s East End neighborhood. This reinvention came with a new costume designed by legendary artist Darwyn Cooke. Partially inspired by the 1966 Batman TV series, the new look was recognizably mod, with a distinct pair of retro goggles and a zipped up black leather suit just dying to be worn by Diana Rigg.
Anne Hathaway Rises
First Seen: The Dark Knight Rises
In 2012, Selina Kyle returned to the big screen for the final act of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. Anne Hathaway stepped into the role, wearing a costume that also seemed to take inspiration from the Julia/Lee/Eartha outfit of the 1960s. This one-film take on Catwoman wore a simple black jumpsuit, a wraparound mask and goggles that cleverly resembled cat ears when they rotated to the top of her head.
Camren Bicondova’s Street Style
First Seen: Gotham Season 1 Episode 1 “Pilot”
In 2014, Fox began airing Gotham, a prequel chronicling Bruce Wayne’s journey to becoming the Dark Knight. The TV drama also gave us a look at Selina Kyle’s early days, showing viewers how a young street urchin became Gotham’s most well-known cat burglar. Camren Bicondova played Selina Kyle, wearing an outfit partially based on Darwyn Cooke’s Catwoman design. The look was usually supplemented with a leather jacket, evoking Michelle Pfeiffer. Since Selina wasn’t Catwoman yet, the cat cowl was replaced with a jacket hood.
Catwoman’s Current Look
First Seen: 2018’s Catwoman #1
What does a woman do after leaving Batman at the altar? She gets a stylish new outfit, of course! Selina kicked off her latest ongoing series by giving her costume yet another redesign. The Joëlle Jones-designed look is reminiscent of the Michelle Pfeiffer costume, particularly the cowl. At the same time, there are some new touches, such as the cuts below the shoulders. It’s a great way to pay tribute to Selina’s past, while forging a new future.
Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, movies and comics for DC.com, is a regular contributor to the Couch Club and writes our monthly Batman column, "Gotham Gazette." Follow him on Twitter at @TBUJosh.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Joshua Lapin-Bertone and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.
