Bruce Wayne by Day, Batman by Night: The Iconic Style of the Character

The Batman will soon be available to watch at our local cinemas on 4th March – so this is of course an exciting occasion for Batman enthusiasts.

The character has been played by plenty of actors, and Robert Pattinson will shortly don the cowl as the 7th Batman in the upcoming movie. But when the superhero is out of his batsuit and instead his true self, Bruce Wayne, he is pictured on screen countless times looking dashing in men’s suits.

But what are the styles of the various Bruce Wayne portrayals? Here, we delve into the fashion pieces of billionaire Bruce Wayne.

Adam West
1966’s Batman indicates the most drastic style change, including the batsuit, where Adam West is pictured on screen wearing grey spandex instead of the much more threatening suit that we see now. But that wasn’t the only difference, as the clothing worn by Bruce Wayne back then is also a very different style to more recent iterations.
One of West’s more iconic looks as Bruce Wayne was his black suit featuring large gold buttons and his narrow paisley tie, which appears as a more vintage look. This may not be a look that one of our more modern superheroes would wear during their days out of the costume – but that doesn’t make it any less fashionable since it remains a striking choice even today.

Michael Keaton
Considering his comedic background prior to his portrayal of Bruce Wayne in 1989, many Batman fanatics were unsure about Keaton’s casting. But his fashion sense can’t be questioned. His attire was very on-trend for the 80s and undoubtedly reflected the sophisticated persona of Batman’s secret identity.

Wearing a grey wool cardigan – which was far from fitted – under a taupe brown suit may sound unusual, but it complemented Keaton’s slim frame. The actor can also be seen in a trench coat of a similar shade of brown, assisted by a paisley-patterned scarf of a combination of green, navy and pink. Keaton’s Bruce Wayne showed a different side to the character than the monochrome batsuit through the array of colours in his clothing. While this style is very reflective of the time the film was released, it is still a classic look that we see today, albeit not in the modern Batman movies.

Val Kilmer
Although he was considered to have an ill-fitting batsuit, Kilmer flaunted Bruce Wayne’s sophistication through his tuxedos in Batman Forever. While his style isn’t scoring any points for being daring, this ageless style made up for what his batsuit lacked. And it goes without saying that this isn’t exactly difficult to obtain, so you too can look like Val Kilmer if this is what your heart desires, regardless of the decade.

George Clooney
Clooney’s portrayal of Bruce Wayne demonstrated an alternative style to conventional clothing. A black turtle-neck under a black suit seems to be Wayne’s most iconic look when he isn’t protecting civilians in Batman and Robin. But it is more telling of the fact that it was released in 1997, and was, therefore, very fitting with the fashion of the decade. Nevertheless, it is a look that can still look exquisite today – specifically with the black on black, it’s a simple yet stylish look made of the Dark Knight’s most iconic colours.

Christian Bale
Christian Bale portrayed dedication to the role after he gained 100 pounds of muscle to play the superhero in Batman Begins. It’s no surprise, then, that he was voted the most popular Batman of all time in 2020.

Bale’s version of Bruce Wayne showed his lavish billionaire lifestyle through his finest attire, which we can see when the socialite mingles in the city of Gotham. Often opting in for a classic look, he also tended to play it safe by wearing dark colours like black and charcoal. In The Dark Knight Rises, we witnessed the superhero sporting a pinstripe suit – a timeless fashion choice – but a tad more detail than we saw from him in his previous appearances as Bruce Wayne. Regularly seen wearing two-button suit jackets of colours similar to his batsuit, the look isn’t one that is difficult to imitate.

Bale’s version of Wayne truly understood the importance of fit. Particularly after bulking up for the movies, it could be difficult for his suits to fit well – but the perfect tailoring of Bale’s suits makes this seems effortless.

Ben Affleck
Although the casting for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was considered controversial at the time, he quickly set a high standard for the style of Bruce Wayne.
His wardrobe didn’t reflect anything too out of the ordinary, with his clothing showcasing that consistently classic style. But he sported a slightly more adventurous look, and one might even say that it was the best portrayal of Bruce Wayne’s wealth through his attire. His blue shirt topped with a navy tie and waistcoat is possibly the most unforgettable outfit for Affleck’s version. And whilst a suit jacket may seem essential for Wayne’s character, the rolled-up sleeves which flaunt the watch were a perfect touch to raise his traits and affluence to the next level.
Robert Pattinson
We may not have seen too much of Pattinson’s portrayal of Bruce Wayne yet, but his Bruce Wayne is rumoured to display a more gothic style. Given the previous fashion of the character, it will be a very different take on the billionaire – but it could potentially be a striking look that will soon become synonymous with the iconic character.

Batman first appeared on our screens many years ago, and the style of Bruce Wayne has altered with the times. But there are many similarities in the various portrayals of the character, of course, to adhere to his image and persona.
Which Bruce Wayne do you think demonstrated the best style?