Heroic Style

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

The month of March is known as Women's History Month in the United States. It predates back to the early 1900's to honor and celebrate all the great things that women have done for us. Since I'm  excited for the upcoming Avengers movie and harbor a super nerdy heart for all things comics, I thought it would be a fun idea to take a look back at the stylistic influences of some of the major super heroine and vixens of the Marvel and DC universe. As a young lass, I always imagined how it would feel to save the day in polyester jumpsuits and capes!

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As a fellow martial arts practitioner, I can appreciate some great punches and throws. Martial arts of any kind is not easy and takes quite a bit of time to efficiently get it, that's exactly what put Psylocke on notice for me, plus she also slings a katana! Besides watching this character on one the animated X-Men series, she was also one of my favorite characters in a Sega Genesis video game. Fighting bad guys in a turtle neck leotard takes a lot of guts. Wearing a leotard in real life, is actually a smart choice, no need to tuck your shirt in, and no need to worry about indecent exposure while wearing low rise denim. Some of my favorite leotards are from American Apparel, Sparkle and Fade, Free People and Danskin.

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As a huge Batman addict, I fell in love with all of the characters, but one stood out especially for me, Catwoman. Catwoman was known for her impeccable street fighting abilities, stealth and even her pilfering, as Anne Hathaway so brilliantly portrayed in The Dark Knight Rises. Sure Selina Kyle (Catwoman) was not a heroine but she definitely was a tenacious woman for rocking a skin tight body suit for all her crime doings! It was actually quite a brilliant idea to don such a risque ensemble because it allowed her to move quicker and not worry about her clothes snagging on anything. It also made it harder for her enemies to spot her at night or grab her. Some of my favorite body suits are from Splits59 and Mara Hoffman. 

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There definitely is no character quite like Ororo aka Storm. She is the ultimate woman super hero, she has been around for ages, like the dawn of time and her powers are in tune with her emotions. Goddess and teacher to other young mutants she represents girl power to the fullest. Plus no one can wear the white hair and metallic clothing quite like she can. Lately, I've considered dying my hair a different color, and platinum blonde or white seems to be the favoring choice thanks to inspiration from this character, although deep down, I know I'm too chicken to pull this off! For now I would much rather admire it on Storm. Her costumes have changed throughout comic book history but one common theme with them is that the color scheme never strays far from silver metallics. Some of my favorite metallic pieces are from Prada, New Balance, and Nasty Gal. 

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Of all the Amazonians, I truly admire Wonder Woman. As an art history connoisseur, I appreciate the stories that stem from Greek mythology. Wonder Woman was made in the image of the Goddess Athena and Diana, which both represent warrior skills, peace, strength and love. Pro women influences! It only makes sense that Wonder Woman's ensemble consisted of battle armour, reminiscent of her ancestors. Besides the armour, she also wore amazing accessories enchanted with magical powers like her golden cuffs that contain her rage, her tiara that can deflect magic or her earrings that can also be utilized as a grenade. The best way to feel as powerful as Wonder Woman is by incorporating some of her fabulous accessories into your everyday wardrobe. Some of my favorite pieces are by Cartier, Gorjana, Massai, Topshop, Forever21, and Marco Bicego. 

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Since adopting my new wardrobe palette of neutral investment pieces, I've been looking for inspiration to add more white on white outfits. Emma Frost, one of the X-men's foes and favorite was the best at pulling off the all white look. Miss Frost was never seen battling it out without her heels! Sure wearing white might seem impractical at times but if Emma Frost can do it so can you! Some of my favorite pieces are by Lovers and Friends, findersKeepers, Hudson, Micheal Kors, and Ellie Tahari. 

Women's history month always reminds me to remember the great strides women have made to improve life for future generations. The fabulous women of the comic book world may not be real but they certainly have influenced a generation, a generation in which women have the power and authority to do as they please and not feel shackled. These heroines and vixens have inspired me not only to believe in my own strength but also in my power to incorporate dressing like a super hero! Dear readers, I'd love to hear who your favorite female characters are, real or not!