Image via Complex Original
In the immortal words of Tony "Scarface" Montana, "You need people like me so you can point your fuckin' fingers and say, 'That's the bad guy.'" The observation can definitely ring true, but deflecting our lacking, our sins, and our negative qualities onto evil dudes isn't the only reason we need them. They also look so fucking cool, and we could all take some style cues from the men who are always keen on world domination and/or destruction.
Outlaws, after all, are the ones who originally dressed in all black, and we should all have a little evil running through our vens when we're getting dressed. Villains may not have the best intentions in mind when they wake up in the morning, but at least they've prioritized dope style appropriately. From comic books to TV to films, these are The Most Stylish Fictional Villains of All Time.
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"Monsieur" Calvin J. Candie
Where: Django Unchained
When: 2012
This dude is one evil motherfucker who didn't get nearly what he deserved, but you can never say that he doesn't dress well. Fancy three piece suits aside, Candie knows that the most stylish accessory is a giant cocktail consumed from a hallowed-out fruit.
Boris the Animal
Where: Men in Black 3
When: 2012
Boris the Animal is quite possibly the most badass form of life in the universe. Channeling one's inner Dennis Hopper will always result in ill biker steez. There are very few humans who could pull off that fringed jacket, let alone aliens, but Boris does it with aplomb.
Bishop
Where: Juice
When: 1992
The young Bishop started out living life innocently enough, but he soon became enraptured with the thrill of criminal ways. He also gets a taste of the fresh style that comes with a villainous mindset, and stayed dripping in gold until the end.
Vincent
Where: Collateral
When: 2004
In one of his last roles before being that guy with a really weird torso, Tom Cruise played a silver fox assassin who went throughout Los Angeles in very nice-looking, light colored suits killing people. We do not support murder, but wearing such expensive pale suits when blood is present is sorta gangsta.
Tom Ripley
Where: The Talented Mr. Ripley
When: 1999
Just because you're a conniving murderer in a homoerotic thriller doesn't mean that you don't have your own merits. In Tom Ripley's case he was talented, not only at imitating people, but also really embracing preppy Americana and putting a rich European-on-vacay spin on it. Additionally, he was very good at killing people in row boats.
Zachary "Sack" Lodge
Where: Wedding Crashers
When: 2005
Bradley Cooper's character in The Wedding Crashers just goes to show that you actually can look pretty put together if you buy up the entire J. Crew catalog (circa 1997). Nantucket red never felt so assholish! Actually, that's not true at all.
President Coriolanus Snow
Where: The Hunger Games
When: 2012
As the totalitarian ruler of a post-apocalyptic world, President Coriolanus Snow that he has to lead by example and without hesitation. Which explains the plum suit with every piece of accoutrement possible. The future looks steezy.
"Lucky" Ned Pepper
Where: True Grit
When: 2010
Life ain't easy being an outlaw in the Wild West. "Lucky" Ned Pepper knows that you better dress for whatever the mountains, deserts, and gunfights bring your way, which explains the hard-boiled wool and multi-layered looks he prefers. Seriously, this dude would kill it on the street style circuit.
Castor Troy
Where: Face/Off
When: 1997
In Nicolas Cage's last stylish role, Castor Troy is evil incarnate in a flashy burgundy that both indicate his satanic tendencies and allow his golden guns to really pop. Also, those heptagonal sunglasses are absolutely next level.
Raoul Silva
Where: James Bond: Skyfall
When: 2012
Just because a demented madman hell-bent on revenge is willing to take down all of London to kill a former boss doesn't mean he can't look great doing it. Cream colored jackets are Silva's preferred calling card, which pair great with luxe printed shirts. Now dude just needs a grill to cover up his cyanide-mouth.
Justin Hammer
Where: Iron Man
When: 2008
Positioned as a B-side Tony Stark, Iron Man 2's Justin Hammer had a pretty serious inferiority complex that led to a lot of overcompensating by way of three-piece suits and gigantic killer robots. Only one of those two things got him on this list.
Terminator
Where: The Terminator
When: 1984
Before Jay-Z was on his "all black everything" kick, the Terminator had already established himself as the leader in dark monochromatic attire. Despite having traveled through time with no clothes, he quickly acquired his iconic leather jacket, black crew neck, and sunglasses. Efficient.
Tony Montana
Where: Scarface
When: 1983
Have you ever tried unbuttoning your shirt down to the bellybutton a la Miami in the '80s? It's not easy to rock, but you know who makes it look effortless? Tony Montana. This guy didn't end up on every college dorm room wall and episode of "Cribs" by being a slouch.
Hans Gruber
Where: Die Hard
When: 1988
Hans Gruber is a rich European guy who wears a lot of great rich European guy suits. Sure, he's an international terrorist, cue the moralistic hand-wringing, but those suits won't pay for themselves. Also, there are yachts to consider.
Agent Smith
Where: The Matrix
When: 1999
A testament to the classic-ness and well-put-together-ness of Agent Smith's look is that even when there's hundreds of him attacking Neo in The Matrix movies, he still looks pretty cool. Sure he's the incarnation of evil, but He. Looks. Cool.
Caledon Hockley
Where: Titanic
When: 1997
Billy Zane may not have been likable in Titanic, but really, if you think about it, he kind of got a raw deal: his girlfriend left him for Gilbert Grape, he ended up dying in a tragic boat crash, and even if he had made it off the boat, he still would've ended up bald. At least he did all of this in style.
Larry
Where: Closer
When: 2004
Don't exactly remember what Clive Owen's role was in the movie Closer? You're not alone in that, but you probably do remember that he was dressed in a very dapper way, with lots of unkempt dress shirts to suit someone who's cheating on his significant other. Why you probably can't remember anything else is because Natalie Portman was portraying a stripper.
The Joker
Where: The Dark Knight
When: 2008
While his hair is sort of gross looking and he has some facial scars, the Joker's suits are all bespoke and custom tailored for him. He uses interesting patterns and mixes and matches them together in a way that isn't too match-y and allows him to be taken seriously rather than looking clownish (no Juggalo).
Michael Corleone
Where: The Godfather
When: 1972
It's hard to pull off a vest with that many buttons (figuratively and literally), but Michael Corleone does it in a way that only an intimidating, but charismatic, Italian crimelord can-i.e., with aplomb.
Reservoir Dogs
Where: Reservoir Dogs
When: 1992
Even Kanye has admitted that his and the Rosewood Movement's fascination with suits can be attributed to the ones that the protagonists wore in Reservoir Dogs. No one movie should have all that power.
Frank Lucas
Where: American Gangster
When: 2007
Playing Frank Lucas, Denzel showcased how one dresses when you're here, after you've started at the bottom. In his crew, he was the only one to rock suits. Heavy hangs the head that wears the crown. And the torso that bears that jacket. Especially in the presence of applejack hats.
Sebastian Valmont
Where: Cruel Intentions
When: 1999
Ryan Phillippe masters the look of young, rich, New York socialite asshole in Cruel Intentions, and while his character is despicable, he dresses in a classically American mien that could just as easily be worn 10 years later. You know, about the time the homie's marriage to his costar fell apart.
Anton Chigurh
Where: No Country for Old Men
When: 2007
OK, so the haircut is horrible, but neck down, the brown shirt/raw denim jacket/black twill pants combo is a really stellar, heritage Americana look that almost justifies the "Tootie from The Facts of Life" mop on his head.
Gaston
Where: Beauty and the Beast
When: 1991
With chiseled good looks and biceps three times the size of your thighs, Gaston does a great job of playing to his body type by taking a cue from the Tom Ford book of buttoning shirts and having no more than three buttons done at any given time. Also great: his pants and boots.
Charles Montgomery "Monty" Burns
Where: The Simpsons
When: 1989
Sure, his spindly physique and vile lesions on his body are creepy, but it's his turquoise suit and skinny pink tie that makes Monty Burns a sneakily well-dressed villain. So what if he tried to blot out the sun—we're pretty sure that suit is Paul Smith.
Mini Kim Jong Il
Where: Team America: World Police
When: 2004
A pompadour, oversized glasses, and utilitarian workwear? If mini Kim Jong Il had ever wanted to hide out in the US, he would've had no problem blending in with the crowd in Williamsburg.
Freddy Krueger
Where: A Nightmare on Elm Street
When: 1984
Ghastly face aside, Freddy Krueger is killing it with his striped red and olive green sweater and skinny, very well-tailored pants (are those Unis?). On the downside, he's chosen gigantic claws as an accessory and if he has a pesky booger he might stab his own brain.
Tyler Durden
Where: Fight Club
When: 1999
In an effort to not overtly give away any spoilers for the movie and book Fight Club, we can say that Tyler Durden dresses in a way that is in a lot of ways how all guys wish they could dress. Like a pugilistic, destructive homicidal maniac crazyface. With interesting shirts.
Commodus
Where: Gladiator
When: 2000
Granted it's just a tiny little bit costumey, but Commodus in Gladiator still looks pretty sick with his metallic attire and gold crown. Normally this much gold would make Trinidad James shake his head, but he seems to be able to make it work. Especially since it matches his man-skirt.
Bill
Where: Kill Bill
When: 2004
White guys wearing Asian garb are usually really annoying, but whether it's because of his Highlander days, David Carradine seems to make the look work. Also, the man is dead so have a little respect. By which we mean get rid of that noragi, dear reader.
Biff Tannen
Where: Back to the Future
When: 1985
Biff Tannen's a jerk and often covered in manure, but he also wears dope varsity jackets and really well fitting pants. The ultimate trendsetter, Biff serves as a inadvertent fashion icon for hypebeasts everywhere.
Stringer Bell
Where: The Wire
When: 2002
The yin to Avon Barksdale's yang, Stringer Bell was the embodiment of Jay-Z's "grown and sexy"/no more jerseys movement in the early '00s. His meticulous style is less surprising when you realize that Idris Elba, the actor who plays him, is a dapper Brit. And then it's surprising again when you realize that the actor moonlights as a DJ of questionable drum & bass.
Voldemort
Where: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
When: 2001
He may not have any discernible facial features, but no one wears a black cowl and accessorizes with a wand better than He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named (Voldemort. His name is Voldemort.).
Gordon Gekko
Where: Wall Street
When: 1987
The archetype of the banker assholes who ruined the economy, Gordon Gekko was actually a pretty well dressed guy. The white collar dress shirt with French cuffs holds up! Mostly for date rapists but still... MONEY NEVER SLEEPS! Ever.
Mr. Chow
Where: The Hangover
When: 2009
There is a certain type of person who can pull off a gold windbreaker, Mr. Chow is one of those men. In fact, be grateful he is wearing clothes at all for most of the movie, because in certain other scenes he is hanging brains.
Li'l Zé
Where: City of God
When: 2002
It ain't so easy staying breezy in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, but the ruthless Li'l Zé stays fresh in an array of tanks and open shirts, as well as both gold and beaded jewelry.
Alex DeLarge
Where: A Clockwork Orange
When: 1971
What really makes head droog Alex DeLarge's 'fits work is less the Puffy-circa-2003 all-white look, but his careful accessorizing: suspenders, ornament on the cuff of his shirt, and the nonchalant top hat. Oh, and one eye's worth of false eyelashes. Batbatbatbat.
General Thade
Where: Planet of the Apes
When: 2001
How many monkeys do you know who can dress themselves, much less put on complicated metal armor? Dude looks like the Beiber monkey after he grew up, got swaggy, and came back for his revenge.
Jafar
Where: Aladdin
When: 1994
So he's wearing a very long, drapey robe that will definitely tempt the haters, but that Kanye shrug shows how many fucks he gives. He's got some dope jewels and the tall, almost Pope-ish hat is nothing to sneeze about.
Bill "The Butcher" Cutting
Where: Gangs of New York
When: 2002
Do you know how hard it is to wear a top hat and handlebar mustache and not look laughable? Daniel Day-Lewis does, but he still pulls it off as the baddie in Gangs Of New York. And besides, Daniel Day-Lewis is just fundamentally intimidating.
Baron Samedi
Where: James Bond: Live and Let Die
When: 1973
The incarnation of death in some cultures, Baron Samedi is never not well dressed in a tuxedo and top hat—and is much better dressed than that OTHER incarnation of death, the Grim Reaper. Is it racist? Is it amazing? Who can say? He looks just like those full-zip LRG skeleton hoodies. Very macabre. Very fresh.
M. Bison a.k.a. Vega
Where: Street Fighter
When: 1991
A recent survey showed that women were more inclined to be attracted to a man wearing red and we all know they love a man in uniform, so by that logic Master Bison must be cleaning up. Besides, GET LOST YOU CAN'T COMPARE WITH MY POWERS!!!!
Darth Vader
Where: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
When: 1977
This is obvious.
Doctor Doom
Where: The Fantastic Four
When: 1962
Doctor Doom set the mask precedent for Kanye, Rocky, and Beiber waayy back in the '60s when his hometown of Lithuania was one of the most fashion-forward places on Earth. He pairs the gold and silver nicely with a drapey green look that any street goth should envy.
Johnny
Where: Karate Kid
When: 2004
If Johnny wasn't so insistent on wearing a headband all the time, his red leather jacket and tapered pants would land him higher on this list. We get it, dude, you're reeeeally into karate. Still though, his look puts most of the competition in a body bag.
Mugatu
Where: Zoolander
When: 2001
He's a fashion maven who tried to take over the world. Thus, his inclusion on this list should come as no surprise. Adorning sweaters with his name emblazened on them, this somewhat cartoonish John Galliano wannabe falls to the bottom because of his unfortunate curly, middle part, silver fox hairstyle. But then again, vive la derelicte!
Storm Shadow
Where: GI Joe: Retaliation
When: 2013
Even though he kinda changes sides in the movie, Storm Shadow's style is consistently fresh. The master killer rocks something similar to an early '00s Rick Owens or Raf Simons goth ninja runway look, and literally and figuratively kills it.
Bane
Where: The Dark Knight Rises
When: 2012
Why does he wear the mask? Some say it helps him breathe, others say fashunz. Gotham may have unwillingly bowed down to Bane, but the street style gods would all kowtow to that shearling-lined coat.
Nino Brown
Where: New Jack City
When: 1991
While ruling over New Jack City's crack empire with an iron and gold-encrusted first, Nino Brown flossed in gear that, for an instant, made you forget the misery he was inflicting. His flashy '90s style brought a whole new meaning to dope.
Patrick Bateman
Where: American Psycho
When: 2000
The archetype for every "bottles and models" banker and finance guy out there today, Patrick Bateman's impeccable style was so on point that it made you almost forget that he was also a homicidal maniac. The only dude that can still out-Lord Disick Lord Disick.