Earlier this week, photos from the New York set of the upcoming Joker sequel unveiled one of the looks Lady Gaga’s character, Harley Quinn, would be wearing in the film.
I couldn’t help but think back to how much the character of Harley Quinn has grown from her beginnings in the Batman comic books to now being brought to life by stars like Margot Robbie and Lady Gaga. Harley Quinn has come a long way from just being the Joker’s black-and-red side piece, with newer films like Birds of Prey and The Suicide Squad exploring the more independent, feminist, and just plain fun aspects of the character. In honor of Lady Gaga’s recently revealed look as Harley Quinn in the upcoming Joker film Folie a Deux, here are my rankings of the best Harley Quinn outfits.
- “Daddy’s Little Monster” Outfit from Suicide Squad (2016)
-
While the original Suicide Squad is what first brought Harley Quinn onto the big screen, I can’t help but find her outfit in this movie to be just lacking.
Personally, the outfit sexualizes her and ties her down to the Joker in a way that takes away any of her own agency. Harley literally wears a jacket that says ‘Property of the Joker.’ Plus, Margot Robbie herself admitted that the original costume made her feel incredibly self-conscious on set. What’s keeping this on the list is that I do love the baby blue and bubblegum pink hair.
- Flame-Sequined Jacket From Birds of Prey
-
This outfit practically screams 70s, while also being one of the most fun pieces in cinematic history. It comes at the end of the film and represents Harley’s newfound independence with a fun, free, and quintessentially Harley Quinn outfit. I love the flames lining the trim and shoulders of the jacket and all the other fun patches and sequins that make for a fun outfit.
However, the accessories might carry it over the edge, which is why I ranked it lower on the list. The sunglasses, fun as they are, clash with the colors of the jacket, and personally, there is such a thing as too much jewelry.
- Gentlemen Prefer Platinum Blondes From Birds of Prey
-
This one has a little bit of personal bias from me, as I love Marilyn Monroe’s ‘Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend’ scene, and Harley’s outfit is one of the greatest references to the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, hands-down.
First of all, taking the dress and turning it into a fabulous pantsuit was a great choice. Secondly, it’s a darker pink than Marilyn’s, separating Harley not only from the classic femme character that Marilyn portrays but also separating herself from the bubblegum pink palette that defined her during her relationship with the Joker.
The movie is all about Harley’s independence, and the costuming in this scene perfectly encapsulates it.
- Red Wedding Dress From The Suicide Squad
-
On top of just being a dress that I want myself, everything about Harley’s red wedding dress from the climax of The Suicide Squad is just neat to look at.
The addition of the combat boots was fun and practical, and I loved seeing Harley rip off pieces to actually fight with, showing off her capabilities as her own villain. The end result of the ripped–up dress, loose pigtails, and combat boots is fun and shows off Harley’s slightly majorly unhinged personality.
- The Fringed Jacket From Birds of Prey
-
This look is iconic, and not just because it’s the main outfit worn throughout the movie. Personally, I find that this is peak Harley Quinn: fun, flirty, and a little bit crazy.
It shows off a decent amount of skin in between the shorts and bra top, but the bright orange suspenders and pinstripe shorts are so bright and patterned that they reflect the more fun and independent aspects of Harley’s character.
But my favorite part is the over-the-top fringe jacket, which is literally made with shredded pieces of streamers and caution tape. How much more Harley could that be?
- Gold Overalls From Birds of Prey
-
This is my favorite outfit in any superhero movie, period. If they actually sold gold playing-card diamond overalls, I would buy them in a heartbeat.
It’s a simple look, with just the overalls, a hot pink top, matching high-heeled boots, and the jewelry she’s been wearing across the films, but it’s just so fun and so Harley. It’s flirty and cute in a way that doesn’t seem to be made for the male gaze. The roller skates are practical, fun, and actually tie into her character’s hobbies after severing herself from Joker.
For me, this look cements Harley as her own person, separate from the Joker or the Suicide Squad, while still staying true to her personality.