The Flash: The Characters' 10 Most Impractical Outfit Choices, Ranked - Screen Rant

The CW's The Flash has seen Barry Allen and his team at Star Labs grow over time both individually and as a group, but what never seems to change is how impractical their outfits can be even knowing they may have to change to superhero gear at any moment.

Sometimes those moments where they have to "gear up" aren't even able to be planned. For the characters to be in tight outfits, heels, too many layers, or even gloves that don't really serve a purpose, can be an impractical choice for the lifestyle they lead. Even outfits that are in character, stylish, or purposeful in their day jobs are not always ideal for what they know they can run into in Central City.

10 Nora's Supersuit

Nora Allen in her superhero costume laying on steps

Nora West-Allen is also known as XS and is Barry and Iris's daughter from a possible future timeline. Fans and Team Flash know that as a speedster, the costume can make a big difference, so why would Barry's be a jumpsuit but Nora's be a jacket and pants?

Jumpsuit-style super suits just seem like they would be more aerodynamic and better for a speedster, with this not coming across as a good choice for Nora.

9 Iris's Leather Wrap Dress

Split image of Iris in her leather wrap dress

Iris is known for her classic yet snazzy investigative journalist outfits in and out of Star Labs. She can be seen sporting blazers and dresses or jeans and blouses at any moment in time to get the scoop or monitor the various equipment at the lab to help Barry on missions.

Unfortunately, in Season 7's episode, "Fear Me," the leather wrap dress she wears doesn't seem very practical for an episode where someone just fell out of the Speed Force and she wants to investigate a new, creepy, nightmare-style villain. Leather can be loud, warm, and not very breathable. She also tops it off with a peacoat later in the episode and that just seems like she could overheat.

8 Iris's Denim Jumpsuit

Split image of Iris with her arm brace and denim jumpsuit, with Barry in the background

In Season 4, Episode 19, "Fury Rogue," Iris wears the denim jumpsuit to her grief therapy session with Barry after Ralph's death and struggles to get up from the couch. And again, when she has to help the team with their DeVoe problem, she is limited on the use of her right arm when it comes to locating and using the computers in Star Labs.

It isn't that the jumpsuit Iris wore is impractical on its own, but she wore it while her arm was in a sling so it begs the question, how exactly did she maneuver it on, let alone do something as simple as go to the bathroom in it while her arm was meant to be immobile?

7 Caitlin's Pencil Skirt & Thin Heels

The dresses Caitlin Snow wears around the lab are cute and functional for the most part. But every now and then she will sport a pencil skirt and thinner heels, which are still cute, but definitely not as easy to move quickly in.

Her job often requires her to run from lab to computer to microscope and so on. She does this well no matter what outfit she is in but it doesn't make the thin heels on tile floors and tightness of a pencil skirt any less impractical.

6 Cisco's Layers

Cisco Ramon's layered shirts are one of the most notable character styles from the show. And Cisco is probably the character with the most practical outfits on the team, but when he becomes Vibe and adds a leather hero jacket to his wardrobe, taking off the comfortable layers he normally wears can't be as easy.

It wouldn't make sense for Cisco to simply slip on Vibe's leather jacket if he is already wearing a long sleeve shirt under a t-shirt or a t-shirt under a flannel as the jacket would be that much more restrictive. He should stick to the cool, nerdy t-shirts without the layers.

5 Nora's Superhero Disguise

Nora Allen waves in her superhero costume

Unfortunately, Nora isn't the only hero to fall for the 'tiny black mask around the eyes and slightly over the nose will completely hide identity' ruse. But it is also impractical that wearing her hair the same way in both identities would not assist in giving her away.

Fortunately, one of the best things about hero shows is that superhero costumes suddenly make the regular people wearing them instantly unrecognizable. So while it is something the industry and fans inherently agree upon, it doesn't make it any less practical.

4 Barry's Button-Downs

Split image of Barry Allen wearing button down shirts

Grant Gustin's Barry Allen can often be found sporting layers of either a plain tee and jacket or a button-down collared shirt. Both of which are fashionable and flattering for the character but the button-downs are not practical for how often he has to zoom in and out of his Flash jumpsuit.

In all fairness, he is able to change rather quickly considering he is the fastest man alive but undoing and redoing buttons constantly cannot be the easiest thing when someone changes as often as he does.

3 Joe's Trench Coat

Split image of Joe West in a trenchcoat and talking with Barry

Joe's outfits have a tendency to be classic and dark colors with a bit of comfort in mind. But his trench coat that appears every now and then really pulls together his problem-solver look.

Unfortunately, the trench coat is long, making it harder to kneel or hide, and thick, making it warm and tough to move in. Neither of those features makes it a practical piece of clothing for the work Joe and Team Flash do.

2 Snart's Parka

Leonard Snart wearing a parka in The Flash

Leonard Snart, also known as Captain Cold, bears a freeze-ray as his weapon and started out as a jewel thief in The Flash. But unlike Killer Frost, whose powers remain within her core body temperature, Snart is not a cold-blooded supervillain. He just happens to have an ice gun as his weapon of choice.

This makes fans question the need for the parka he is constantly wearing into battles, robberies, and whatever other trouble he brings to the table.

1 Wells The Grey

A funny quip for fans and casual viewers, Wells The Grey, one of 15 different Wells, appears in "When Harry Met Harry," as a candidate for the Council of Wells.

While fans aren't sure if Wells The Grey is just dressed like Gandalf or is an actual wizard, either way, his outfit is not very practical for the typical science career that most Wells' have. It is most definitely is not a practical robe and gown to wear for really anything other than magic.

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About The Author

Cheyenne Hoover (32 Articles Published)

Cheyenne Hoover is a writer, podcaster, and cosplayer based in Orlando, Florida. As the podcast host for Kessel Run Weekly, she often dives into Star Wars, Marvel, and Disney media discussions for episode content. Her passion for film and pop-culture led her to ScreenRant. In her downtime, Cheyenne rides horses, is pursuing a Master's degree, and cares for her crested gecko, Drogon.