How Supergirl’s New Costume Compares to Superman’s in the DCU

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We’re now getting a good look at Supergirl’s official costume for the DC Universe, and it’s a significant reveal. While Supergirl has appeared in many forms over the years, her outfits have often been based on Superman’s design. Interestingly, DC Comics trademarked the name “Supergirl” way back in 1945, anticipating the character’s popularity even though she didn’t actually appear until 1959. They clearly recognized the connection to Superman early on.

Milly Alcock, known for her roles in shows like Upright and House of the Dragon, plays Supergirl in the DCU, and first appeared in this year’s Superman movie. The first trailer for the upcoming Supergirl film has given us our best view yet of her official costume, and it’s intentionally designed to closely resemble the suit worn by her cousin, Superman (played by David Corenswet). This similarity in design is quite important and suggests a strong connection between the two characters.

The Kryptonian Influence on Supergirl’s Costume

It’s clear Supergirl’s costume is intentionally similar to Superman’s. Originally, in the comics, this was a way for her to pay tribute to the more famous hero. However, since Superman hasn’t been around for very long in the DC Universe, there’s likely another reason for the resemblance. It’s possible that Superman’s costume actually represents his home planet, Krypton. This connection makes the recent reveal about Krypton’s history – that it was an imperialistic society – even more impactful and personally devastating for Clark Kent.

The similarities between Supergirl and Superman’s costumes are remarkably detailed. It’s not just the overall design that’s the same – even the small details, like the pattern of the lining on their blue suits, are identical. While Marvel often uses this kind of lining to add visual interest to superhero costumes in movies, James Gunn’s DC Universe is doing the same. This technique breaks up large areas of solid color and adds depth, much like how artists use shading. However, it’s particularly interesting that Supergirl’s costume directly copies the pattern from Superman’s.

While similar to Superman’s, Supergirl’s costume has a slightly more futuristic look, especially in the design of her belt and the sharp edges of her boots. The belt’s angled patterns strongly hint at Kryptonian origins. It’s notable that the costume uses so many sharp angles, as female superhero outfits typically feature curves. This design choice signals that Supergirl is a powerful, independent hero – not a character who needs rescuing.

What Supergirl’s Kryptonian Influence Means

Krypton is often depicted as a beautiful, advanced world that met with disaster. However, the current DC Universe storytelling has flipped that idea. It turns out the Kryptonians believed they were genetically better than humans and sent Superman to Earth with the intention of him breeding with people to create a superior race. Superman was unaware of this history, but Supergirl does remember what Krypton was truly like. Interestingly, even though she cherishes her home world, she’s intentionally kept Clark in the dark about its true nature.

The new DC Universe’s reimagining of Krypton creates an interesting conflict for Supergirl. She proudly displays symbols of her home world, but deliberately avoids discussing its troubling history. The upcoming Supergirl movie draws inspiration from the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow storyline, which shows Kara dealing with grief by escaping her problems. However, the DCU version, hinted at by her costume, might explore her emotional journey in a more nuanced way.

Why Does Supergirl Wear a Skirt?

Supergirl’s costume differs from Superman’s – he’s known for his red trunks, while she wears a skirt. Over the years in comic books, Supergirl’s appearance has changed quite a bit. In 1970, there was even a contest where readers suggested different looks for her, which she considered on the cover of Adventure Comics #397. She didn’t settle on the now-classic design that’s been used in the DC Universe until the 1980s, and the outfit worn by Helen Slater in the Supergirl movie played a role in that.

Within the show’s story, Supergirl’s skirt and brown trench coat might be expressions of her rebellious side. The coat, in particular, suggests she sometimes wants to blend in and avoid attention. It can easily conceal her vibrant costume, making it harder to recognize her when she’s out in public.

Let’s not overthink the skirt. Like Superman’s iconic trunks, it’s just a recognizable part of Supergirl’s classic look, and James Gunn intentionally included it to play with those familiar images. This Supergirl is more practical than previous versions – because she doesn’t have a secret identity, she doesn’t need to hide her costume under everyday clothes before transforming.

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2025-12-12 21:48