It was 2015 when David Ayer tweeted that first photo. You remember it. Jared Leto, hunched over, clutching his head, covered in tattoos that felt a little too "on the nose" for a guy who is supposed to be a criminal mastermind. The joker outfit suicide squad fans saw that day sparked a decade of debate. Some loved the modern, cartel-inspired grime. Others? They felt like the Clown Prince of Crime had been turned into a Soundcloud rapper.
Honestly, the look was a massive pivot. Before this, we had Heath Ledger’s grunge-anarchist aesthetic and Jack Nicholson’s classic mobster vibe. Suddenly, we were looking at a guy in a purple crocodile skin trench coat with no shirt underneath. It was jarring. It was loud. It was deeply divisive.
The Method Behind the Tattoos and Teeth
Costume designer Kate Hawley had a monumental task. She wasn't just dressing a villain; she was world-building for a version of Gotham that felt more like a sweaty, neon-soaked fever dream. She looked at real-world drug lords and Russian mobsters. She wanted the joker outfit suicide squad style to reflect a man who was obsessed with his own mythos.
Take the "Damaged" tattoo on his forehead. That’s probably the most hated ink in cinematic history. Ayer later admitted on social media that he regretted that specific choice, noting that it was a bit too literal. The idea was that Batman had smashed the Joker's teeth out after he killed Robin, leading to the grill and the forehead ink as a "middle finger" to the Dark Knight. It’s a cool bit of lore, sure, but visually? It felt like a hat on a hat.
The grill wasn't just for flair. It tells a story of a violent past. In the comics, the Joker usually has those perfect, terrifying white teeth. Here, he’s a guy who has been through the ringer. He’s been beaten, but he’s wealthy enough to fix himself with silver and gold. It’s tacky. It’s flashy. It’s exactly what a narcissistic gang leader in the 21st century might actually look like.
The Purple Trench Coat and Streetwear Influence
When you think of the Joker, you think of a purple suit. That’s the rule. Hawley kept the color but ditched the tailoring. The purple trench coat used in the film was made of high-end crocodile skin (or a very convincing faux version for production). It draped differently than a blazer. It felt heavy. When Leto moved, the coat had a specific weight to it that made him look larger than he actually was.
Then there were the leggings and the boxing shorts. Yeah, remember those? In several scenes, particularly in the Arkham Asylum flashbacks, the joker outfit suicide squad ensemble consists of sweatpants or boxers with his name printed on them. It’s weirdly domestic but also incredibly vain. It suggests a man who views himself as a brand. He isn't just a murderer; he’s an icon in his own mind.
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Why the Look Failed for Some and Worked for Others
A lot of the backlash came from the "try-hard" energy. Fans of the Arkham games or the 90s animated series wanted something timeless. They wanted the long coat and the fedora. What they got was a guy who looked like he spent four hours in a tattoo parlor before every heist.
But here’s the thing: it fit the movie’s vibe. Suicide Squad (2016) was basically an extended music video. It was edited with a frantic, pop-art sensibility. In that context, a classic Joker suit would have looked boring. The neon green hair—brighter than we’d ever seen—popped against the dark, rainy streets of Midway City. It was designed for the Instagram era. It was designed to be a Halloween costume, and boy, did it work for that. For three years straight, you couldn't go to a party without seeing a guy in a "Property of Joker" jacket or a silver grill.
Materials and Texture
The textures were actually pretty intricate. If you look at high-resolution stills of the tuxedo he wears during the helicopter scene, it’s not just a black suit. It has a subtle sheen, almost like oil on water.
- The Cane: It was topped with a gold skull and encrusted with jewels.
- The Rings: He wore massive rings on almost every finger, reinforcing the "pimp" aesthetic that Ayer was going for.
- The Makeup: It wasn't the thick, cakey greasepaint Ledger used. It was a chemical-bleached white, looking more like skin than paint.
This Joker didn't put on a costume; he was the costume. That’s a subtle distinction, but it matters. He didn't have a civilian identity to go back to.
The Impact on Future On-Screen Jokers
After the joker outfit suicide squad controversy, the pendulum swung hard the other way. When Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker arrived in 2019, the costume was stripped back. It was a 70s-era polyester suit in burgundy and orange. It was grounded, realistic, and decidedly un-cool.
Then came The Batman (2022) with Barry Keoghan. That look went even further into the grotesque, focusing on physical deformity rather than fashion. It feels like the "Hot Topic Joker" from 2016 scared the studios back into realism. They saw the memes. They heard the jokes about the "Damaged" tattoo.
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However, Leto did get a second chance. In the Snyder Cut of Justice League, his outfit was completely overhauled. Gone were the rings and the purple coat. He wore a surgical gown and tactical gear, looking like a survivor of the apocalypse. It was a grim, muted version that many fans preferred, though it lost the unique "cartel kingpin" energy of the original.
Real-World Influence and the "Edgelord" Aesthetic
We can't talk about this outfit without talking about its impact on fashion and internet culture. The 2016 movie leaned heavily into the "Hot Topic" aesthetic. It was mall-goth meets luxury streetwear.
Even today, you see echoes of the joker outfit suicide squad in certain corners of hip-hop and alternative fashion. The idea of taking a classic character and "trapping" him out was a bold move. It didn't always land, but it was a choice. In a world of safe, formulaic superhero movies, at least this one had a specific, loud-mouthed opinion on how a villain should look.
Most of the wardrobe was custom-made, but some pieces were inspired by high-fashion houses like Versace and Moschino. The goal was to make him look like he had an unlimited budget but zero taste. That’s a hard balance to strike. To make someone look expensive and "trashy" at the same time takes a lot of intentional design work.
Missing Scenes and Wardrobe Changes
It’s a known fact that a lot of Leto’s scenes were cut. Rumors suggest there were several other outfits we never got to see in the theatrical release. Some behind-the-scenes photos showed a more military-inspired look, while others featured him in a variety of flamboyant silk robes.
The wardrobe was supposed to show the passage of time and his various moods. One minute he’s a businessman in a tux; the next, he’s a manic boyfriend in a gold jacket. By cutting those scenes, the outfits we did see felt a bit more random than they were intended to be.
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How to Pull Off the Look (For Cosplay or Collections)
If you're looking to recreate the joker outfit suicide squad style, you have to focus on the layers. Don't just buy a cheap polyester kit from a big-box store.
- The Coat is Everything: Look for a textured faux-crocodile material. The way it catches the light is what makes it look "movie quality."
- The Hair Tone: It’s not "grass green." It’s "highlighter green." Use a semi-permanent dye or a high-quality wig; don't settle for the spray-on stuff that turns into a chalky mess.
- The Tattoos: This is where most people fail. They use stickers that peel off in an hour. If you’re serious, look into alcohol-based ink transfers. They stay matte and look like they’re actually in the skin.
- The Grill: Don't buy the "one size fits all" plastic ones. There are moldable silicone versions that actually fit your teeth. If you can't talk with them in, you won't be able to do the laugh.
Final Insights on a Polarizing Legacy
The joker outfit suicide squad wasn't a mistake; it was an experiment. It asked: "What if the Joker existed in a world of social media, cartel violence, and hyper-consumerism?"
The answer from the public was a resounding "No, thank you," but that doesn't mean it lacked craft. The level of detail in the rings, the specific shades of purple, and the narrative storytelling through the tattoos showed a creative team that was swinging for the fences.
Whether you love it or hate it, you can't stop talking about it. A decade later, we are still analyzing why a forehead tattoo ruined a movie for some people and defined a generation of cosplay for others. It’s a testament to the power of costume design. It can make a character immortal, or it can make them a meme. In this case, it did both.
For those looking to dive deeper into the world of cinematic costume design, researching Kate Hawley’s other work on Crimson Peak or The Hobbit provides great context for her ability to blend history with fantasy. If you're building a collection, focus on finding the limited edition replicas of the purple coat, as they remain the most sought-after pieces of memorabilia from that era of the DCEU.
To truly understand the impact, watch the film again but mute the sound. Look at the colors. Look at the way the clothes move. You might find that the outfit tells a better story than the script ever did.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Researching the Lore: Check out the Suicide Squad: Behind the Scenes with the Worst Heroes Ever hardcover book. It contains high-resolution photos of the costume fittings that aren't available online.
- Cosplay Accuracy: If you are building this outfit, prioritize the "Damaged" tattoo placement. If it’s even half an inch off, it throws the whole facial symmetry of the Leto Joker look.
- Sourcing Materials: Search for "iridescent purple faux leather" rather than "Joker fabric" to find more realistic materials for the trench coat.