Let's do a style showdown.
Between two familiar faces.
Two powerful guys who live the good life while dressed in their stylish threads…
….and fight bad guys when they change into their superhero gear.
Bruce Wayne vs Tony Stark
(Batman's alter ego vs Iron Man's)
Why?
Well, for fun. Nothing too serious.
But also…
I'm hoping you'll gain some insight about the nuances of their styles…
Maybe add some to your own look.
Remember, gents: knowledge is power.
Put your fandom and biases aside, and keep reading to find out who I believe is the more stylish comic book icon: Stark or Wayne.
Click Here To Watch The Video – Style Showdown: Wayne vs. Stark
Click Here To Watch The Video – Who Wore It Better: Batman or Iron Man?
Wayne Vs Stark Round #1 – The Suit And Tie
We've seen many male leads dressed in a suit and tie. Some look razor-sharp. Others' slightly less convincing. But one thing these two superheroes have in common is how good they look in suits. Now let's compare their suited-up styles.
Bruce Wayne: Suit & Tie
Being the wealthiest man in Gotham, Bruce has an obligation to appear as though he's a level above everyone else in public (and he kind of is: remember this scene?). So it's no surprise that his suit-and-tie combination is geared towards classically conservative.
The suits Christian Bale wore for the Dark Knight trilogy had been custom-made by Giorgio Armani. The designers went for the two-button design in gray plaid, charcoal gray, midnight blue, and other similar tones. This was because Bruce had learned to be very comfortable in those colors, which matched the tones of his Batsuits.
Tony Stark: Suit & Tie
Tony is a very individualistic guy. As he has shown throughout the Marvel films, he's never comes across as boring. This is why he often suits up in a more casual and fashion-forward manner.
He may pair such things as a dark suit jacket and a red dress shirt to create some contrast. Bold stripes are his favorite necktie pattern. You know what I think? Sometimes he nails the whole thing, and sometimes he slightly misses the mark. The fit doesn't always look spot-on, although it may have something to do with how he tends to leave the jacket unbuttoned. But at least there's always some flash.
Verdict: Bruce Wayne takes this round. His style is more consistent and he's not trying to fix what isn't broken. This commands a little more respect.
Wayne Vs Stark Round 2 – The Hairstyle
Bruce Wayne: Hairstyle
Bruce keeps his hair at a medium length. He keeps everything neat and slicked back and never has any facial hair. Overall, his is the more traditional hairstyle of the two, comparable to the styles of men in The Godfather and Mad Men. Guys like Bruce most likely uses a nice wax or pomade to maintain that slick look, which signals power every bit as effectively as his suit.
Tony Stark: Hairstyle
It's definitely more about hairspray with Tony. He probably doesn't spend much time styling or combing after applying the spray. He likes his hair a little tousled, which does complement his laid-back personality (when he's not fixated on some high-tech project). Take note that Tony also has a distinct Balbo beard about 2 inches thick. He always keeps his facial hair well-groomed.
Verdict: Let's call it a tie here. Both clearly know what they're doing when it comes to their hair.
Wayne Vs Stark Round 3 – Sunglasses
Bruce Wayne: Sunglasses
Being true to Batman's second name' “The Dark Knight”, Bruce wears black sunglasses almost exclusively. He's into the wayfarer style of shades, which suits his classic, conservative image perfectly.
Tony Stark: Sunglasses
Tony's personality is clever, expressive, killingly smooth and arrogant. So it's only fitting that his shades are low-tinted aviators through which you can see his eyes. He's been seen wearing red-, brown- and violet-colored lenses throughout the Marvel movies.
Verdict: I'd give Tony Stark the edge. His sunglasses give off a vibe that's less guarded and more self-confident. It's also great that he changes up the color.
Wayne Vs Stark Showdown: #4 – Choice Of Watch
Bruce Wayne: Watch
As we see in the image above on the left, Bruce is sporting a classic Reverso by the Swiss brand Jaeger-LeCoultre. This style was actually a consistent part of Mr. Wayne's wardrobe in the Batman movies that came before the Dark Knight trilogy. It's narrow in shape, has a classic design with the rectangular watch face and brown leather band – ideal for an old-school billionaire.
Tony Stark: Watch
Jaeger-LeCoultre was also brought in for Mr. Stark's watches. The most used piece was the AMVOX3 Tourbillon GMT, pictured above on the right. It looks very much like a techie's watch, built with a subsidiary seconds dial, a periphery date, and an additional time zone for a quick “east or west” time adjustment.
Verdict: It's another tie. While the watches are quite different from each other, each one best represents the guy who's wearing it.
Wayne Vs Stark: #5 – Behavior & Communication
Bruce Wayne: Behavior & Communication
Bruce generally conducts himself in a more reserved manner. Sometimes it does seem as if he could be hiding something – he is Batman after all – but not to the extent that people can't trust him. When it comes to being charming and talking like a gentleman, he's pretty skilled.
Tony Stark: Behavior & Communication
Tony is smart and charismatic in his own right. But with those countless one-liners and sarcastic remarks in the movies, he's a polarizing character to most of the people he crosses paths with (compare his relationships with Spider-Man and Dr. Strange in Infinity War). Of course, you'll love him and enjoy hearing his quips as an audience member. But there's a chance you wouldn't want to deal with him all the time if you knew him. The rudeness or arrogance may turn you off.
Verdict: As much as I get a kick out of Tony's wit and humor, Bruce is still the more well-mannered of the two. And good manners go a long way for men who really care about their style and image.
Overall, Who's The Winner Of This Showdown?
If we base the winner strictly on a points system, Bruce Wayne comes out on top. Do you agree with this? Do you think Tony Stark should've outscored Bruce in certain aspects of the judging criteria? Or is it more sensible to just call it even?
Honestly – crowning a winner doesn't matter to me. Remember' I wrote this showdown article primarily for fun. But I also wanted to give you guys a little more insight on two powerful and successful men in fiction, with two strikingly different personal styles. Sure, it's fun to put them side by side and pick apart which stuff one does better. But they're ultimately so different that there's no point asking yourself “Who's better overall?”
Instead, ask yourself this: “What elements of either Bruce Wayne's or Tony Stark's style might be worth adopting?” You're even free to combine elements from both as long as (1) they send the message you want to send and (2) you understand your style. That's why it's good to spend some time educating yourself on men's style. Real Men Real Style's courses can help with that 🙂
