Disney villains were created to be evil and scary, but their outfits are often lacking, as they are not practical for their occupation. They need something that won't hinder them while they carry out their work, however, this is usually not the case. Disney creates the villains' looks to enhance their features and job description, rather than make them something practical that will help them succeed.
It can be hard to be practical when there is so much at stake for Disney as to how their audience perceives a villain, which is why practicality is thrown out the window. They look well-suited for their villainous role, but not so much for the work they carry out throughout their movies.
Lady Tremaine
Lady Tremaine's outfit in Cinderella might not seem too impractical, but it is, seeing as she is trying to help marry one of her daughters off to the prince. Fans already know that Cinderella is an excellent seamstress, seeing as she originally made a cute gown for the ball from scraps.
This villain could have made Cinderella make her something high-class and regal to help in her ploy. Instead, she looks more like a seamstress than her stepdaughter with this look.
Madame Medusa
Madame Medusa owns a pawn shop in New York City in The Rescuers, as well as two huge alligators, which is why her red dress is anything but practical. She chooses to wear a sleazy red dress and a pair of heels, and this can't be helpful when trying to wrangle her pets under control.
It also doesn't make sense as she continues to wear it, even when she heads to Devil's Bayou, a swamp where no sane person would ever wear a dress, especially when hunting for treasure.
Ursula
Ursula lives under the sea in The Little Mermaid with Ariel, and her impractical outfit is the body she was given. She is an octopus rather than a mermaid, and her makeup makes it impractical for this kind of sea creature, even if she is one of the best '80s witches.
This villain has no need for eyeshadow, lipstick, or even nail polish, as it would have to be applied numerous times a day unless she has the greatest waterproof makeup known to man.
Shan Yu
Mulan introduced the world to a Hun named Shan Yu, even though he wasn't in the original poem, and it is no surprise that Mulan defeated him. He wore clothes that were heavy enough to protect him from the cold, but they weren't going to stop the sharp edge of any sword, even though he did die differently in the movie.
He did make the right choice by wearing a glove for his falcon to land on, so his hands might have had a bit more protection compared to the rest of his body. No matter, his outfit still doesn't compare to the practicality of the armor worn by those in the Imperial Army.
Jafar
Jafar from Aladdin really missed the mark when it comes to his outfit's practicality, even if he nailed the sorcery vibe that he wanted to achieve.
Overall, his outfit is made to protect him from the sand and share his position as the Sultan's advisor with the world, as it was a position he earned through his intelligence. The staff he chose to carry wasn't great, as Aladdin was able to easily smash it on the ground, making it an impractical accessory for this villain to rely on for their bad deeds.
Prince John
Robin Hood's Prince John had a crown that would continuously fall off his head, which is as annoying for him as it was for viewers. Also, he was royalty in Robin Hood, but instead, he tended to look more like a bum with a fancy robe. He only wore his long johns underneath and the robe made him look like a lesser lion, as it overtook his small frame.
Cruella De Vil
Cruella de Vil wanted a coat made from the hides of dalmatian puppies, in 101 Dalmatians. However, her outfit as she tried to achieve this dream was anything but practical, as it made it difficult for her to move around.
The fur coat was bulky and hideous, while her dress was just long enough to make it easy for her to trip over her own two feet. One also would have thought she might pull her hair back to keep it out of her face while she captures the puppies, but instead, she left it down to serve as a distraction.
Governor Ratcliffe
Governor Ratcliffe came to Virginia in search of gold, but his outfit didn't speak the truth of his motives, even if it was historically accurate.
The New World in Pocahontas was uncharted territory and required a lot of physical labor to prepare the land in order to make it livable. This villain obviously had no plans to help them, although his outfit still was impractical, as he was forced to traverse rough terrain and a lot of mud in very expensive shoes.
Captain Hook
Captain Hook's outfit is very impractical and it is easy to see why. The large hat and his long, flowing hair were more of a distraction when he was battling in Peter Pan, and the red of his clothing made him a very easy target to spot. His shirt ruffles would have been more than cumbersome and that mustache would have required quite a bit of maintenance.
Yzma
Yzma wore a few outfits throughout the film, and they were all impractical while she tried everything in her power to kill the emperor. She loved her long dresses and heels, which had a knack for sticking in the mud at the worst possible moments.
Her long fingernails wouldn't make it easy for her to measure out potions either, and the purple feathers in the collar of her dress make her extremely identifiable by anyone she sees, even if it does make for some amazing memes.