When it comes to breakout characters, you can't beat Harley Quinn. Not only did the alter-ego of Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel attract so much fan love on Batman: The Animated Series that she earned an introduction to the DC Comics Universe, but once there she became so beloved that she became the invisible fourth tent pole of DC's fictional world, standing alongside Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman in terms of popularity while getting none of the respect of her more heroic counterparts.
Whether for Halloween or cosplay, fans love to dress as Harley, and like any comics character, the Jokers' former beau has run through more than her fair share of costumes in her comics stories. But which of these costumes are the easiest for fans to create or customize at home?
Superhero Harley: Injustice, New 52, and Harleen
Harley Quinn is a street hero (and sometime villain) whose outfits often cross the line between superhero costume and iconic street wear. We'll stick with the former for now, choosing the easiest versions of Harley's actual costumes to create at home. First, we've got an outfit from Harley's appearance in the Injustice and Injustice 2 comic series, both of which were tie-ins to the incredibly popular fighting games Injustice: Gods Among Us and Injustice 2. The games and comics both feature a range of outfits for Harley, but the relatively muted get-up above is the kind of thing you can assemble at home - bonus points if you include the mallet and bottle of Kryptonian pills, which empower Harley Quinn with enough strength to tangle with Superman.
Harley's New 52 costume is a little more complicated, but the reliance on make-up and dyed hair brings it in line with Harley's cinematic depictions while still maintaining a definitive superhero aesthetic, and it offers plenty of potential for personalization with its choker, belt, and jacket. Finally, Harley's Harleen costume minimizes the frills while adding distinctive but simple touches like the mismatched ribbons in Harley's hair.
Street clothes Harley: Dr. Quinzel, Mad Love, DC Bombshells
Before she encountered the Joker and became first his henchwoman and then a hero in her own right, Dr. Quinzel was a qualified psychiatrist working at Arkham Asylum. There's no fixed look for this part of Harley's life, though platinum hair, a white coat, and regular clothes that match her red and black costumed motif are the standard. Add an Arkham Asylum name badge and you've got a comics-accurate costume, or get a little more creative by adding accessories like supervillain paperwork or a painted smile to suggest the very beginning of Harley's descent into villainy.
Far more risque is Harley's "Mad Love" outfit, which includes her Batman: The Animated Series jester hat, white face paint, a domino mask, and some red negligee. Initially from the cartoon, this look was later recreated in the comics, with Harley's suggestive "rev up your Harley" line becoming a favorite DC meme. More complex is Harley Quinn's DC Bombshells depiction - an aesthetic inspired by classic pin-up artwork which imagines the DC heroines as iconic heroes guarding the homefront during WWII.
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Those are just the easiest Harley Quinn costumes for you to create or customize at home. If you're looking for something more striking, Harley's classic red and black jester suit is a sight to behold, while her movie costumes are less iconic but far easier to assemble with access to a few thrift stores and some creative ingenuity. Whatever you do, remember that Harley's look is always changing, and the aim of any accurate costume is to evoke Harley's anarchic, take-no-prisoners attitude. Whatever makes you feel like a murderous clown ninja capable of kicking Batman's ass, that's the perfect Harley Quinn costume.