If television had a yearbook, the award for Best Dressed Assassin would go to Killing Eve's Villanelle, no contest. The glamorous hitwoman has a multitude of weapons in her arsenal, none more deadly than her wardrobe. Her array of sleek disguises is just as fashionable as her civilian clothes — though calling Villanelle a civilian is like calling a cheetah a house cat.
Whoever said crimes don't pay sure hasn't looked at the price tags of Villanelle's designer couture. Which is fortunate, considering her bloody line of work. Her dry cleaning bills must be astronomical. Here is Killing Eve: Villanelle's 10 Most Killer Outfits, Ranked.
Update, July 7th, 2020 by Darby Harn: The recently completed third season of Killing Eve had Villanelle debut even more amazing - and sometimes outrageous - outfits. From dres as a clown at a children's birthday party to wearing a mustard cloak right off The Village, Villanelle knows how to make a lasting impression. Which is ironic, considering not many people last long at all once they cross paths with her. Probably helps to have big, gorgeous black hair.
Barcelona Blue
One of season three's most stunning new looks showed up in Barcelona, where Villanelle had set up shop to begin her training as a Keeper within the mysterious organization of The Twelve. It didn't go well, but this dress did. A stunning floral print against an electric blue fabric, the dress instantly pops against the earth tones of the Spanish city. The dress is a designer piece by The Vampire’s Wife label, a London-based brand founded by Susie Cave, who is a model and wife of singer Nick Cave.
Barcelona Yellow
Another outstanding outfit Villanelle wears in her extravagant Barcelona apartment couldn't be more different, but it's equally gorgeous. The moment she realizes her nemesis and love interest Eve Polastri is still alive in episode two, Villanelle is wearing an amazing yellow-orange patterned 70s mod-style dress. The printed dress from label La DoubleJ comes equipped with distressed Golden Goose cowboy boots. Sadly, like pretty much all of her outfits, it's only used in this one single scene.
Clowning Around
The best part about this is that it's not even her most outrageous outfit. Jodie Comer makes her formal audition tape to play the Joker in any one of the infinite movies involving the character in episode three, where she dresses up like a clown on a hit in . The look is hilarious and gonzo, but like always with her, posh. Her clown pops with hyper-vibrant colors and expert makeup, creating an instantly iconic look that ranks this among her best outfits.
Mustard, Please
For the majority of the third season's finale episode, Villanelle wears a strikingly simplistic mustard-colored ribbon coat. This yellow tie neck coat is an Oversized Ribbon Coat by Loewe, and features in the dramatic scene on Tower Bridge in London where Eve and Villanelle finally come to a reckoning about their relationship. Villanelle tends to always go bold, but the simplicity of this coat - loud as it is - marks a deliberate turning point in her character.
Green Monster
The coup de grace of the third season - and maybe the show - is the riotously bold and green outfit Villanelle wears in Scotland. Stalking a potential victim on a golf course along with her Twelve handler Dasha, Villanelle wears a truly iconic bomber jacket.
Charlotte Knowles’ exaggerated bomber features forest-green checks and frilly green shag-like accents that send it way, way over the top. But Villanelle is nothing if not bold, and on her, it works. Then again, anything does.
Naughty Neighbor
Villanelle is a mistress of disguise, even when she's off the clock. Pink is her perfect camouflage. This Phillip Lim statement bomber jacket is the style of a sweet, feminine Parisian, n'est-ce pas? Hardly the sort of ensemble of a deranged assassin who slices a man's femoral artery in broad daylight.
She certainly has her neighbor Sebastian fooled. Between Villanelle's ensemble, accent, and her bruised face, Sebastian thinks she's a damsel in distress. In reality, the only person he should be saving is himself. He becomes Villanelle's accidental casualty when he takes a whiff of her poisoned perfume. Whoopsie. Talk about dressing to kill, Villanelle.
Pajama Party
Wearing pajamas in public has a definite sadness about it. But Villanelle, in stolen boys' comic-print pajamas, looks anything but. First of all, she's a victim of circumstance. She was in the hospital being treated for a stab wound. What else was she to do but kill an orphan child and steal his clothes?
Second, Villanelle can rock anything. These PJs perfectly complement her twisted personality. It's not often audiences love a cold-blooded killer but Villanelle has so much fun at what she does, we can't help but be charmed by her. Why not let her outfit be a reflection of her infectious, childlike glee?
Horsing Around
Villanelle's bosses are constantly telling her to tone down her flashy kills. They just don't appreciate her artistry. Sometimes Villanelle feels like a racehorse trapped in a stable. So why not dress like a sophisticated horseback rider on her way to a dressage competition?
This Chloé horse-print blazer certainly is at the pinnacle of poshness. Her purple Isabel Marant blouse adds a splash of Villanelle color. But gorgeous as it is, the blazer-blouse combo alone is not enough to stand out. Not pictured is Villanelle's metallic silver pants, a nod to Y2K chic. Villanelle perfectly lands the dismount of this unhinged equestrian look.
Shop 'Til You Drop
The assassin game can be rough. Demanding bosses. Unpredictable hours. Always on the road. But with great sacrifice comes great reward, and Villanelle is one flush killer. She'd have to be, considering her penchant for designer duds. Her credit card bill is likely higher than her kill count.
After a hard day at the office, Villanelle treats herself to a little retail therapy. Of course, what fun is that without looking like the peak of glamour itself? A Burberry trench coat is all Villanelle needs while giving herself a much-deserved shopping spree. This is hardly Villanelle's loudest outfit, but the dusty rose makes her look elegant and effortless.
Tuscan Traveler
Villanelle may be a glamour-puss, but pretty dresses aren't going to cut it when travelling from Point A to Point B. Still, the beautiful Tuscan countryside deserves a beautiful outfit to match. Villanelle's airy Chloé blouse provides an attractive contrast to her cutoff denim shorts. Also, being a hitwoman means practical shoes are a must. Sky-high stilettos don't exactly go with motorcycles...or breaking and entering. So hello, Doc Martens.
Sometimes Villanelle's wardrobe choices are like a wall-to-wall abstract painting in an art gallery —beautiful to look at, but we wouldn't want it for ourselves. This is one look we would definitely go for...with the trip to Tuscany thrown in, please and thank you.