Anime always seems to have some of the best and most beautiful characters, even if they're evil. Sometimes that's a part of their charm — it's important to make a villain likable in some way, and making them nice to look at is one easy way to do it.
There's more to all of the following characters than just their wardrobe, but it is a nice place to start, and it's often the first thing that the viewer notices about them. It might be the kind of realistic or practical fashion that works for real life, or a fancy or formal costume that reflects their personality in some way. Regardless of where their style comes from, all these villains from anime have impeccable fashion sense.
7 Nephrite — Sailor Moon
One of the Dark Generals in the original Sailor Moon series, Nephrite not only looked the best in uniform, but also seemed to rock the civilian look better than his peers. He was known for that casual slacks and jacket ensemble, and combining that with a red Ferrari made him look even more 1990s stylish.
In the tradition of Sailor Moon, in which love conquers everything, bad guy Nephrite is thwarted by the pure and innocent love of non-magical girl Molly. Despite his status as a villain, his death is one of the most heart-wrenching in the series, partly because his unique style left the show forever.
6 Dio Brando — JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Dio Brando always had a keen fashion sense, even before he became an evil immortal being, so it wasn't just a side effect of becoming a vampire. It couldn't have been easy to develop this keen style, either, as his rough and poor upbringing must not have presented a lot of options.
What sets Dio's fashion sense apart is how ostentatious and daring it is. This is a villain that dresses to be noticed for all eternity, and the bright colors, flowing cape, signature chaps, and fitting tank top totally scream that out.
5 Misa Amane — Death Note
Misa wasn't just a pop idol because she was cute. When it came to dressing up, whether in a disguise or for a date, nobody was smarter about it than Misa Amane. In an anime series that's known for its intelligent characters, that's saying a lot.
Using her keen sense of clothing and style, Misa was able to trick Light the first time they almost met, luring him to a certain location and figuring out his identity by using her Shinigami eyes. Other costumes she wears include the Goth princess look and the maid costume, which are equally stunning and tragic.
4 Sesshomaru — Inuyasha
The historic clothing that's part of the setting of Inuyasha looks great on many of the characters, but it's the statuesque Sesshomaru that wears it the best. He's also one of the most compelling characters with a complete arc, starting out as a villain but eventually switching sides.
His fashion sense, which mixes medieval armor and fur pauldron, comes from his background as an ancient dog spirit. Sesshomaru has his own mission, and he helps Inuyasha and the main characters occasionally, but he always cites this as out of necessity and not his own choice.
3 Dante — Full Metal Alchemist
This title could also go to the Gothic-mob boss look adopted by Greed, the homunculus created by Dante, but the main villain of the series has more range. Regardless of the era in which she's living and the current body she's inhabiting, Dante is always the picture of refinement, elegance, and luxury according to that era's standards. She seems to favor the pomp of the monarchs in the pre-Industrial era, with frills, high collars, and an abundance of petticoats.
Dante has a more subdued style than most other villains, and always seems to know how to choose clothing that's formal but doesn't hinder any of her alchemical abilities. A twist near the end of the story reveals that she also had to choose her clothing to hide her rotting body, which makes her fashion sense even more complicated.
2 Vicious — Cowboy Bebop
Vicious is one of anime's favorite villains, partly because he's also one of the most attractive, and that's because of the way he dresses. One thread of discussion in the world of Cowboy Bebop fandom cites this specific change as one of the reasons the live-action series failed: Vicious wasn't as fun to look at anymore.
Being the main antagonist, Vicious was set in opposition to main character Spike in almost every way, including their fashion styles. Vicious always took on a more dark, formal, and overall more fashionable look with his embroidered trenchcoats and dark blue or black suits. There's a lot to like about both styles, but this is a list for the bad guys.
1 Clayman — That Time I Got Re-Incarnated As A Slime
A story that's based on a role-playing game will also rely on a villain typical of the genre, and That Time I Got Re-Incarnated As A Slime adopts the template of the high-class aristocrat with a sociopathic streak. As one of the Ten Great Demon Lords, Clayman also has a lot of power, and it's a lot easier to look great when you can literally wear anything.
The vintage tuxedo with a color scheme that almost completely lacks color is already painfully formal, and then Clayman takes it up a notch with that amazing Elizabethan collar and tailored gloves. This is a villain that specializes in manipulation and intelligence gathering, and it shows.