Tatooine Midriff Dress (AOTC)

Padme wears this dress when she accompanies Anakin back to Tatooine from the Naboo Lake Retreat. Upon their arrival to Mos Espa, we notice that she is wearing a cloak over this dress. However, she dons the cloak shortly after their arrival to the Lars homestead, and we see this beautiful, yet fairly simple dress.


The skirt appears to be a wrap-style skirt, but it is actually one piece that is gathered at the front waist. The piece that drapes in the center is actually part of the skirt. The top is a wrap-style top, with a hood and cape attached. She wears a simple, yet elegant headpiece with this dress.



PATTERN

Simplicity 4887(B): used for the base of the top. Required modifications to acquire the right look (see information below)

McCall's 3033(A): used as a base for the cape. Required slight modifications to acquire the correct look

Simplicity 5914(A): for the skirt. Only slight modifications required on this one.


FABRIC

Light blue interlock knit (JoAnn Fabrics) was used for the main part of the top, cape, hood, and skirt.

Powder Blue Casa Satin (JoAnn Fabrics) was used as a lining

Gray Silk Charmeuse (Fashion Fabrics Club) for the piping

BEADS

3/16" chain with bead (JoAnn Fabrics)


For the top, I used the Simplicity pattern as a base, cutting out two tops so as to achieve the look of an "under-top" with a wrap around over that. I then used the McCall's pattern as a base for the cape, trying to figure out how to connect that to the hood and actual top. What I ended up doing was making an under-top of sorts that I split up the front middle, connecting the halves with hooks and eyes. The wrap portion of the top was made to connect to the cape...and connects to the back of the under-top with hooks and eyes (I apologize now for not having a diagram or sketch to illustrate this...it just took trial and error along with time and patience). I piped the edges of the cape, hood, and upper wrap portion of the top with some left-over purple cording (from the Loyalist Committee Gown) and the gray charmeuse. The silver design on the back of the cape was hand-painted onto the fabric. The beads at the base of the hood are attached to a triangular shaped piece of fabric that then snaps onto the hood.

I cut the front skirt panel slightly wider than the original pattern so that the fabric could be gathered. I had some problems with this, but did end up with a slightly gathered look in the front. For the "panel" that drapes down the front, I gathered the fabric so that it would drape with a triangle at the top, and then tacked the edges of the "falling" piece down. The beads are attached to a triangular piece of fabric that snaps onto the skirt (for washing purposes).

I used gray craft foam for the headpiece. I traced the pattern out onto paper, cut out the holes, and then traced that onto the foam. After I did that, I cut out the holes and then cut, shaped, and hot-glued the pieces together. Several coats of silver spray paint were needed to achieve the "metallic" look.

Here are some pics of the headpiece...and here are some of the finished costume.

Hoth Snowsuit and Vest (ESB)

This is the jumpsuit/snowsuit Leia wears on the ice planet Hoth in Episode V. Here, she wears a vest, gloves, and grayish boots with leg wraps, or gaiters. Her hair is fashioned in a braid encircling her head. She also wears just the jumpsuit portion later in the film while imprisoned by the Empire on Bespin.


PATTERN

Jumpsuit:

Green Pepper 141: required slight modifications to achieve the right look.

Vest:

Green Pepper 109: also required slight modification to achieve the right look.


FABRIC

DWR Supplex in white (Seattle Fabrics)--for the outer layer of jumpsuit and vest
Cotton Broadcloth in white (Silk Connection)--for the lining
White cording (JoAnn Fabrics)
Gray vinyl (joann.com)


The jumpsuit consists of a quilted area around the mid-section of the top portion, as well as quilted patches to the upper/lower arms and thighs. The quilted portions are also piped, as is th collar. I had to draft the pattern for the top portion out of muslin, where I drew lines as to where I needed to cut to give it the right look. Once I did this, it was fairly easy to put together. I "cheated" a bit here on the jumpsuit and shortened the legs and used elastic at the bottom so that it would be easier to stuff the fabric into the boots.

The vest consists of a quilted lower portion on the front and back, as well as two faux pockets on the lower front. The actual vest is not a white, but an off-white. I achieved this look by dipping the cut, pre-sewn pieces into a dye bath of Tan RIT dye. Each piece was in the dye bath for approximately 30-45 seconds, so as to not make the coloring too dark (that was the trickiest part).

For the rank badge, I ordered the plain resin copy from Corellian Exports. They were out of the arm controllers at the time, so I ended up making mine from Sculpey clay. Both the badge and controller required painting, and I used Folk Art Acrylic Paint #662 Metallic Silver Sterling; Folk Art Acrylic Paint #667 Metallic Gunmetal Gray; Folk Art Acrylic Paint #663 Metallic Solid Bronze; Americana Acrylic Paint in Ultramarine Blue; and Americana Acrylic Paint in Primary Red. Here is a close-up of the painted badge and the painted controller.

I found the boots on e-bay, using the following "code" in the search bar: women's gray boots (in whatever size you need). I do not have any photos of the actual boots, but they are a flat boot in gray, with insulated fabric going from the ankle to just below the knee. The gloves are basic white Isotoner brand womens gloves.

I used the gray vinyl for the lower leg covers she wears. Because the color was too dark, I lightened it with the same silver acrylic paint I used above for the badge and controller. For the strips that encircle the legs, I used the plain gray vinyl and attached it to the back of the leg with black sticky-back velcro.

Without further ado...here are some pics of the finished costume.

Bespin Escape Jumpsuit (ESB)

Leia wears this simple white jumpsuit while imprisoned on and escaping from Bespin. This particular jumpsuit is also worn earlier in Episode V on the planet Hoth. However, this time Leia does not wear the vest, keeps the hairstyle she had when in her more elegant cloak ensemble, and wears white boots.


PATTERN

Green Pepper 141: required slight modifications to achieve the right look.

FABRIC

DWR Supplex in white (Seattle Fabrics)--for the outer layer
Cotton Broadcloth in white (Silk Connection)--for the lining
White cording (JoAnn Fabrics)


The jumpsuit consists of a quilted area around the mid-section of the top portion, as well as quilted patches to the upper/lower arms and thighs. The quilted portions are also piped, as is th collar. I had to draft the pattern for the top portion out of muslin, where I drew lines as to where I needed to cut to give it the right look. Once I did this, it was fairly easy to put together.

I found my boots on ebay--using the following "code" in the search bar: women's white size (whatever size you need) leather boots. They have 3 inch, chunky heels, but they were the closest I could find to what I needed--cheerleading GoGo boots.

I am doing something brave here...the photos of my costume will be of the costume on me. I did not look right on the dress form, so I did not even try to take the photos. Without further ado...here are a few pics of the finished costume (please excuse the glare of the light on the white fabric...I needed these photos quickly for something else).

Blue Tatooine Poncho (AOTC)

Padme' wears this outfit while staying at the Lars homestead on Tatooine. The scene where this one makes its appearance is one of sadness...Anakin returns from the Tusken camp with his mother's now-lifeless body. Anakin admits to Padme' that he had slaughtered the entire tribe of Tuskens...admitting that he was a Jedi and knew he was better than that. Padme' tries to comfort Anakin during this difficult time the only way she knew how...by offering food and drink and a helpful ear.

The costume consists of a bluish slightly off the shoulder under-dress with a plunging neckline and a dark royal blue poncho. The African and "space nouveau" design on the front of the poncho demonstrates a more casual feel to this costume.



PATTERN

Simplicity 7964 (F): for the under-dress. This is a very relaxed, casual dress that tends to run slightly large. I probably could have gone with a smaller size with this one.

Simplicity 5153: essentially used as a base only for the poncho. I ended up with an entirely new pattern when finished with the modifications.

FABRIC

Under-Dress

Cotton Gauze (#6099421; Silk Connection)

Poncho

Wool Coating in Royal Blue (from Denver Fabrics, which is still selling out their stock with the change in ownership)
Cornflower Casa Satin for the lining (JoAnn Fabrics)

BEADS

African Krobo Glass Trade Beads (SKU TR40; Afrodesign Studio)

RIBBONS

**All Offray brand found at JoAnn Fabrics

TORORG
YELGLD
LTORCH


EMBROIDERY THREAD

**All Sulky brand

1296 = Hyacinth
1235 = Deep Purple
1242 = Nassau Blue
1226 = Dark Periwinkle Blue
1024 = Goldenrod
1168 = True Orange
1187 = Mimosa Yellow
1193 = Lavender

Bobbin lt Poly = white (882-0010)

Traditions White Crochet Yarn (DMC; #4522116): color B5200; Lot 156981; size 10; for white stitching around neckline, sleeve hems, and in lower circle.

I dyed the cotton gauze in Evening Blue RIT dye. The fabric is naturally crinkled, so no further crinkling was required. As I mentioned above, the dress is loose-fitting and comfortable to wear. For the poncho, I essentially had to draft my own pattern, using the Simplicity one as a base. The colored design on the sleeves and bottom front were machine embroidered with satin stitch. The fleur-di-lis and smaller designs on the circle were also machine embroidered, but were done so on separate pieces of fabric that were then hand-stitched onto the poncho. I lined the poncho and then attached the ribbons and beads with hooks and eyes, to make taking it to the dry-cleaners easier.

Here are the pics of the finished costume.