Senator Amidala Costumes 2003 |
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Padme wears this ensemble while she shares a picnic lunch with her future husband, Anakin Skywalker, in Star Wars: Episode II. This costume recreation of Trisha Biggar's design features a five-layered, hand-embroidered corset. Over 300 small lace flowers are hand-sewn over a machine-stitched vining over the entire outer layer of the dress. Small-embroidered roses adorn the lace shawl, the corset and the velvet headband. The hand-crocheted 'mini' hair bun holders are a precursor to the famous hair-do worn by Padme's daughter, Princess Leia Organa in Star Wars: A New Hope. |
The Simplicity pattern # 5843 view “A” has been used as a basis for my interpretation of this costume. I combined the upper part of that pattern with the dress lengths of Simplicity # 9836 girl's Renaissance pattern. I shortened the length of the corset by about 1" and used the misses’ size 4 of #5843 as a guide. I made the corset in 5 thicknesses so I could put tension on the inner structure while allowing the 'crinkle' texture of the outer fabric to be relaxed. I used grommets and lacing in the back, since that method of closure allows for the most adjustability. Hook & Eye tape was used in the corset piece for the costume made for the movie. I constructed the 3 inner layers of the corset pretty much as the pattern suggested making casings for the boning in the seam allowances. The three inner layers are 2 layers of a lightweight yet very strong nylon with medium/heavy fusible interfacing in-between. The seams are facing the seams of the outer fabric, which is a metallic thread crinkle cotton blend in a temple gold color. The fifth layer is a nylon lining. I added pin tucks in the front and backside pieces so it looks like the corset is made of 11 pieces. I hand-embroidered the design on the outer layer of the corset fabric using 6 different colors of embroidery floss. I put large gold eyelets on the back of the corset to lace and close it. I used clear snaps on the straps, so it will be easy to move one side of the snap down a little when she grows a bit. The under layer of the dress is the same temple gold crinkle cotton blend fabric as the outer layer of the corset and the outer layer of the dress is a sheer fabric. I machine-embroidered 'vines' all over the outer dress fabric. I basted the sheer over-layer of fabric to the under fabric. I put only one center row of bias tape/elastic in each sleeve and gathered the bottom edge of the sleeve into a very tight gather and sewed Wright's 'GOLD' single fold bias tape on the very edge & under to form the cuff of the sleeve. I cut the sleeve pieces a little narrower than the pattern. They are full at the top, but do not have an abundance of material bunched up under the ribbons from the elbow down. The elastic at the elbow is more to hold that part of the sleeve in place. The ribbons are functional in holding the lower sleeve in place. I sewed some supportive 1/4" elastic inside of each upper sleeve from the lower armhole to the elbow gathers that keep the upper sleeve 'puffed' while not having to wrap the ribbons so tight. The elastic allows for some ‘give’ while the costume is being worn. I set the sleeves separately into both layers. I wanted the dress to truly be in two free layers at the side seams. I sewed the side seams separately starting with the sheer layer, then the under layer. I finished the dress neckline with bias tape and threaded elastic through it. I placed the narrow straps on the corset rather than on the dress, as the pattern suggests. I sewed the straps into the front of the corset and put snaps on the back, so it can be a little more adjustable. I found a 2" wide white lace that has three alternating rows of ~3/8" 6-petaled flowers that I cut apart an hand-sewed onto the entire outer layer of the dress. There are about 300 small white flowers on this dress. I hand-sewed the decorative edge onto the velvet ribbon used for the headband. I purchased a curtain made of the “antique rose” fabric at Bed, Bath & Beyond. The flowers and edges are very, very close to what the actual movie costume is like. I used portions of the curtain for the shawl and used the small embroidered roses from the excess material on the corset and on the headband. This way, all of these elements are color-matched. The mini-snood / bun holders were crocheted by Quincy’s aunt and sewed on by Quincy herself. |
Quincy debuted this costume in April at CostumeCon2003 in the Sci/Fi masquerade where she received a children's award for best presentation. She presented it again in July at GenCon2003 in Indianapolis where she received an award of second place in the professional catagory. Quincy was awarded first place in the children's portion of the main DragonCon masquerade wearing this costume and toting custom-made baby "Princess Leia" & baby "Luke Skywalker" versions of her American Girl Dolls at DragonCon 2003 in Atlanta. |