A Look at Star Wars Costumes and Fashion through the Years

I know we’ve talked a lot about Halloween costumes on this blog, but that’s because we get so many questions about them! With the recent release of the Rogue One trailer, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at how fashion in the Star Wars universe has changed over time.

Princess Leia’s white dress from A New Hope is iconic. The lines are simple and elegant, but it is not necessarily the most practical outfit for fighting in. However, it does give her an air of innocence and purity that is completely shattered once she takes out one of Jabba’s guards with her chain. In Return of the Jedi, Leia switches gears with an outfit that is much more functional as a fighting outfit. She replaces the white gown with a black camisole top and pants ensemble. Her hair is braided and her face is smeared with dirt, giving her a warrior look instead of a princess look.

In The Force Awakens, Daisy Ridley plays Rey. She wears neutral tones in keeping with her scavenger lifestyle and has a very simple look early on in the film. Later in the film, she steps into more classic Star Wars style by donning Han Solo’s vest. It

I’m not a costume designer, I’m not a cosplayer, and I don’t sew. My knowledge of fashion is limited to what I see on the runway and on the red carpet, but I do love Star Wars fashion and costumes.

In this blog, I’ll explore fashion from the Star Wars saga. I’ll go through the costumes from each movie and TV show, talk about specific items that were worn, compare real-life designers to their in-universe counterparts, and much more.

I hope you enjoy this blog as much as I enjoyed creating it!

The Empire Strikes Back is widely regarded as the best installment in the original Star Wars trilogy, and while I could argue that point with any fan (because The Empire Strikes Back is not my favorite), there is no denying that the costumes of The Empire Strikes Back are among the best in the series.

The most memorable costume of this movie, and perhaps of the entire series, belongs to Princess Leia. Her white gown is a perfect example of how dress can express character. As she’s been held captive by Darth Vader for several days, her dress is covered in dirt, tears, and wrinkles; she looks like a woman who has been through hell. But all of this only serves to make her look even more dignified and beautiful. Her tousled hair, as well as the ripped cloth at her waist from where Han Solo tore off her belt when he rescued her, shows that she’s been through a lot – but she still manages to look strong and regal.

Costumes don’t always have to be beautiful or ornate to be incredibly effective. When Luke Skywalker arrives on Dagobah to be trained by Yoda, his first impression of him is that he’s an “unusual looking little creature.” His costume reflects his character; he’s a powerful Jedi

The popularity of the Princess Leia costume is no surprise. The Princess-turned-General dominated the screen during the original trilogy, spawning a legion of fans who have since grown up and either have kids who want to dress as her or are ready to reprise their beloved character for a convention or cosplay.

Leia has been an inspiration for many young girls through the years as well. For example, she was cited in numerous articles about why Rey from The Force Awakens was so important to have onscreen. That legacy is something that has continued throughout the series, but it does go back further than some may realize.

For instance, did you know that Carrie Fisher’s mother Debbie Reynolds gave her daughter some advice when she found out that she would be wearing the infamous bikini?

“Tell George [Lucas] I want a percentage of the merchandising,” Reynolds told her daughter at the time.

Princess Leia Organa is one of the most iconic characters in all of pop culture. Her costumes, especially in Star Wars: A New Hope, have been the source of much debate and conversation. Many people think that her white dress looks like a bedsheet with a belt around it. Others think that her white dress is incredibly chic. Is it possible that both groups have valid points?

It’s time to take a look at all of Princess Leia’s outfits to see if we can figure it out!

Princess Leia’s white dress is perhaps the most iconic outfit in all of Star Wars. It has since become known as the “Slave Leia” costume because in Return of the Jedi she was enslaved by Jabba the Hutt and forced to wear what looked like an iron bikini underneath her dress. The outfit has been parodied countless times and even inspired cosplayers to make their own versions of Slave Leia or Sexy Leia costumes (including one you’ll see below).

The Princess Leia costume is one of the most recognized costumes in the world. It is usually ranked as one of the “top 10” Halloween costumes for women, men, and children. Although it has been thirty years since Star Wars first premiered, this iconic outfit is still a huge hit. Leia’s costume has evolved through the years from her metal bikini to her military outfit, but all of her looks have become classics.

The original costume was designed by John Mollo. The costume design was based on a sketch by George Lucas and signed off on by producer Gary Kurtz. The dress was made out of white cotton and had a long slit up the side. The belt and boots were made out of leather and the blaster holster was leather with gold detailing. This look became so popular that there are many imitators, but you can find an authentic version today on various fan sites or at conventions such as San Diego Comic-Con International.

In Return of the Jedi, Leia wears a brown military style dress that has a high collar and black trimming along with matching knee-high boots. This outfit was worn during her rescue from Jabba the Hutt’s palace by Han Solo (Harrison Ford). She also sports a gunbelt and blaster pistol in this scene too

When George Lucas first started working on his Star Wars movie in the 1970s, it was a much different film than what eventually hit the big screen. He wanted to show off the advanced costumes and sets of a fantasy world unlike anything else in film at that time.

The original trilogy introduced us to Stormtroopers, Jawas, and Wookiees with their own unique looks, but it was Princess Leia who captivated the audience’s attention with her white robe and cinnamon bun hairstyle.

Star Wars proved to be a huge hit when it debuted in 1977. While the story was compelling, costuming had a lot to do with why so many people fell in love with the movie.

In 1978, Ralph McQuarrie created concept art depicting Leia as a bounty hunter (above) and this design is closer to what we see in The Mandalorian. Her outfit is more practical for fighting and provides protection from blaster fire. And she’s still wearing that iconic white dress underneath.

As we’ve learned from The Mandalorian, Boba Fett has been around for a long time and he helped inspire these original designs for Leia’s bounty hunter look.

As you can see below, Han Solo would have been more like Indiana Jones than Luke Skywalker if he wore