Padmé’s Lavender Nightgown

Here is another costume for which I have never written a post (there are actually quite a few still): Padmé’s Lavender Nightgown. This one I made back in June 2006, when the now deceased Star Wars costuming group known as L’Alliance Impériale was invited to attend (and promote and be a part of the pre-concert entertainment by posing for pictures in our costumes) the Orchestre à Vents de Musiques de Films de Montréal's Star Wars Prequel Concert. I’ve been meaning to write a post for quite some time now; I even had a quick photo shoot about 2 1/2 years ago for that purpose, but I’m an expert procrastinator

Steel Blue Silk Nightgown

I had two Star Wars costume at the time: my Picnic Dress and my Twi’Lek. But as I wanted something more comfortable, with less layers than the Picnic dress and no make-up like the Twi’Lek to attend the concert (and I love an excuse to make a new costume), AND since I had the pattern for it, I decided to make Padmé’s nightgown from Episode 3. After all, what can be more comfortable than a nightgown, right? HA! Who ever thought that pearl shoulder strands, a brooch and a tiara were comfy sleep wear is seriously twisted! But as an evening gown, it was very nice.

Outside the Hall, OVMF Concert, June 17 2006

This dress is also known as the Steel Blue Silk Nightgown, for that is its actual colour, but the fabric I found was more lavender, and anyways, that’s the colour it looks like on screen after calibration, so there.

With Marie-Ange-The-Celt as Barriss Offee, OVMF Concert, June 17 2006

I had all the material to make the gown about three weeks before the event. It is a fairly simple dress to make, my evenings were free at the time and I even pushed myself to cut the fabric the Monday before. So at what time do you think I finish my dress? 4:30 pm, the day of the concert, and we were supposed to report at the hall between 3 pm and 4 pm. Will I ever learn? Well actually, I’m better now; I often finish the night before now, sometimes a whole 12 hours in advance.

McCall's 4995

I used lavender satin (100% polyester) with a bit of stretch that I had found on sale (satin always goes on sale when Prom season approaches). The pattern is McCall’s 4995. Instead of making the cape into two separate pieces, I made it into one big piece; the cape is draped using the waterfall technique, and the falls are held together in the centre back with 2 large clear tassels (which had received a very grievous comment which I will not repeat). My other deviation from the pattern’s instructions was with the pearl strands: I attached them to the base of the 3 shoulder straps instead of on top of them, in the back.

Back Pose

The pearl strands are made with round, clear, 8mm Crackle beads. For some reason, when shopping for my materials, I was unable to find light plastic faux pearls as I would have preferred. These were the next best thing I found.

Front Pose

On my first attempt at the decorative shoulder falls, I decided to eyeball it (it was getting late and I had to leave for the event soon); big mistake. I ended up with one side short and tight and on way too long (and this is how I wore them to the concert, with shame). I fixed them the following week, but this time, I counted the beads so both sides would be equal. 

Oh, Ani!

I had meant to make my own brooch, tiara and jappor snippet necklace out of polymer clay, but I was afraid they wouldn’t look nice so I never got around to making them and I ended up buying replacements at the mall. I got a bun size tiara (which I wore again for Irish Dancing), a lovely faux-diamond and pearls brooch, and a faux wood Celtic necklace, all for less than 30$. Good enough! 

Since we were spending quite some time outside, I couldn’t walk around bare feet so I wore my beautiful silver sequined heals.

I miss you my love

Hair wise, on the day of the concert, I just did my hair in a Pollyanna hairstyle (I wear it like that often), but now I own curly wigs for Irish Dance, so I can wear my bun wig.

Of course being a plus size lady, I have never bothered with making and wearing a fake pregnant belly; I figure I have the right waistline for that costume. But between the time I made the dress (June 2006) and the time of my photo shoot (February 2010), I lost weight, enough so that dress is now too big for me. One of these days, I will have to take it in. Or sell it. We’ll see!

Starting with Headdresses

Someone once told me all costumers, crafters and seamstresses are borderline hoarders at the very least. I am no exception to that rule. I have the hardest time throwing stuff away because somehow, I always feel I can eventually find a use for them in a future costume or craft. 

Here is an example: a month ago, I made poke bonnets for my daughter and me from cheap straw hats. The process involves cutting a little less than half the hat away and using the bigger piece. In theory, I should have thrown out the scrap piece right away, but something was holding me back; a little voice inside my head keeps on telling me they can be used for something.

 Hat leftovers

The other night, I was playing with these leftovers, trying to convince myself to just get rid of them once and for all, when I realized they could make great bases for headdresses.

Future small headdress

Future big headdress

Part of me just wants to grab my crafting supply and hot glue gun and start creating, but then, what would be the point of having a headdress that goes with nothing? Besides, I don’t currently have (ok, had) plans for a costume requiring a headdress, but I started googling images of various headdresses anyways, for inspiration. I won’t post all the ones I found interesting here, but you can see them my Pinterest Board on Headdresses.

Ultimately, I have come up with two ideas (for now). The first one would be to make a feathery headdress to go with an eventual Steampunk Burlesque dancer costume. I would like to make a headdress that looks somewhat like this one:

  "Versailles: Golden bird" by Astarohime

Of course I would match the colours to my future costume, which I have not designed yet (but it includes a corset and bustle).

My second idea is to make a Naboo Queen costume, inspired by both these:

 Queen Amidala's Coruscant Pre-Senate Costume

 Queen Apailana's Funeral costume

Since the shapes of both these dresses are similar, one could surmise that Naboo Queens all have a dress in that style. Maybe Queen Kylantha (who is a blond according to the artwork) has one too. This way I could get really creative and not worry about screen accuracy; I could just let a beautiful fabric inspire me, especially if it is on sale. This Star Wars original idea is really tickling my brain; now I am itching to make it even if I have nowhere to wear it.

I know, I have more ideas and projects than places to wear them too and money to make them (don’t we all). And I still have two more straw hats that I want to turn into poke bonnets, so two more headdress possibility!

Star Wars on a Dime (or my first/worse costume)

Today American Duchess posted about her first costume piece, and it made me realize I had never shared mine here!

I was in scouts for a long time. In 2000, the theme for the Beaver’s summer camp was Star Wars (and the fact that Episode 1 had just been released on DVD had nothing to do with it, I’m sure ). For the Saturday night evening, everyone was to have a costume. So I spent the week before the camp making costumes for most of the adults, as they were all family members and close friends. I only made robes though.

I made a total of six robes that week: three brown robes for Jedi, one short off-white robe for my dad to wear under his brown robe, one short black robe for our Darth Maul and a red Queen Amidala robe.

My Amidala costume consisted of a long red summer dress with tan floral motif and red hooded robe with gold trim. For my hair, I put them up in two buns and covered my forehead with an old black and gold lamé scarf that used to belong to my mother. Add the make-up et Voilà! An instant Amidala.

The Jedi costume was a brown robe worn over the guy’s own karate uniform. Those were the days before digital cameras, so the only picture I have was scanned back then.

Queen Amidala and a Jedi

All the robes were made with cheap poplin in the different colours I mentioned (red, brown, black and off-white).

The gold trim for my robe came from three different leftovers, previously used in art projects and Christmas decorations.

Simplicity 8311

I used Simplicity 8311 view A for the long robes and view B for the short ones. I added a hood from Butterick 4319 which I have had since I was a kid.

I used to have that picture of me in my notebook in CEGEP and everyone who saw it complimented me. To anyone who is not a costume addict, this was EXACTLY what the Queen wore in the movie!

This, people, is the proof that we all have to start somewhere. Usually, that somewhere is way down there on the quality and accuracy scale, but it is taking the first step that counts, and then continuing on walking.

P.S. The Jedi next to me in the picture did not give his permission for the picture to be posted so I cut out his face. And this has NOTHING to do with the fact that he's my ex!

Star Wars Burlesque Show

It is true ladies and gentlemen: some geeks have really weird fantasies. I once saw Twi'lek porn on a friend's computer. So it comes as no surprise then that a Star Wars Burlesque event could be organized at a club in L.A. A friend shared a link to an L.A. Weekly Blog which shared pictures of the event (Star Wars Burlesque: Tatooine-Styled Shenanigans at the Bordello). I have chosen a few to show you, in which the performers are still decent. Proof that any costumes can inspire... any costume.

Character: C-3PO
Performer: Lucy Fur
Photo by: Shannon Cottrell

Character: Jabba the Hutt
Performer: Scarlet O'Gasm
Photo by: Shannon Cottrell

Character: Princess Leia
Performer: Olivia Bellafontaine
Photo by: Shannon Cottrell

Character: Boba Fett
Performer: Audrey Deluxe
Photo by: Shannon Cottrell

Character: Darth Vader
Performer: Charlotte LaBelle
Photo by: Shannon Cottrell

Character: Stormtrooper
Performer: Courtney Cruz
Photo by: Shannon Cottrell

Well. I'm speechless. I like burlesque as much as anyone, but that's not really my bag [baby]! Still, when I started this blog, I told myself I would talk about any and every type of costume, and so I have.

Oonan the Twi’lek

One creature that has always fascinated me in Star Wars are Twil’eks. The female Twi’leks are considered very beautiful and are bought by many rich males of other races as slaves (mostly sex slaves) to show off to the other males just how powerful they are. Of course, what I really liked in this costume was the lekku (head tails) and the idea of wearing lots of make-up (full face and hands - I'm too modest to go for full body make-up). But still, what woman would not like to feel desired, even by a bunch of Star War geeks!

My Twi’lek is not a character from any movies or the extended universe. I made her up. I even invented her a little story: Oonan works in a bar on Coruscant, entertaining customer. She belongs to the bar’s owner and is above nothing to please the customers and be rewarded by her master, even seducing Boba Fett or throw her arms around a Trooper.

The costume in general is inspired by the one worn by Ann and Tann Gella, the Twi'lek twins owned by Sebulba (Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace - 1999) and Oola, one of Jabba the Hutt's dancers (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi - 1983).

Gwenyver as Oonan the Twi'lek, 2005

Skin

The “skin” is a bodysuit made of stretchy turquoise fabric that has a slight leathery finish. I used Jalie pattern #945 (view C) as a base and I lengthened the sleeves and legs, I changed the neckline and added a zipper to the back.

Lekku

The head piece was invented as I went. I made the lekku as two 1 metre long by 30 cm large triangles in the same stretchy turquoise fabric I used for the “skin”. In between the lekku, there is a rounded "hat" piece, which consists of two half circles 15 cm large by 20 cm wide. The lekku are stuffed and heavy so to get them to hold on my head I added an elastic around the edge (making them look strangely like a pair of tights) and a white velvet decorative elastic with little diamonds that goes under my chin.

Bone Crest & Cuffs

The Bone Crest and cuffs are made from leftover white and silver stretch fabric.

For the Bone Crest, I calculated the circumference of my head, where my ears were and how high they were to draw it right. I cut two and made the ears on the top piece by cutting holes, satin stitching around it and loosely tacking a piece of of turquoise "skin" fabric inside. I had originally wanted to stuff the ears but it looked to Smurf-like to I took the stuffing out. In the back, there are four eyelets so I can lace it up with a black cord. I decorated the Bone Crest with four medium sized plastic diamonds and made a badge of the Alliance Impériale logo with Fimo and silver spray paint.

The wrist cuffs are plain bands of fabric that close thanks to a big silver snap button.

Sexy Oonan, 2005

Clothes & Shoes

The clothes are made of sport mesh. I used Simplicity 9688 view B as a base for the top, adding the low cut in the front, and McCall’s 4261 view E for the pants, for which I made the legs longer and wider to give them a bell bottom shape. I used silver cord to tie both the pants and top.

The shoes are white platform sneakers from my Spice Girls period.

Make-Up

I went around with a swatch of my fabric looking for the perfect make-up for a couple of days. I couldn't find perfection pre-packages, so I mixed Mehron liquid make-up in Blue, Yellow and White to cover my face, neck and hands. On the pictures, my make-up kept flaking away - I looked like a Twi’lek with a very bad sunburn. Now, I add a little Mehron liquid latex to the mix and it looks a lot better. Whatever it says on the bottle, full face make-up will stain clothes, shoelaces, carpets and whatever else it comes in contact with. You might want to think of a “Careful, Wet Paint” sign to put around your neck. Oh, and do bring straws if you intend to drink anything.

For the finishing touches, I ended up finding the perfect match with Cover Girl. I use Continuous Color 3 in 1 nail polish in electric blue (#132) for my nails (obviously), CG Eye Slicks in aqua flash (#420) as a lipstick and for my eyes and L’Oréal Rouge Pulp in Revealing (#13) to give my lips a glossier look.

Oonan's Rebel Legion Creature Card

This was my first technically screen accurate Star Wars costume. I say technically because as I previously mentioned, this is a made-up character, but the attributes are inspired by the movie version of Twi'leks. It was made in a week for my first Alliance Impériale trooping event, a Spaghetti Dinner for the Laval Police Department, which was a family event. People there thought I was Diva Plavalaguna from The Fifth Element (1997). Hum.

Not everyone is as geeky as I am.

Wednesday Weekly Wishlist: Padmé's Purple Senate Gown

While we're on the subject of Star Wars costume, let me continue the theme by presenting another Padmé dress on my wishlist: Padmé's Purple Senate Gown.

Natalie Portman as Senator Padmé Amidala, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)

There is a definite 16th century feel to the dress. Just look at the silhouette, the neckline and the sleeves. Of course, the necklace and headdress are more African in inspiration.

Once again, all the information one might need to make this costume can be found at The Padawan's Guide, including tips on how to make the costume.

You can also go to The Force.Net. On the Jedi Coucil's Costume and Props forum, there is a thread about Padmé's Purple Dress. Back in the spring, a group of costumers were organizing to order the fabric for the coat. I don't have 120$ lying around right now, but I know where to look when I do!

And as per my habit, I would use blond braids to make the headdress, to keep up my "blondification" of my favorite costumes.

If you have read yesterday's post, you might have seen the name Kay-Dee pop-up a few times. Kay-Dee has made a near perfect recreation of the original costume. See for yourself:

Kay-Dee's Padmé Amidala Purple Senatorial Gown

This picture only shows you a glimpse of all the work she put on that costume. You must check out her website to see all of the details. Seriously, it is impressive.

Kay-Dee, know that I admire your skills and patience.

Note: Kay-Dee is the one who told me about the group order on the Jedi Coucil's forum. Thank you Kay-Dee!

My version of Padmé’s Picnic Dress (or Beach Blond Padmé)

Once upon a time, I had time to work on crazily detailed costumes (before I had a kid, or had weeks filled with full time work, full time school, dance classes and volunteer work for a theatre troupe). Let us go back in time, about a year before the last Star Wars came out in theatres (meaning 2004 as Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith came out in May 2005). I, like any girl or die hard Star Wars fan, started wondering what to wear. After many months of wondering, and drooling on the beautiful pictures of Padmé's costume over at The Padawan's Guide, I decide to go for Padmé’s Picnic Dress.

Natalie Portman as Senator Padmé Amidala, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)

At first, I told myself I would make something simple, using the Simplicity pattern inspired by that dress.

Simplicity 5843

But then, I started looking at what other fans had made, and the more I looked, the more I thought, "well I could do that...", and to make a long story short, I ended up doing detailed replica “with a twist” (I always like to make my costumes with little personal touch, more me so to speak). For one thing, did not want to use a wig or dye my hair (I did enough dyeing with this project anyways), so it can be classified as a "Beach Blond" project (although technically, I'm more of a strawberry blond).

One of the best fan made reproduction of that dress is by Obi-Dawn (who's website was on Geocities and has therefore closed - damn you Yahoo!). I exchanged many e-mails with her and she very graciously helped me by sharing all her tips and the details of how she made her own dress.

Obi-Dawn's fabulous Padmé’s Picnic Dress reproduction

Isn't it amazing? (Obi-Dawn, if you read this and you have a new website, please contact me so I can add the proper linkage).

And now on to the long and detailed description of the making of my own Padmé Picnic Dress.

Blouse and Skirt

Close-up of my homemade Yellow Sequined Fabric

This is a part of this dress I originally thought I would just cut and sew. How wrong I was. Pattern wise, I used McCall’s 4090 view A for the skirt (cut twice – one of fabric and one of lining), Simplicity 9966 view A for the shirt and McCall's 3797 view C for the sleeves. I invented the cuffs and neck yoke.

I used a great fabric I found for 1.50$ a metre at Fabricville. It had the perfect weight and fall, and a nice shimmer to it. Sure, it was white, but I couldn't find the right yellow fabric so this, I thought, will do great and I’ll just dye it. Ha! Unfortunately, my great find was polyester (mistakes are the best way to learn). Note to self: polyester doesn't dye.

Well, that’s not exactly true.

I got a lot of experience in fabric dyeing with this project. First, I cut all my pieces, sewed the skirt and serged the bottom edge. Then, I started the dye baths (plural). What I have learned: Dylon Cold Dye does not work on polyester. You can leave it in the dye bath for 24 hours without fear, the colour won't take. My fabric had two 24 hours bath in Dylon Hot Dye in Golden Glow. That got it a pale yellow, but it had a bunch of darker spots, which made it look like I had accidentally dropped Kraft Dinner all over it. I tried getting them paler by working laundry detergent in with a brush (I’m not sure it worked, but heck). I then hoped the next dye bath would fix the problem. Since I wanted it a more antique yellow, I tried a 12 hours bath in 24 cups of coffee (decaf if anyone wants to know). Then I hanged it to dry in the shower (without rinsing it before for fear it would take out too much coffee). As a result, I unexpectedly made a tiger stripped fabric print. So I washed my fabric and went for the next best thing: Dylon Hot Dye in Coffee. After that dye bath, I decided it was good enough. The Kraft Dinner spots were invisible and the few brown spots could easily be hidden with sequins. Off to the laundry it went, to take out all the excess dye and fix the colour.

Next came the embellishment. Following Obi-Dawn’s tutorial, I ordered Mylar Shimmer Sheetz from the US and bought a butterfly punch hole to make little sequins, (but unlike her, I decided to keep the head an tail of the butterflies and not transform them into flowers). For a whole month, whenever I was watching Tele, you could hear “K-clonk, K-clonk, K-clonk”. I broke two punch wholes (but managed to exchange them both because I had kept the bill and it was within 30 days - muahaha) and made myself a few blisters. Then I glued about a thousand white iridescent butterfly sequins on the skirt and a couple hundred on the shirt. (It helps if you design your lines as you glue your sequins, as it makes the sewing part easier.) After the gluing, came the sewing: I zigzagged through each and every single one of these sequins with gold thread, which took one and a half day. I wanted to add some lace flowers on the fabric, just like the original has, so I bought two meters of lace flower trim (the same flower trim I used for my Glittersweet Cote), which I dyed with Dylon Cold Dye in Leaf Green, and I cut each flower individually with the intention of sewing each one on individually. But I ran out of time, and I still haven't added them. Ah well...

When I put on my costume, I also have lengths of satin ribbon in pink, yellow and light green that I wrap around the sleeves and tie at my wrists.

Head band

Rose embroidered Headband

I could not find the gold trimmed ribbon I needed so I ended up using leaf green grosgrain ribbon and satin stitching the edges and centre in gold to get the right effect. Next, I embroidered some roses on it using Kay Dee’s Rose Embroidery tutorial. I kept a strip of tearaway behind until I was done. Finally, I put some Velcro on each end to attach it easily behind my head.

Snoods

My hair filled snoods

Nancy-Raven has made a few hair nets with Simplicity 5740, so she helped by answering my questions. I made my snoods as two circles approximately 17 cm in diameters and wove a string around the circumference to tie them around the buns. I then just hanged them from the head band.

I had a lot of hair back then, but there is still a limit. There is no way I could fill up the snoods without a little help. I bought two fake hair scrunchies (blond) to use as buns.

Cape and Brooch

My finished cape

For the cape, I used an expensive Organza embroidered with little pink flowers. I basically followed Kay Dee’s measurements and adapted them to my size. Then I pinned all the edges on tearaway and with a desert plate as a guide, I drew all the curves on the edge with and embroidery felt marker (the ink disappears after 48 hours) and I satin stitched the edge with special thread that goes from green to white and green again. Finally I dyed my white cape with Dylon Hot Dye in Golden Glow. I think I could have gone with a paler colour and possibly a cold dye instead, but it’s too late now and it’ll have to do (I like it anyways, and that is the most important thing).

My butterfly brooch

As for the clasp, I found a cute butterfly brooch at Ardène that is purple and lilac in colour. The metal backing is even antique gold and brown, which makes it arguably look like it’s been in Padmé’s family for generations.

Corset

I've kept the most impressive part for desert!

My Picnic Corset

Early on in the planning, I decided I wanted to use Dupioni Silk for the corset. When the time came to buy the fabric, I could not find any yellow or even golden Silk, so after a month of searching every fabric store I could get to, I bought some white silk and some yellow dye (of course I did find the right fabric at my usual store, but they only got it after I had dyed mine). I used Dylon Cold Dye in Sahara Sun colour.

The pattern I used for the corset is Simplicity 5953 view B, but I modified it slightly by making the shoulder straps narrower and the front only one piece (instead of two).

Originally, I did not intend on doing the whole embroidery. I thought I would maybe buy some tiny ribbon roses and that would be it! My need for perfection got the better part of me. I used Obi-Dawn’s drawing and Kay Dee’s finished embroidery, as well as her Rose Embroidery tutorial.

I figured I had no choice but to learn embroidery so I bought a book and practiced on a first version of the head band but I quickly realised it was going to take time, and I was already lacking some so I went back to my machine and did all my embroidery by zigzagging the design on. What I did is I drew the pattern on some tearaway paper, pinned that to my corset pieces and satin stitched in the right colour inside the lines. It took me three nights to do all the scrolls and one Saturday to do the rest. I embroidered the roses following Kay Dee’s technique (the pentagon, although in most cases they were more hexagons by the time I finished). Of course, the thread is more expensive in bobbin than embroidery floss, but considering I managed to do it all in less than a week, it was well worth the price.

Shoes

My Padmé Slippers

I bought a pair of rubber sole slippers at Zellers that do just fine. They are a slightly grayish white in colour with embroidery and lots of white sequins and tiny pearls on.

Now at this point, I know you are dying (no pun intended - well, maybe) to see what my finished costume looks like. So here it is, my Star Wars pride:

Gwenyver's Padmé Picnic Dress

This is the single most complicated project I have ever done. I have made my own sequins, I have learned to embroider using the zigzag stitch on my sewing machine (remember, I am lazy and doing it by hand does not go with my usual last minute habit), I have dyed my own fabrics, etc. But I am SOOOO proud of myself.

I absolutely have to thank a few people here (I’m practicing for the Oscars you see): I’d like to thank the Goddess for giving me the strength to go through this… No seriously, I need to thank Maggie from The Padawan's Guide for her wonderful website and for putting me in contact with Obi-Dawn. Kay-Dee’s website was also very useful for the roses’ embroidery, the great picture of her finished embroidered corset and the measurement of the cape. I also really need to thank my wonderful Sweetheart for being so patient with the sequins on the living room floor, the dye baths on the stove and the sound of my sewing machine at 6 AM on week days. Thank you for cooking dinner for me and supplying me with the best home made hot chocolate.

Darn, the music has started and the Mic just went down into the floor. Guess that’s it!

Movie Monday: Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope

I know, Star Wars is nothing new, especially A New Hope (1977), but we watched it last night, and as Halloween is coming, I thought it was worth mentioning. After all, you are bound to se a few Jedi and a couple Princess Leias at any Halloween Party. They have become iconic and an important part of our Pop culture.

Now, if you were old enough to go see the movie when it originally came out, this is probably the movie trailer you saw:

Me, I wasn't event a glimmer in my parent's eyes. I saw the three original Star Wars much later, when the local TV station showed them (in French, with adds).

But I do like the costume!

My friend Princess Jedi has a lovely Leia Senatorial costume, complete with hair buns:

Princess Jedi as Princess Leia Organa

As for the Ceremonial gown she wears at the end, I love Sister Sola's recreation of it:

Sister Sola's Princess Leia's Ceremonial Gown
(Photo by Risingsun.net/Maboroshi Studios)

That last one I would love to make myself.

That movie also introduced us to the famous Jedi Knight uniform: the beige tunic and brown robe worn by Obi-Wan are now famous.

Tionniel as a Jedi Knight

Lastly, one costume less seen on trick-or-treaters but very popular with the Convention Geeks (and I am proud to consider myself one of them) is the Rebel Pilot:

Luc Skywalker as Rebel Pilot

Looking to make a Star Wars costume? Your first stop has to be The Padawan's Guide. It is the best place to research your costume and there is quite a lot of eye candy (i.e. many, many pictures!).

That's where I went when I was preparing to make the costume I will present to you... tomorrow. (What, you can't get everything in one day! I have to build a little suspense, sometimes, don't I?)

Wednesday Weekly Wishlist: Queen Amidala's Senate Costume

I'm going to pull a fast one on you: today, according to what I said last Friday, I should be reminiscing about the Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France since they start today, and I should talk about Anticipation tomorow, as that is when it begins. But I have never been to WorldCon, so there will be nothing to reminisce about tomorrow, and I always go to the Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France on the Saturday, so I'm not missing anything right now. So what I'll do is use Wednesday Weekly Wishlist to tell you what I would wish to make / wear to an event such as WorldCon.

One of my dreams is to recreate Queen Amidala's Senate Costume, that is, the costume worn by Queen Amidala in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) when she goes in front of the Senate to ask them to lift the blockade on her planet.

Queen Amidala's Senate Costume, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

All the research and pictures one might need for such a costume can be found on Maggie's wonderful website, The Padawan's Guide (to Star Wars Costumes).

All that's left for me to decide is do I get brown wigs for the head piece or do I make a "Beach-Blond" version of the costume. I haven't made up my mind yet.

(Thinking out loud: "Maybe I could make the whole outfit it in watery colours and make the head piece blond, that would be truly original. Hmmm..")