Padme – Star Wars (Battle suit)

Made for: Midsouthcon 2004

Background: I needed an easier to wear Star Wars costume for local events, so I went with Padme’s battle suit.

Journal Entries: Read more at my Battle Padme tag

Related Costumes: Snowbunny Padme, Ahsoka, Mustafar Padme

Patterns Used:
Simplicity 4433 (for the pants – I think)

Top/Pants:

For the fabric, I found a nice off-white 2-way stretch fabric. Used a pattern to make the pants, and I lined them in a skin-tone fabric because they were a little see-through otherwise. The top was made without a pattern, and I made the seamed piece on the front as a separate panel, that I sewed onto the top. The fabric didn’t “tear up” very well for the ripped sections, but I did my best. In 2006 I went back and added the torn-off sleeve cap I was missing originally.

Boots:

Originally I used a pair of base boots I already had, and my shinguards were layers of vinyl, painted and weathered. In 2006 I made new shinguards out of leather. The shinguards still needed some work, but were definitely an upgrade, and I also got a new pair of base boots that I painted and weathered.

Accessories:

My armbands were cardboard pieces painted silver – in my 2006 upgrades I added segmented craft metal. I made a hairpiece by finding a clip-on ponytail, and twisting pieces around pipe cleaners. The belt was the Rubies belt, and later down the line I cut the pouches and holster off the Rubies belt and attached them to a new leather belt. I added the cape in 2005, though I know she doesn’t wear it with the ripped version – it’s just for warmth and I like wearing it 🙂 The cape was made of some nubbly fabric I found at Hancock Fabrics, and I just draped it, cut a hole for the head and left the edges raw.

History:

I wore this pretty frequently throughout 2004-2006, and a for a few photoshoots after the 2006 updates. I decided I really wasn’t ever going to wear it again so I sold it.