Darcie 
Darcie examines Padme Amidala’s voluminous costume designs from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace in honor of May the 4th.
Happy May the 4th. This is an extraordinary May 4th for many of us as it marks the 25th anniversary of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. The Phantom Menace was not just another Star Wars film; it was three things: the first Star Wars film to be released in 16 years, a prequel (usual follow-ups are spinoffs or Sequels), and the introduction of Star Wars to a new generation of fans.
THE SAGA RETURNS!
The prequel trilogy has aged like fine wine. As the new generation of fans ages, their voices and love for the trilogy have gotten louder. The Sequel Trilogy also furthered this appreciation, and creators such as Dave Filoni, building upon the prequels and incorporating them into recent projects, have also led to some original fans reassessing the prequel trilogy.
So, to celebrate their release, I wanted to focus this year on why I fell in love with Star Wars: Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman) and her glorious costumes. The prequel trilogy is all about style, in the visuals, in the fights, in the music, and in the costumes. Padme is the undisputed Queen of style.
COSTUME CHANGE!
Throughout the three films, Padme wears a staggering 61 costumes! That’s an average of 20 costumes per film! If we were to look at all 61 of these costumes, we would be here until May 4th. So, let’s delve into the costumes of The Phantom Menace.
The first time we see Padme, she is the young Queen of Naboo. A queen who wishes to avoid war being inflicted upon her peaceful planet. Despite her youth, she has a dominating presence created by the clever use of costume and makeup. The costume features a large headdress, a bold red, and geisha-inspired makeup.
The second outfit is black, with a large, feathered headdress. Once again, this look ages her, the headdress adding height. Once she arrives on Coruscant, Padme’s costumes further draw upon Asian influences, utilizing Chinese costumes and royal Mongolian hairpieces. The outfit she wears when meeting with Palpatine is similar to that of a Jedi in its Kimono style, hinting at her fighting personality.
DRESSED LIKE AN ANGEL
There are two further bolder costumes, perhaps the most ornate of the film. As Padme stands in front of the Senate, she not only adds to her height but also large, pointed shoulder pads. The addition of gold is bold and screams wealth. But it is her final costume of the movie that showcases Padme’s softer side. She is draped in white, with a large white fanning. She looks ethereal, as Anakin said she looks like an angel.
Whilst Padme uses the above costumes strategically to project authority, camouflage emotions, and, at times, her identity, we also see her in handmaiden clothes. Both the covered orange dress and the Tatooine casual clothes give us a better look at Padme’s true idealistic personality. But once again, Padme is using her clothing to project innocence so she can learn more information first-hand.
FASHION QUEEN
As we see throughout the prequels, Padme does not shy from a fight, and some elaborate costumes act as emotional and physical armor. They are also the perfect place to conceal weapons. Despite her youth, you can guarantee that Padme is always armed and ready to lead her people on the battlefield. Padme is an excellent example of a complex female character; she is poised, powerful, and intelligent. She is ready to fight for her people, stand for what is right, and challenge injustices. A character that truly embodies the message and themes of the Star Wars universe.
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace – 25th Anniversary Edition is now in cinemas worldwide.
Darcie Gray is the Fashion Editor of The Future of the Force. Aside from being a passionate Star Wars fan, she loves every genre of movies and she channels her passion for film into her personal blog Just Another Film Blog. Follow her on Twitter where she shares her love of film regularly.
