::scarlet costuming :: padme amidala/sabe decoy ::

i really love this costume. not that it's black..or has feathers, or requires no hairstyling on my part....those are definite pluses..

i love the lushness and texture of this costume .in my typical manner, though, i also love the way i was able to keep costs down-- way down to under $25-- on this entire costume.

now that i have a pattern of sorts, and experience under my belt from making the 'ghetto' version of this costume, i will most likely re-do it someday in the full, extravagant, and correct form.

how did i do it?

::headdress::

the balls are sealed styrofoam, carved and covered with a spiderweb pattern of golden paperclay. the feathers are attached to a headband. i think there are about 30 of them on the whole headdress. the black fabric is a spandex blend, gathered, like hers, to create a rouched effect at the crown and ears. the 'chain' is made from jewels, clay, and wire.

i'd had the styrofoam ball and feather duster for ages, and the spandex came from my scrap pile. if i do ever choose to add to or remake this costume, i'll put the jewels on the headdress. as for now, i didn't want do to them.

:: overdress::

what can you do with a pile of black velvet that you found over the course of months at yard sales for almost nothing? there you go. i think there's about three destroyed skirts and/or dresses in the overdress. thank you, fleamarket fairy. thank you.

the lining is a deep ochre satin. i'd nabbed it off the $1 rack at walmart, in hopes of making an Inara Sera costume, but got halfway into pleating the sari-style skirt when i realized that i didn't need said costume, so it got put away. the gown is a matching deep v-neck in the back, like the front, and the backside has a split up to the waistline almost. that's where the beadpiece is attached.

it's not always visible, but all of the edges of the overdress are diamond shaped/peaked.

the beadpice (or hind-jewels, as i lovingly call it) is not precise, but i like how it turned out. i had a hoarde of black seed beads in odds and ends from years of jewelrymaking, most of them either black opaque or black iridescent. i blended them all together on wire and nylon cord. the beaded strands hang down about ten to twelve inches from the base of the piece.

i chose not to make the mountain peaks in the velvet due to time constraints. also, to save my sanity. in all honesty, you couldn't see them even if i had done them. black velvet eats light.

:: underdress ::

again, with my hoarded fabric: i had this heavy-weave cotton lace from 1997, a product of my earliest fabric acquisitions when i started sewing again. i only had about two yards, so the lace dosen't go around all the way, which is a shame...but, i did have enough for the sleeves, torso, and most of the skirt. the underlay is a lightweight ochre cotton, courtesy of the $1 rack at walmart. for my own cooling pleasure, i made 'empty armpits' in the underdress.

it makes it alot more comfy. i promise..i have decided that this innovation was brilliant.

:: underskirt ::

i found a black rayon, with a nice sheen, in the remnant bin. i had intended on using black velvet, but changed my mind, because i didn't have the time to burn out the Naboo symbol. i knew the rayon could be easily painted with gold fabric paint.i believe it took about four layers of paint to get these bright enough, and there are eight symbols, in various sizes.

as with my other forays into the magical world of the Naboo symbol, i cracked out my Adobe Illustrator file i made, printed it out, traced it, and painted it. easy peasy.

theoretically i could have made an iron-on transfer just as easily, but i prefer to paint.

this gown requires that i wear two crinolines. one is a full-length bridal one (or a hoop crinoline with a 125 inch circumfrence), and the second is a pseudo-bustle crinoline. it never shows up well in pictures, but the back pouf on the second crinoline matches Padme's original...and helps hold up the weight of the hind-jewelry to keep it from flopping around much.

::the face::

this cost the most. seriously. i had to buy nice face paint, the mehron kind, translucent powder, and setting spray...but, they're not kidding. it worked. and it stays on. i was pleased. pleased the FIRST time i wore this get-up.

however, when i sweated, it rolled off of my face faster than butter on a hot pan. i broke down and purchased the Kryolan Aquacolor 70 container. it definitely is easier to apply, and holds up to sweat better, but i'm still not completely happy with it. it's still splotchy. i have a feeling, though, this is less to do with the makeup and more to do with my psychotic facial skin. it's half dry, half oily, and all kinds of sweaty.

i use the red maxfactor semipermanent lipstick for the reds, but it's difficult to get off after a full day of wear, so, you know, don't try that.

source photo, and visual research done at www.padawansguide.com. and photos of my costume are courtesy of Kiantewench and Brilliant Black & White.