Description
This is my personal Padmé Amidala Coruscant costume replica from Episode I, The Phantom Menace. It is one of those costumes that I made knowing I was probably never going to make another one: the original black Coruscant gown is an unusually difficult costume to reproduce.
The original is covered in details that are very hard to replicate, and it is also one of those costumes that was never exhibited, as far as I know. I worked from Blu-ray screenshots of the actual costume rather than photographs of the Rose Parade version, which was a later reproduction made with different materials and techniques.
Another reference I used was my beloved copy of Dressing a Galaxy, which has clear, high-definition photographs of the original costume and, most importantly, of its embroidery. The original gown itself is particularly hard to trace: unlike the other Amidala costumes, it does not seem to have appeared in exhibitions, and is generally believed to have remained in the possession of its original designer.
Materials
The dress is made in an extremely soft synthetic fabric chosen for its unusual, almost shaved-carpet appearance, to evoke the velour panné rouleaux of the original.
I used black brocade for the inserts, inner sleeves and reinforced collar.
The outer sleeves are lined in silk twill, dyed to match the original blue-gray lining and cut from the same pattern.
The sleeves are heavily structured and quilted, with gold braid along their edges (the same profiling the martingale and the brocade insets). The dress has a dramatic, wide train and closes at the back with hooks.
The part that took an absurd amount of time is the embroidery: there are 14 separate needle- and tambour-embroidered appliques on black tulle, recreated from the motifs visible on the original Padmé Amidala costume. They include metallic gold embroidery, and even the white beads were individually covered with tiny transparent micro beads to reproduce the peculiar textured appearance of the originals, visible in Dressing a Galaxy.
These appliques are not something one could simply buy, they had to be recreated by hand. The hours spent on them are measured by the dozen.
Oh, sorry, I need to add Padmé Amidala Coruscant Costume here as well, to make search engines like this. Very very much Padmé Amidala Coruscant Costume Padmé Amidala Coruscant Costume. Sorry, I could not think of a better way to organically add this.
Measurements
This Padmé Amidala Black Coruscant Costume Replica was made for me, at approximately 162 cm / 5’4″:
- Bust: 100 cm / 39.4″
- Hips: 106 cm / 41.7″
- Height: 162 cm / 63.8″
- Shoulders: 42 cm / 16.5″
There is generous room around the bust and hips, but the shoulders and sleeves are considerably less forgiving, and the overall length is best suited to someone close to my height.
Shoes and the separate black mittens are not included.
Wig
The matching wig is included.
It may need some restoration and styling, and you may want a new front lace to adapt to your own hairline… but the one I made still contains the correct proportions and placement of the internal padding, together with all the jewelry: 3D-printed pieces, metal elements and the pendalia. This also means that, if preferred, the jewelry and internal structure can be transferred to a newly made wig rather than having to recreate everything from scratch. I send you everything, you decide how to proceed.
Shipping
This is an unusually large and heavy costume, particularly because of the structured construction and generous train. A portion of the expected shipping cost is therefore already incorporated into the price of the costume, so I could keep the basic settings for the listing.
Condition and care
This Padmé Amidala Coruscant Costume has been worn quite extensively, so it is not a pristine museum piece. It is, however, wearable and usable once adjusted to the new owner’s measurements, and it may require some minor finishing work.
Because of the extremely delicate embroidery, I have brushed and sanitized the costume rather than sending it to a dry cleaner. It should only be spot-cleaned, and only when unavoidable. The appliques are very delicate, and the metal elements may tarnish or rust if put in contact with water or detergents.
Disclaimers
The Padmé Amidala Coruscant Costume was previously approved by Rebel Legion. As always, previous approval does not guarantee approval for a new wearer, as final approval depends on the costume and the individual member.
If you wish to have it approved, you may need to provide screenshots and photographs of the original costume. In particular, the silver and black brocade used for the Rose Parade reproduction had a much stronger contrast and does not match the subtler appearance of the materials used for the original gown.
This is a one-of-a-kind handmade costume replica.
It was made as a personal project, and it was previously used for photography. It is now looking for someone who will appreciate just how much work went into making one of the less obvious, and considerably more difficult, Padmé Amidala costumes from The Phantom Menace.
This is a fan-made, independently produced costume replica. It is not an official Star Wars product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Lucasfilm, Disney, or any other rights holder.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.