Padme Amidala Padme's "Leia Buns" Costume

I'm thinking about making this costume at some point in the future. So I was wondering who else was thinking about it and thoughts on how to do it.

Here is the page from Padawan's Guide.

Here's some questions to think about:

- What kind of pattern would be best?
- Anyone seen earrings like these? I looked around a few places with no real luck, but I know I've seen the style before.
- My mom mentioned when looking at the costume that it seemed like it would be rather warm. What fabrics could be used to give the same or similar look without the warmth?
- How to go about making the decorative piece at the shoulder?

S_S edit: just unlocking

 

kay_dee found the burnout velvet at Thaisilks, so I might as well post the link here for easy reference!


http://www.thaisilks.com/store/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TS&Product_Code=040J#[/link

I think the "smoke on toast" color would work well...

I bet you could make the earrings with hematite drop beads, and silver wire..

 

i made the earrings when I first saw them. what I did was I got earring posts, a little bit of silver wire, and the little cheap bead pearls at my local craft store. i glued one bead to the posts, glued the wire into it and then threaded the wire through the other bead and glued. waited for them to dry, then spray painted them with silver enamal paint. it seems like a long process but it only took about an hour. unfortunately i dont have any pictures.

 

Hi. I'm working on the "Leia Buns" costume as well, and found a linke that might be useful:

Silk Connections has a white velvet pattern like the lining, it just needs to be dyed.
http://www.silkconnection.com/products/fabric/silk/velvetbo/6399452_sw1.htm

Also, I was wondering if anyone knew if there was a difference between just Panne velvet and crushed panne velvet. In the pictures it seems that there would be a difference. It would be good to know before buying yards of the stuff.

Thanks

 

just some interesting info. I went looking around and found this fabric that looks a lot like the fabric of the dress under the cloak. It's from England and notice the title "Sea Swirl", very Padme:
http://www.denverfabrics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=16322&Category_Code=WO-prints&Product_Count=10

Here's a lighter weight option that I found too (I know Wool in Phoenix in June is not the best of things):
http://www.manhattanfabrics.com/catalogue.cgi?ddisplay=953

Any other suggestions?

 

This is a question about the "kissy dress" underneath the Leia buns robe-- what should I look up when looking for the bigger pieces of the belt-like embellishment? I cannot even think of what to call them...they're jet and faceted, but what are they called?

One more thing- I have been looking at the photos of the robe that goes over the dress... the whole robe looks to be just smooth velvet, with areas burned out. I cannot see where there's any lines between the two sections.
I point this out, because I think you'd have to actually burn out the design yourself in these few areas it is seen, as opposed to using the (very similar) burnout velvets being listed for sale. I of course, default to y'alls knowledge because I lack experience- so if I am wrong, could someone please explain how that works?

Thanks!!

 

Regarding the velvets for the cloak, Trisha Biggar has been quoted explaining them thusly:

"I used navy blue panne velvet, which is velvet with a flat pile so it has a shine on it,...I lined that with a devore velvet, where the pattern has been burned out of it, and you get the color of the lining of the velvet."

So according to that, two different velvets were used to construct it.

 

(regarding the piece on the left side of the cloak)
My aunt - when looking at the close up of the design on the side - suggested that not only did it have little beads (as opposed to shiny/metallic embroidery string) but that the button-like things are actually buttons. She thinks that it is one whole piece but something like a patch (that is separate from the cloak; like one of the embroidered ones which people sew onto garments all of the time) with button holes so that the cloak is supported by something.

(just thought I would post my/her two cents. I dont know how clear it is, or how useful - I saw that it hadn't been posted before).

I was just wondering: there seems to be some difference between the Leia buns and the buns for this costume. How would we go about putting up this hairstyle so that it differs from the leia buns? (Is this question covered in the female hairstyles thread??)

 

Rose_Lady, we haven't touched on the hair buns for this costume yet in the female hairstyles thread. There are differences (the Leia/Padme TV Guide cover is a great comparison tool)---Leia's buns are wrapped so that the hair is close to her head and completely covers her ears, while Padme's only cover part of her ears and stand away at the upper half. Reminds me of her packing gown hair in that way.

I want to know how to do them, as well. Which ever thread you want to discuss them in is fine with me.

 

I would recommend putting your hair in two ponytails exactly on either sides of your head. They should look like handlebars. Use thick bands or multiple "no snag" bands so that there's a 1/2 inch to 1 inch solid distance between your scalp and the loose part of the ponytail, and make sure they're tight (I think this hairstyle may hurt a bit at first). Then twist and wrap. The bottom part of the buns are clower to her head than the top, just slightly though. If you can, when you're done wrapping, cover the bands with your hair, or dark ribbon, so that it doesn't show.

 

"Use thick bands or multiple "no snag" bands so that there's a 1/2 inch to 1 inch solid distance between your scalp and the loose part of the ponytail,"

Hmm. I'm wondering what a 'no snag' band would be? This will be my first time working with hair (not to mention my first SW costume, too) and Im not too up-to-date on terms and such.


Ive finished the cape: excluding a lining, a hem, and the beaded side piece. I used McCalls M4698 A. What I did was take out the colar and then I extended the cape. Instead of cutting 4, I cut three and then the 4th piece I altered. I cut from the "extend here" line down to the opposite corner. Also at the "extend here" line, I have added a piece which will give some weight to this smaller front piece and keep it from falling. It is long enough that it goes almost half way down my back (after going over my shoulder) while also creating an effect similar of that of the actual costume (the way it hangs around the neck).

I found a giraffe-like spotted material that is orange/peach and I plan to use a red dye to try and make it darker. Im only lining the 4th piece in this material. It doesnt seem to matter if the lining shows on the other 3 pieces.

Has any one else started the cloak yet?

 

"Use thick bands or multiple "no snag" bands so that there's a 1/2 inch to 1 inch solid distance between your scalp and the loose part of the ponytail,"

Hmm. I'm wondering what a 'no snag' band would be? This will be my first time working with hair (not to mention my first SW costume, too) and Im not too up-to-date on terms and such.

No snag bands are one of two types. The first is more like a stretchy ring of plastic, but these tend to only be usuable once because the stretch out of shape. the second is just like a regular band only instead of that metal peice that usually holds the band in a ring shape is not there (This is the part most people's hair snags on) and instead the ends of the band are glued together. I've tried both types in everyday use and I prefer the second type. If the beads are in fact seed beads they must be sewn on with either clear or perfectly match thread because I don't see any good indication of sewing (no visible thread I mean).


I was looking at the beaded brooch peice on the shoulder of the outfit. Would you all say that all those smaller beads are just blue seed beads tediously sewn on it? And what other options might there be for a similare look.. like maybe those holeless beads or glitter glued on?

I don't have time or money to start let alone finish even just the outer part of this project for the movie premiere, but I was thinking I might try the hairstyle as a test run. Afterall what easier "costume" is there than leia buns and a favorite Star Wars t-shirt.

 

has anyone figured out the shape of the cloak ? anyone can make me a quick drawing so I can figure out ?

 

so...anyone ? I really need someone to draw me a quick shape of how I need the cloak to be cut...it's for a doll version so I can't work with Paterns !

 

If it's for a doll, you have an advantage; your mock ups can be small and cheap. Just try it with glue and tissues or really cheap muslin, adjusting until it looks right. I'd start with a circle and go from there.

 

Unlocked for recent query.

 

Okay I am just starting the pattern drafting for the cloak of this costume and I have some questions first of all has anyone ever found any seams (besides the edge ones, duh) on the cloak because I am just playing around and I can not seem to make it work with 60" fabric

For the pattern I am looking at basing it off this one
[image=http://img.sewingtoday.com/cat/40000/itm_img/M8936.jpg]

Anybody who has made this cloak can help me I will be happy.

 

Well for that cape when I was looking for patterns for some of my costumes I saw one similar to that. But it was for like a shawl. So what you would need to do is make it longer, obviously. I am trying to see how it wraps. Because just looking at the front of it, it looks like the length is not uniform.

As for her buns. It actually looks similar to the bun I do to put up my hair. I just pull it back, twist it up then wrap it around.

 

Unlocked by request

 

Thanks Sister_Sola. I finished this for a Xmas Parade in Richmond 2 weeks ago and we had a pro photographer with us taking pics:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l107/princessleia911/Padme%20Costumes/Leia%20Buns%20Cloak/Leiabunsme.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l107/princessleia911/Padme%20Costumes/Leia%20Buns%20Cloak/hirespadmepic.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l107/princessleia911/Padme%20Costumes/Leia%20Buns%20Cloak/hirespadmecrop.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l107/princessleia911/Padme%20Costumes/Leia%20Buns%20Cloak/DSC_0045.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l107/princessleia911/Padme%20Costumes/Leia%20Buns%20Cloak/DSC_0046.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l107/princessleia911/Padme%20Costumes/Leia%20Buns%20Cloak/DSC_0050.jpg

Close-up of applique:
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l107/princessleia911/Padme%20Costumes/Leia%20Buns%20Cloak/DSC_0042.jpg

 

Beautiful!!!!

I was too late to get the flagstone burnout velvet. But I still want to make it!

 

Pics of the Blue Linen Dress(it is under this cloak and a separate costume)

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l107/princessleia911/Padme%20Costumes/Blue%20Linen%20Dress/lgbluelinen.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l107/princessleia911/Padme%20Costumes/Blue%20Linen%20Dress/becca1.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l107/princessleia911/Padme%20Costumes/Blue%20Linen%20Dress/DSC_0059.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l107/princessleia911/Padme%20Costumes/Blue%20Linen%20Dress/DSC_0060.jpg

Belt close-up(a few beads fell off and are being fixed http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l107/princessleia911/Padme%20Costumes/Blue%20Linen%20Dress/DSC_0065.jpg

The other thing is of course I found a way to better do my hair(and actually add the length in the back, I have a lot of hair but not nearly enough to do it with a hair piece )once I had the costume off but I will be wearing this in Philly and doing the scene with 2 of the best Anakins so I am sure I will get some good pics of that And the shawl needs the sequin trim and lace edging but it is not really used that much but I do plan on doing that.

 

You look lovely! Beautiful work!

 

princessleia911, you know I love your costume but I'll tell you again. I love your costume.
You really managed to get the hair right for both looks of this ensemble. I think the 'down' hairstyle looks way better on you than it did on Natalie. I also really really love your beaded clasp on the cloak. It looks just like the real thing!


I'm currently working on this costume - the outer cloak and the inner dress. We need to find the old thread for the dress (it's buried pages back somewhere...) or start a new one. Anywho, I made the earrings for the cloak costume a while ago. Here's a picture:

[image=http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c107/ObiDawn/earrings2.jpg]

I found all the parts at Michael's and Joann. The bottom hematite beads aren't teardrop shaped so if I ever find any that are I'd redo them. I'd also like wire that was a thicker gauge but these are okay for a first try that took about 20 minutes to make.