Padme Amidala Padme's Meadow Picnic Dress v4.0

In my opinion, since I've done both, one is no harder to make than another. The 'bodice' type of corsets usually call for less sturdy materials and nylon boning. A real corset that is designed to hold you up without a bra is usually made of tightly woven thick fabric (like coutile) and uses real spring steel or spiral steel bones that will hold their shape. The corsets can tend to be tighter fitting by design, but that's how Padme's corset was. Using sturdy fabric will help insure that when you make your coreset tight, it won't split at the seams!

 

Thanks Kay Dee. I think I'm just gonna have to hold off on this one for a while. I don't think I'm ready to make a corset yet.

 

A new cape fabric discovery today! It seems like the 3-flowered organza for the cape is getting harder and harder to find. Wal-Mart is out of it and Target only carries it in small table topper pieces. But today I found it at Lowe?s in the curtain isle. I was SHOCKED to see it there. However, it's 4 flowered organza but it seems to be the right color (might need to tint it a bit darker with RIT and Dye Resist on the roses, but that?s not hard). It's not completely exact, but it's pretty close especially if you don't want to embroider the cape. Just FYI.

Gosh, seems like I can?t stray from the picnic dress long enough to complete my packing gown!
=Cressie

 

Long-time lurker finally posting something

My daughter wanted me to make her a Padme picnic dress for Halloween this year. Fortunately, she did not want a completely screen acurate one. So, we made an "impressionistic" picnic dress.
Thanks for all the helpful advice we received by reading this thread and Padawanguide's site.
Here it is:

[image=http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b239/wahootl/Costumes/IMG_3934.jpg]

 

That turned out so pretty. And I agree with Obi Anne about the skirt!

 

Pretty! There is no question she is Padme!

 

Thank you all for your comments. The funny thing is that even though it's "impressionistic" we've already thought of ways to improve the costume. For example, my daughter wants to crochet her own hair bun covers. Since we were short on time, we bought some cheap Christmas ornaments that had crocheted gold netting over them, broke out the plastic inside, and stuffed them with hair from a cheap wig

 

Check out this Blog: http://blogs.starwars.com/itsatrap/2
She has been selected to wear a screen used costume in the Rose Parade. And Picnic is one of the costumes she tried on http://www.badfeelingaboutthis.com/photos/kelseys_padme_fitting/

Also see George Lucas Announced as Rose Parade Grand Marshal: http://www.starwars.com/community/news/family/news20060919.html

 

That's just.....not fair .
Glad she made pictures of the fitting though, looks like the Black Coruscant
dress has some insert pieces(also in the back) and not just the fluffy fabric.

 

She is very lucky, it makes me re work on this costume for C4 !

 

I admire Sotis for doing the embroidery on her skirt by hand. I am just as crazy---I am doing my embroidery by hand as well. I am new to this thread and I am so happy to find kindred spirits among you. It is so inspiring!

 

Isabeaunavarre, I wish you patience, patience and once again patience! I'm sure your embroidery will turn out lovely! Please, show us some pics of your work!

I'm so happy that I'm not alone now!
Hm.. and about my progress... not so much, I guess. Don't have enough time. I'm done with about one sixth of the skirt. A good news is that I'm still not tired of it! Moreover, this embroidering thing makes me more relaxed.

 

Sotis,

Yes, doing the embroidery is soothing for me too. My husband thinks I am nuts and that it will probably take me a whole year to finish my dress (he could be right--but I don't care).
Thanks for the encouragement. I will put some images up of my skirt panels (I am still working on my first) and corset as soon as I can figure out how to do it.

 

I think that is a fabulous version. I actually like that it is not nearly as "fussy" as the movie one but still gives a similar overall look. Very good work indeed. I am doing a replica for C4 and a "personal version" of it as well. That was a really nice take on it. Mine will be in shades of summer greens.

 

Oh I bet it would beautiful in greens! I would love to see a picture of that when it's finished!

 

MMM---I love green! Yes, please post a pic when it is done.

 

Amazing.
I only wish there were some shots of her putting the dress on so we could get a peek at the different parts of it. I sorta dig it without the arm ribbons.

My first thought was that I hope she does not wear the picnic dress at the parade because I remember it rained throughout it this year. Does anyone know where she'll be in the parade? On a float, I presume? Let's hope it provides shelter in case it decides to rain again.

Marvelous shots of the packing dress and the black post senate kimono. Awesome! Thanks for linking us to it Mary Alice!

 

Dawn, I spoke to Kelsey in person the day after she tried on the costumes. Yes, she is wearing the picnic dress on a float. I really hope Lucasfilm took into account what they might do if it rains. I'd also hate for their cosutmes from the archives (more than just the picnic dress will be worn) to be ruined just for a parade! I'm pretty sure Kelsey mentioned the idea was to have 3 queens on the float (more than one padme I guess), but one of the people selected to be a queen may not fit the Padme costumes. So, perhaps a female Jedi like Luminara could be subsituted. It will be interesting to see what costumes are used come New Years day!

 

Thank you. A picnic dress in shades of greens sounds beautiful.

 

Gosh, I can't help but be nervous knowing this dress will be worn outside for an extended period of time. What if it rains? What if a seagull flies overhead and...you know? I suppose the chances of that are minimal and that rain would be the biggest thing threatening the costumes. Well, I'll be tuned in on New Year's Day to see this float filled with precious cargo...the network coverage better show it for more than a few seconds!

 

It's too bad they're not doing a replica for the parade. It is lovely to see the actual movie dress in a parade but far wiser to preserve the Movie piece and put a team togethter to knock one out for the parade. I know that is a huge commitment, but this stuff is not only movie memorabilia, but a piece of our popular cultural history that should be preseved like "Dorothy's Ruby slippers and Scarlett Ohara's green and white picnic gown. But we can pray for perfect weather on New Years in Pasadena, CA.

 

Film costume departments usually have more than one copy of a costume for a film. Do you think they might have another picnic dress archived?