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Star Wars. STAR WARS. Is there a more iconic movie franchise in post-baby boom American pop culture? (Short answer: No. Long answer: Also no.) The characters! The action! The effects!
The… costumes?
OK, so maybe not all of us immediately think of the costumes. But like every element of the films, they’re an integral part of what makes Star Wars so special, from the Metropolis-referencing C-3PO design, Darth Vader’s samurai-style helmet and Han Solo’s Gary Cooper-inspired outfit to the lavish, eclectic gowns worn by Natalie Portman as Padme in the oft-derided prequels. And a new exhibit at the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts, presented in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and Lucasfilm, aims to show just how important the looks and fashions of the movies are to their overall aesthetic, and their success.
“Everything in the show is actor-worn, screen-worn,” says Saul Drake, project director for SITES, says of Star Wars And The Power Of Costume. “We want to tell the story behind the story… we hope people will come away with a new appreciation for the quality and attention to detail, the craftsmanship.”
The show is also about more than the costumes themselves. Did you know that Princess Leia’s gold bikini from Return of The Jedi was influenced by an outfit worn by Yvonne De Carlo in a 1947 cult classic called Slave Girl? Or that Darth Maul’s countenance was conceived when actor Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine) was asked to sketch his worst nightmare? By including sketches, stories and background, Star Wars And The Power Of Costume makes a compelling and entertaining argument for the crucial role these visuals played in the Star Wars galaxy.
And then there are the droids, those lovable machines made so human in the franchise. At a recent early walk-through of the exhibition, CL was treated to the sight of actual costumes for C-3PO and R2-D2 being removed from their specially designed traveling crates (along with a BB-8 unit also used for filming) and staged for the show. We weren’t allowed to photograph any other elements of the exhibition, but these images and videos should whet the appetites of pop-culture nuts, design fans and, of course, Star Wars devotees for next week’s exhibit.
Star Wars And The Power Of Costume opens Nov. 11 for members, and Monday, Nov. 13 to the public. Reservations are recommended.
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This article appears in Nov 2-9, 2017.
