Costumes

The costumes of Star Wars in live action include eleven theatrical films, three television specials/movies, and multiple television shows. For costumes specific to Padmé Amidala Naberrie and her decoys, see Padmé Amidala Naberrie's costumes. For a particular iconic costume, see Leia's Huttslayer costume.

(Someday, this article should include more detailed sections for the original and sequel trilogies.)

Prequel Trilogy

The costumes for the Star Wars prequel trilogy films were crafted by Costume Designer Trisha Biggar and her costume department. Several people worked with her on all three prequels: Michael Mooney (costume assistant on I, assistant costume designer on II and III), Nicole Young (costume workroom supervisor on I, costume supervisor on II and III), Kay Coveney (cutter), and Ivo Coveney (costume props supervisor). Iain McCaig provided concept artwork for all three films, along with Dermot Power on Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones and Sang Jun Lee for Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith.

Aside from a core staff of 40 people crafting the costumes for TPM, Biggar estimated that the busiest times involved 80 to 120 craftspeople, including: "couture-level cutters, sewers, dyers and printers, embroiderers, beaders, milliners, leatherworkers, mold makers, sculptors, and jewelers". About one-fifth of the staff were supervised by Ivo Coveney to make "costume props": outfits and accessories primarily made of materials other than fabric.

Trisha Biggar initially met with George Lucas at Skywalker Ranch in Autumn 1996 during preproduction on Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. Prior to Biggar's start as the costume designer, when there wasn't a script yet, Lucas would visit with the artists and describe scenes and characters so they could begin working on designs. As Iain McCaig illustrated characters, he would draw their clothes based on who they were and what he thought they should be wearing that day. "I remember George coming up and saying, 'I really liked your costumes,' and I thought, 'Costumes? What costumes?'" he later said.

Lucas both guided the costume work and gave freedom to Biggar and McCaig as they created their designs. In regular meetings, the team discussed all aspects of the costumes as they were crafted. Biggar and McCaig picked color schemes for each planet; she'd decide if the colors he'd picked in his art worked when she translated them into real garments. Since Naboo was based on plant forms and other life forms—an aesthetic the production crew were calling "Space Nouveau"—the chosen palette was "browns, greens, organic blues". The urban environment of Coruscant was "smoke, grays, charcoals, black and bits of red".

As principal photography began in early 1997, the costume workroom was set up at Leavesden Studios (outside of London, England) in a former aero-engine factory that had been converted into film studios. Almost all of TPM's costume manufacturing took place there over an eight month period.

During early preproduction for Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, the costume department spent a few months at the Leavesden workroom (previously established for TPM) before relocating to Sydney, Australia about three months before principal photography began at Fox Studios. Episode II's costume manufacturing was completed there.

The costume and costume prop departments for Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith were located solely in Australia at Fox Studios instead of Leavesden Studios back in England. Only a fabrics buyer remained in the United Kingdom.

List of costume designers

For quick reference and in chronological order from their first project, the costume designers who have overseen a Star Wars project are:

• John Mollo (1931–2017) — Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope and Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
• Bob Mackie — The Star Wars Holiday Special
• Aggie Rodgers — Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
• Nilo Rodis-Jamero — Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
• Michael Becker — Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor
• Cathleen Edwards — Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure
• Trisha Biggar — Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, and Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
• Michael Kaplan — Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi, and Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker
• David Crossman — Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Solo: A Star Wars Story
• Glyn Dillon — Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Solo: A Star Wars Story
• Joseph Porro — The Mandalorian season 1
• Nola Roller — Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge
• Shawna Trpcic (1966–2023) — The Mandalorian seasons 2 and 3, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka
• Elissa Alcalá — The Book of Boba Fett, The Mandalorian season 3, and Ahsoka (Assistant Costume Designer)
• Suttirat Anne Larlarb — Obi-Wan Kenobi
• Stacia Lang — Obi-Wan Kenobi (Assistant Costume Designer)
• Michael Wilkinson — Andor
• Jennifer Bryan — The Acolyte

Costume resources

Official resources

Official resources for Star Wars costumes include:

• Trisha Biggar's book Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars — for the prequel trilogy
• Brandon Alinger's book Star Wars Costumes: The Original Trilogy
• The Art of Star Wars books — costume concept art for the original trilogy, prequels, and sequels
• The 2015–2018 Smithsonian Institution/Lucas Museum exhibit Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen: Star Wars™ and the Power of Costume — exhibition for the original trilogy, prequel trilogy, and a limited selection of costumes from the sequel trilogy
• The 2005 Dressing a Galaxy exhibit at the FIDM Museum & Galleries — original and prequel costumes at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

• StarWars.com
  • "The Amazing Stories, Art, and History Found in 'Star Wars and the Power of Costume'" by Kristin Baver on StarWars.com. Published 2016-10-27. (Archived on 2024-03-29)
  • "8 Things We Learned from 'Star Wars and the Power of Costume'" by Amy Ratcliffe on StarWars.com. Published 2017-08-16. (Archived on 2023-12-08)
  • "How Prince and the Clash Inspired the Look of Lando and Han in Solo" by Kristin Baver on StarWars.com. Published 2018-05-22. (Archived on 2024-05-06)
  • "Empire at 40 | The Evolution of Costumes in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" by Bria LaVorgna on StarWars.com. Published 2020-09-22. (Archived on 2024-03-29)
  • "Clones at 20 | Costume Designer Trisha Biggar Reflects on Her Most Challenging Film" by Kristin Baver on StarWars.com. Published 2022-05-16. (Archived on 2024-05-15)
  • "Dressing the Galaxy: Designer Michael Wilkinson Defines the Look of Andor's Costumes" by Kristin Baver on StarWars.com. Published 2022-11-30. (Archived on 2024-05-28)
  • "Dressing The Acolyte: An Assassin Hunts the Jedi of the High Republic" by Kristin Baver on StarWars.com. Published 2024-06-03. (Archived on 2024-06-03)

Fan resources

• The Padawan's Guide to Star Wars Costumes
• DIY The Galaxy Of Star Wars
• "Star Wars Costumes" on Naergi's Costuming Site