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in: Costumes, Padmé Amidala Naberrie's costumes

Padmé Amidala's green devoré velvet gown

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[... W]e see Padmé at home with the Senators visiting her; for that, she's in a green devoré velvet costume, which is a very unusual color of green. There's a hint almost of bronze burnished metal. The process called devoré means we burned out our own pattern on the velvet to be able to put another color behind it. I put purple behind that and enhanced the purple with a purple silk sash. Natalie wore that with her hood up, so it was a very simple looking outline, but very rich fabrics.
— Trisha Biggar, on this costume and its use in a deleted scene[3]

Padmé Amidala's green devoré velvet gown is one of the costumes that Natalie Portman wears as Padmé Amidala Naberrie in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. It's worn for only one scene in the finished movie, but it was filmed in two further scenes, only one of which has been released as a deleted scene.

Costume overview[]

Sang Jun Lee and Iain McCaig created concept artwork for this costume.[9] Costume designer Trisha Biggar described the colors and materials in detail. The hooded dress, in an "unusual" green with a "hint almost of bronze burnished metal",[3] is "Old-gold shot silk[n 4] and viscose[n 5] devoréd[n 6] velvet". It has a "two-tone Jacquard-woven[n 7] silk sleeve lining". The high waist is accented with a "bilberry-colored silk gathered sash" and the neckline with a beaded broach.[2]

Symbol[]

Naboo-Bonteri

Vector rendering of the symbol

The dress and hood have a distinct symbol "burned out" by using devoré[n 6] and adding purple to it.[3] The symbol's original illustration by Iain McCaig was part of the Power of Costume exhibit, with a placard labeling it a "Naboo Symbol" that was drawn sometime between 2000–2005.[11] Although this is not explicitly stated, we can see the symbol was previously used on Dormé's Attack of the Clones "Senate Outfit"[10] (from a deleted scene).[12] However, The Visual Encyclopedia may have removed the Naboo connection for the symbol in-universe for New Canon. Padmé's purple sash is labeled as a "Fine Onderon silk sash", and a line connects the sleeve lining with a closeup image of that lining and half of the repeated symbol, with the caption: "Luxurious fabric displays patterns of the House Bonteri". It isn't clear if the pattern referred to is the symbol or the geometric pattern on the lining.[1] Padmé was friends with Mina Bonteri of Onderon in an episode of The Clone Wars.[13]

Scenes[]

This costume was filmed for three different scenes but is only seen in one. For more details of those scenes (and others!), see Revenge of the Sith and The Clone Wars timeline. The two deleted scenes were filmed on shooting day 3, July 2, 2003.[4] In the first,[n 8] contents come from the illustrated screenplay[14] and the novelization.[15] Obi-Wan Kenobi visits Padmé Amidala's apartment to talk to her about Anakin Skywalker having difficulties because Chancellor Palpatine appointed Anakin as his personal representative on the Jedi Council. Obi-Wan knows Padmé and Anakin are in a relationship since neither of them are good at hiding those feelings, but he's keeping it to himself.[14][15] Padmé would have worn this costume with the hood down for this scene.[n 9]

Padmé's would-be next scene, which is immediately after this in the screenplay[14] and slightly spaced apart in the novelization,[15] is a viewable deleted scene called "Seeds of Rebellion (Padmé's apartment)". Senator Amidala wears the hood up while hosting a proto-Rebellion meeting: Chi Eekway, Mon Mothma, Giddean Danu, Bana Breemu, Fang Zar, and Bail Organa. They discuss forming an alliance of like-minded Senators and presenting a petition to Chancellor Palpatine. Padmé wants to talk to a Jedi she trusts, but the group consensus about approaching any Jedi is to wait.[7]

In the final film, Padmé wears this costume with the hood down in the sunset scene where she and Anakin are both pensively, ominously staring out of windows in separate locations. Not long after, he turns to the dark side.[8] The fan nickname "Ruminations Gown"[n 1] refers to the song scored by John Williams that accompanies the scene: "Padmé's Ruminations".

Fan resources[]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fan-created nickname
  2. ↑ Fairchild's Dictionary of Fashion by Charlotte Mankey Calasibetta. Published 1988 by Fairchild Publications. Second Edition
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Fairchild Dictionary of Fashion by Charlotte Mankey Calasibetta and Phyllis Tortora. Published 2003 by Laurence King Publishing. Third Edition; change of publisher and title from first two editions as Fairchild's Dictionary of Fashion.
  4. ↑ Two terms:
    • Shot cloth: "Term for fabrics woven with different colored yarns in warp and filling which achieve a changeable or iridescent effect when held in the light. May be made of silk, rayon, or man-made fibers."[n 2]
    • Changeable effect: "An iridescent effect in fabric that is achieved by using lengthwise and crosswise yarns dyed different colors. Usually made in silk or lustrous manufactured fibers in fabrics such as taffeta to achieve the most dramatic effect."[n 3]
  5. ↑ Viscose rayon: "Rayon fiber regenerated through the viscose process from wood pulp or cotton fibers too short to be spun. This process produces pollutants that are hard to eliminate, therefore production in the United States has been sharply reduced. The fiber is used for a wide variety of apparel because it can be dyed or printed in attractive colors and patterns, drapes well, and is comfortable to wear; however, if not given special finishes, it has a tendency to shrink and to wrinkle."[n 3]
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Devoré, as defined by Trisha Biggar, is "a process that removes selected areas of velvet pile, leaving a pattern behind". For example, it was used in TPM to add the Naboo royal symbol on multiple handmaidens' costumes.[10] She further explained its use on Padmé's ROTS costumes: "The process called devoré means we burned out our own pattern on the velvet to be able to put another color behind it."[3]
  7. ↑ Jacquard: "A system of weaving that, because of a pattern-making mechanism of great versatility, permits the production of woven designs of considerable size. Invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard in France in 1801, the loom controls each lengthwise yarn separately by use of a pattern on a punched card or, in newer looms, by an electronic device. Some of the most widely used jacquard fabrics are brocade, damask, and tapestry."[n 3]
  8. ↑ The screenplay book identifies this scene as "94 (69)", with the parentheses referring to the scene number used for the shooting script on set in Sydney, and intended to match the numbers used in the Art of and Making of books.[14] The latter book has a photograph of Natalie Portman wearing this costume while talking to Ewan McGregor, with the caption: "While waiting to shoot scene 69 in Padmé's apartment, Portman and McGregor talk." It[4] That's one of the ways to determine this costume corresponds to this scene.
  9. ↑ For examples of the still photography and screen captures of the footage, see Padawan's Guide.[16]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 New Canon · Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia, "Culture" — "Work Clothing", by Adam Bray, Cole Horton, and Tricia Barr. Published 2017 by DK Publishing.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Real World · Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars, "Chapter Six: Padmé's Journey", by Trisha Biggar. Published 2005 by Insight Editions.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Real World · The Art of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, "Part II: Principal Photography", by Jonathan W. Rinzler. Published 2005 by Del Rey.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Real World · Star Wars: The Making of Star Wars Revenge of the Sith, "Part II: Principal Photography: The Moviemakers of Oz", by J. W. Rinzler. Published 2005 by Del Rey.
  5. ↑ Real World · Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars, "Costume Index", by Trisha Biggar. Published 2005 by Insight Editions.
  6. ↑ Real World · Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen: Star Wars™ and the Power of Costume. Exhibited 2015–2018. Produced by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in consultation with Lucasfilm Ltd.

    PADMÉ AMIDALA Apartment Sunset Gown, 2005 Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Shot silk and rayon devoré (burnout) velvet with Jacquard-woven silk sleeve lining

    — Placard for costume
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Legends & New Canon · Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, deleted scene: "Seeds of Rebellion (Padmé's apartment)"
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Legends & New Canon · Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Real World · The Art of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, "Part I: Preproduction", by Jonathan W. Rinzler. Published 2005 by Del Rey.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Real World · Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars, "Chapter Two: Royalty", by Trisha Biggar. Published 2005 by Insight Editions.
  11. ↑ Real World · Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen: Star Wars™ and the Power of Costume. Exhibited 2015–2018. Produced by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in consultation with Lucasfilm Ltd.

    IAIN McCAIG Naboo Symbol 2000-2005 Graphite pencil, marker, correction fluid, and photocopy on paper

    — Placard for illustration
  12. ↑ Legends & New Canon · Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, deleted scene: "Padmé Addresses the Senate"
  13. ↑ Legends & New Canon · The Clone Wars, Season 3, Episode 10: "Heroes on Both Sides"
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Real World · Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith: The Illustrated Screenplay by George Lucas. Published 2005 by Del Rey.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Legends · Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Part Two: Seduction, "13: The Will of the Force", by Matthew Stover. Published 2005 by Del Rey. Film novelization.
  16. ↑ Fansite · "Green Cut Velvet Costume: Reference Images" by Maggie on The Padawan's Guide to Star Wars Costumes. (Archived on 2021-01-15)
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