Star Wars: 10 Best Costumes

Due to its beautifully crafted costumes over the past four decades, Star Wars has inspired thousands to create replica costumes of the characters shown on screen, cosplay them over the years, and in some cases even inspired people to join the costuming and fashion industry  (or at the very least, learn more about it).

While sartorial matters may not be the first thing to spring to mind when we think about Star Wars, it’s a very big part of the series. Imagine the haunting sequence of Padmé staring out a palace window, as her planet is invaded. Would it be as memorable a visual without her heavy crimson gown? Or how about Luke’s conflict in Return of the Jedi, represented by his all-black wardrobe — revealed in the end, in the moment that he spares Vader, to be made of white fabric inside?

Costuming tells a very important part of a story, and it makes beautiful visual images that stay with us. It inspires us to design things ourselves or even try our hand at cosplaying (a feat made most spectacular when we don’t know how to thread a needle). So, today we’re taking a look at ten of the best costumes in Star Wars.

10 Rey’s Throne Room Outfit

Clothing can reveal a great deal about a character’s internal landscape, and with a movie as greatly complex and visual as The Last Jedi, it was all but expected that Rey’s appearance would change.

After spending years dressed in the same garb as the day her parents left her, Rey finally left the three hair buns in the past and ditched her dirty white clothes for a more mature look, giving us the most adult and feminine look we’ve ever seen Rey in. It may not have lasted for long, but it made an impression.

9 Sabine’s Armor

Sabine’s armor has evolved as much as her hair has on the now-ended Star Wars Rebels. But initially, Sabine burst onto our screens and demanded our attention with her paint-splattered Mandalorian armor (we think Din Djarin would clutch some proverbial pearls if he saw Sabine).

Sabine favored neon colors unless she needed muted ones for stealth, and when she first appeared on our screens, she favored bright oranges, purples, and pinks. It’s extremely rare to find pink in a galaxy far, far away — we’re still dreaming for a pink lightsaber — so seeing Sabine proudly wearing it from head to toe certainly makes our day.

8 Ahsoka’s Rebellion Gear

It was a surprise for everyone when Ahsoka appeared on Star Wars Rebels, reprised by Ashley Eckstein (queen of the fandom fashion trends, thanks to Her Universe). Rebels saw an older, wiser, and — let’s be real — more traumatized Ahsoka Tano, and she brought with her a whole new style.

The Clone Wars saw Ahsoka in some sketchy outfits (we’re thinking of the tube top), but Rebels required a more mature look. Ahsoka resembles a warrior, and while there is certainly some Jedi influences into the style, she looks exactly how she needs to: a warrior unbound by any organization, just fighting for a cause she believes in.

7 Han’s Navy Jacket

Han has a signature look that has carried over through the decades — it’s a simple one, befitting that of a smuggler who spends most of his time either out running a cranky slug or an even crankier Empire — and it’s easy to see why: it works for him.

Foregoing a black vest, Han sided with practicality and went with a dull navy blue jacket to keep him warm on Hoth (and inside the mouth of a space worm. It happens). Combined with his ever classic white tunic, it makes for an overall great look for Han. Unfortunately, we never see this great jacket again post carbonite.

6 Leia’s Pantsuit on Bespin

This may strike some controversy, but we think Leia’s outfit here is actually a pantsuit rather than a dress. But regardless of technicalities, this is one of our favorite looks Leia ever wore, and it’s a shame it only lasts for all of fifteen minutes (if that).

This outfit is the first time we ever actually see Leia in color, which is noteworthy of itself. What is more noteworthy is that the color is red — which symbolizes passion, love, and romance…and who walks into the room the first time we see Leia in it? That’s right, a certain scruffy-looking nerf herder.

5 Luke’s Black Outfit

Luke’s wardrobe took a natural evolution over the course of the first trilogy, from childhood white to adolescent grays until finally in Return of the Jedi, Luke graced our screens with this snazzy black look that would make his mom proud.

In our opinion, this is quintessential Luke — it marks his maturity as a character, as a Jedi, and his struggle with the Dark Side. We may have enjoyed seeing this outfit for an entire movie, but it simply wasn’t enough to sate us.

4 Padmé’s Lake Dress

Ironically, Attack of the Clones gave us a more relaxed Padmé in the sense that she was able to return home and get to know her future husband, and her wardrobe represented that. Gone was the bulky Senate gowns, and tight hairstyles. Padmé threw those away as she and Anakin arrived at the Lake House.

Padmé’s lake dress is one of the most beautiful gowns in the saga: it hangs off the shoulder and shows plenty back, giving us an overall lighter feel from the rest of Padmé’s wardrobe. The gown itself has a dyed ombre, so that is starts with an antique white and ends up with deep pink.

3 Qi’ra’s Red Cape

Let’s face it: we haven’t had a style icon in a galaxy far, far away since Padmé gave up the will to live in 2005. Luckily, this is where Qi’ra comes in.

Qi’ra (played by Emilia Clarke) is already one of our favorite characters due to her complexity, and her sense of style is just the cherry on top. She wore many great outfits in Solo: A Star Wars Story, but we love this one the most for how bold and dramatic it is.

2 Connix’s Resistance Uniform

Although we saw her even less than usual in The Rise of Skywalker, Kaydel Connix (portrayed by Billie Lourd) brought us a great new look with her new Resistance uniform.

It consists of a beige jumpsuit and a white jacket, both things that are easily accessible in the real world, and with its creamy palette, it stands out without being too showy. It’s a gorgeous, more relaxed look than we’ve seen for Connix before.

1 Doctor Aphra’s Outfit

Aphra has a very specific style of clothing she always wears and only happens to change the smallest of details. Like Han, Aphra prefers simplicity and practicality and has an easily recognizable silhouette.

Aphra makes our list because of how well she pulls these items together, and how they stand out thanks to smaller details, like the red color block shoulders of her vest, and how versatile her outfits can be.

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