This time through I wanted to talk a bit about the costuming. Star Wars is know for its iconic set pieces, but also for exciting and innovative character designs. What interested me about this movie was how specifically they were going to update the various characters for 30 years in the future. Let’s break down each of the major characters’ costumes!

Rey:

Seeing as Rey is meant to be the “new” Luke Skywalker, her costume is a combination of utilitarian desert wear but with a unique personal flair. In Episode IV all the characters in Tatooine work sand tones and tunics. Ben, Owen Lars and Obi-Wan all wore very similar clothing. Over time the character design of Obi-Wan became the standard model for Jedi. In order to differentiate Rey from this psuedo-Jedi Archetype she’s given a loose flowy tabard, arm coverings and flowy pants. This costume design emphasized freedom of movement as well as adaptable to the desert climate. Her hair is pinned back to keep it out of her face while she scavenges the wastes of Jakku. The color scheme makes her not out of place in most of the locale’s in the movie.

At the end of the movie, she transitions from her off-white/tan outfit to grey version of the same, symbolizing her newfound maturity. She also now wears the blaster Han Solo gave her along with her staff, a relic of her time on Jakku.

Finn:

Finn’s costume design, to me, is the most interesting. He starts the movie off in the standard First Order Storm Trooper armor. In a previous post I talk about how the storm trooper helmet obsucres his vision as wella s his identiy. Finn’s character arc is focussed on escapig from his past life and developing his own identity separate from the First Order. His first costue change see’s him shedding his armor so that all that is left is his black bodysuit. He recovers Poe Dameron’s jacket and effectively takes on his identity as a resistance soldier in the process. He wears this jacket for the rest of the movie. When he meets up with Poe again, Poe gifts the jacket to him claiming that is “suits him” this moment also represents Finn finally comeing to terms with his own identity. The jacket which perviously protected him from the elements and was a releic of a lost comrade becomes a part of Finn’s new identity as a true member of the resistance.

Kylo Ren:

Kylo Ren, in line with most of his characterization, is modeled directly after Darth Vader. He wears a heavy mask a dark cloak, and a high collared long sleeved tabard with a belt. This design exudes the dark side of the force. Historically morally ambiguous characters wear black in Star Wars and the good guys (with the exception of the stormtroopers) wear white and earth tones.

Where his costuming differs from Vader is in his silhouette. Vader exuded power and had a stocky almost ungainly build. It’s clear from the broad shoulder and bulging codpiece and shoulder armor of Vaders costume that he is built for power, not speed. Kylo Ren on the other hand is more nimble. He’s tall, but sinewy and nothing about his costume seems to get in the way of his movement.

All this being said, with the cloak removed, Kylo Ren’s helmet makes him cut a smaller almost diminutive silhouette. His mask retains the flared edged of a samurai inspired helmet but seems smaller, much like a mini-Darth Vader than a convincing substitute.

Han Solo:

Han’s costuming has always been the most functional of the original three protagonists. His style mixes black jackets or vests with a white undershirt emphasizing his morally ambiguous past. Sometimes he does the right thin, but his dusty worn black jacket suggest that he also has a bit of an edge. His new jacket is very similar to the old one, but for a few minor details. This jacket is leather which is able to denote age more easily. previous iterations of Han’s outfit have used canvas, a very utilitarian material. Though his jacket is different he keeps the same pentagonal belt buckle and holser with his trusty d44 blaster. Han while aged is still up to his old tricks and aside form his grey hair and weathered jacket remains the same character we know and love from the originals.

General Leia Organa:

Leia’s character has always played double duty between rebellion strategist and diplomat and the two costumes we see her wear in this movie encapsulate the dichotomy of Leia’s role’s perfectly. In their first scene of the movie, gone are the cinnamon buns and the cute snowbunny outfit from Hoth. She now wears a grey jumpsuit with a a sleeveless purple overcoat. This no-nonsense no frills costuming reminds me of Hilary Clinton’s pantsuits. As a general of the resistance she doesn’t have time for couture or other frills.

That being said, once the danger is abetted she switches into a smart sensible evening blue gown with a collar cutout in the shape of a star. She sees Rey off at the end of the movie not as a taciturn emissary of the Resistance, but as her true self, a princess, a sister, and a mother and a wife.

Leia has always been an interesting character in the sense that she is able to seamlessly transition between these seemingly opposing gender roles. As a foil to Rey, who’s able to perform her femininity without having to resort to aesthetic extremes Leia seems to be a relic of an older time.

C-3P0

He’s got a Red arm now, until he doesn’t any more. Nothing more is explained.