EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE

"Honorable representatives of the Republic, . . ."

As Queen Amidala addresses the Galactic Senate, she wears this royal gown with a distinct Mogolian feel. It was one of the most intricate of the Queen's entire wardrobe.

The gown itself consists of three layers. The underdress was made of orange short silk with a green weave, a 70 year old fabric. The pleats of the dress catch the light of the outfit's colors whenever the queen moves. Numerous sections of antique beaded lace were used to decorate the underdress.

A middle robe consisting of red and green short velvet was enhanced with a special technique of bronze embroidery that added texture and depth to the fabric. The robe's collar and cuffs were decorated with a metallic gold braid. Drapped over this robe is a faux fur cape. High peaked shoulders of the cape were created by pyramid-shaped padding, giving it a very distinctive silhoette. The cape was lined in red silk.

This costume's headdress was the heaviest of all the Queen's partly because it was plated with real gold and decorated with little jewels. "We felt it was worth the effort, weight and expense of having real gold" - Trisha Biggar

THE MAKEUP

The Queen's makeup was designed with a Japanese Kabuki style. For the porcelain white base color makeup artist Paul Engelen used RCMA Ivory (He found clown white was too bright and made the eyes look red). The powder applied after the ivory base was Channel 01 Aube Power Lumiere Press». The circles on either cheek were done with red "lake" lip pencil. This same color was used on her top lip and the center section of her lower lip. Nars "Fire Down Below" is the brand and exact color. A white base color was used on either side of the red mark on the bottom lip. Other makeup used included Lancome Elancil black mascara and Givenchy Prizm Topaz (eyeliner?). The eyebrows were sculpted in brown/black.