Star Wars Costume Exhibition Combines Fashion and Film

Featuring 70 hand-crafted costumes from the first six blockbuster Star Wars films, this exhibition reveals the artist’s’ creative process —and uncovers the connection between character and costume.

The link between fashion and film has always been a beautiful cinematic tradition. Whether it be Givenchy’s iconic little black dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffanys, ornate royal slippers courtesy of Manolo Blahnik dawned by a decadent Queen in Marie Antoinette or the harrowing gothic black tutu by Rodarte which transformed Natalie Portman into the ominous Black Swan, costume designers’ stylistic contributions to the world of film and by extension to our own worlds is undeniable. Their work constructs the characters we love, enhancing the film’s setting via color and texture, and in some instances transcends the screen and informs our perception of style in our own lives.

In this grand tradition, after four decades of films and just in time for the release of the newest installation Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the costume parade of one of the worlds largest cultural phenomenons has traveled from a galaxy far, far, away right here to New York City.

Star Wars and the Power of Costume at Discovery Times Squareis a collaboration by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and Lucasfilm Ltd. and features more than 60 original costumes and dozens of props and artifacts from the franchise.

According to mastermind behind the films George Lucas, “Craftsmanship and artistry in costume design are valued creative components in the Star Wars saga. The detailed precision of a design can be as bold a measure of storytelling as words on a page, leading to truths at the core of a character, situation or shared history. From initial concept drawings to complex physical constructions, the costumes featured in this exhibition serve to further define crucial aspects of worlds created to move, educate and entertain us—to inspire the imagination.”

And inspire they do– the exhibition features a cavalcade of original costumes worn in the films, including a mirrored hall of Stormtrooper helmets reinforcing the Empires idea of soldiers becoming mindless drones, Darth Vader’s iconic black suit epitomizing his final decent into the dark side, Princess Leia’s slave bikini courtesy of Jabba the Hutt, and Queen Amidala’s royal gowns from the prequels. One gallery features the droids we’ve come to love over the years C-3PO, R2-D2 and the newest addition to the story BB-8, while another spotlights weaponry such as lightsabers, guns, blasters, and endless other props that make Star Wars so memorable. As a special exclusive treat for NYC viewers the final gallery includes 6 new costumes worn by cast members of the newest installation Star Wars: The Force Awakens .

Whether you’re a super fan of Star Wars or a seasoned fashionista (or both for that matter) it’s not hard to find something to admire in this exhibition. The intricacy and fine detail of these garments are captivating up close. It’s easy to see the labor of love of the hundreds of seamstresses, couture artists, tailors, sewers, who worked for thousands of hours dying, printing, and sewing these fabrics to make the finished product we see on film. This tedious process not far from something one could see on a couture runway show in Paris Fashion Week. It’s a breathtaking view of the history of this epic franchise and confirmation of it’s grandeur knowing Star Wars won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design in 1978. The exhibit also features actual fabric swatches and interactive flip books so viewers can peruse the timeline from page to stage.

Star Wars and the Power of Costume: The Exhibition is on view at Discovery Times Square now through through Sept. 5, 2016. For more information, visit discoverytsx.com/star-wars-exhibition