Nerdy Photo Monday - Slave Leia

Obi-Wan (Jedi J) and Princess Leia, SDCC 2007 

At almost any convention, but especially San Diego Comic-Con, you are guaranteed to run into at least one slave Leia. I've seen entire groups of slave Leias and even a steampunk version of the costume. You've got to brave to don it. Besides the midriff baring, the skirt has open sides. I think girls usually get thongs with clear sides to wear under it. It's appropriate though that self-confident women are the ones emulating Leia. She does kind of kick ass, and she didn't look so self-conscious about the outfit in the movie. Though Jabba meant to humiliate her with the costume, her strong character made it self empowering.  Jabba realized that too late. 

Now, that's a kick ass chick.

Slave bikini facts:

- The costume designers for the infamous outfit were Aggie Guerard Rodgers and Nilo Rodis-Jamero. There were metal and rubber versions of the costume.

- The design was based on artist Frank Frazetta's Egyptian Queen painting.
- Can you believe it was only on screen in the original version for for 150 seconds?
- Within the Star Wars-universe, the veils were made of the luxury cloth Lashaa silk and the leather boots were made from jerbas hide, a Tatooine beast of burden.
- The costume came about after Fisher lamented the lack of interesting costumes for her character.
- In The Phantom Menace, a very similar bikini is seen on one of Jabba's slaves.
- Fisher said the costume was difficult to wear and is "what supermodels will eventually wear in the seventh ring of hell."

Need your own slave Leia bikini? Here are two resources to buy handcrafted ones:
Leia's Metal Bikini - all inclusive outfit and comes in several color options for the metal finish and fabric
Miala.net - Great pieces and I can vouch for quality, this is where I got my Six costume

Ambitious enough to make one? Here are some guides from those who have done so:
- Tutorial by LisaFett - super detailed tutorial with great guidance on materials
- Slave Bikini Builders group on Yahoo
- Cut Out and Keep Tutorial - easy supply list and several photos
- Leia's Metal Bikini - links to tons of reference photos to help your costume building

Do you have a slave Leia costume? Have you seen an awesome one at a convention? Tell me about it in the comments.

Carrie Fisher and stuntwoman Tracey Eddon sunbathing in costume.