I remember seeing The Phantom Menace for the first time and being distracted by Padme’s costumes. Pfft, what’s her deal with the kimonos and geisha girl make-up anyway? When I was a kid, I had seen Star Wars: A New Hope and, yes, there were weird space creatures but the only costume that stood out to me was Darth Vader’s and even then it wasn’t all THAT distracting. But when I heard that the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandise was planning to exhibit 100 costumes, accessories and props from all six Star Wars movies, the little kid in me jumped for joy.

Think of it, you get to come face to face with Darth Vader…well, his mask. You get to see Wookie wear: Chewie’s man purse and kicky bandolier strap. And, yes, I really do want to see the extravagant gowns of Queen Amadala in all their glorious splendor and gorgeous detail.

It’s so cool that the Star Wars saga took us to a galaxy far, far away but the costumes from that pop culture icon will be in Downtown L.A. for Angelenos to enjoy. And if you want to take home some of the movie magic, wait for the accompanying book, Dressing the Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars ($50) to come out October 1st.

Book description:

While the Star Wars saga is famous for its elaborate sets and for revolutionary visual effects, it also features some of the most unique and ornate costumes in modern film. In this exquisite volume, the intricate and beautiful fashions that have appeared in all six Star Wars films are on display-from military gear to royal gowns and the iconic garbs of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader. Every costume is brilliantly displayed in intimate detail, from preproduction sketches to the final creations…Accompanied by an exhibition at the The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) Museum & Galleries at FIDM in Los Angeles, this unique visual treat is a must-have for any Star Wars fan.

September 19-December 10
Monday-Saturday 10am-8pm
Sunday 11am-5pm

Price for tickets:
$5 for online reservations
$7 for walk-up tickets
$8 for telephone reservations

FIDM Museum & Galleries
919 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Cross Street: 9th Street