Unless you’ve been living under a rock recently, you probably know that the new Star Wars movie is premiering today. If you’re a fan of this genre, movie buff, and/or a fashionista,  you may really enjoy a new exhibit that’s being displayed at NYC’s Discovery Times Square, Star Wars and the Power of the Costume.

As a Star Wars fan, I probably would have been happy even if this were just a display of some of the original costumes. But this multidimensional exhibit that features 70 plus hand-crafted costumes from all of the Star Wars films including seven additional pieces from Star Wars: The Force Awakens is so much more.

Annotated by commentary from Smithsonian curators, George Lucas, costumers, and actors including Carrier Fisher about her famous Princess Leia slave bikini, this exhibit discusses the history of how the preparation of the films shaped the costumes and, in turn, how the costumes ultimately shaped the films.

George Lucas commented that, because many of the scenes were filmed in front of blue screens, the costumes were found to be important for the actors to fully getting into their roles. Samuel L Jackson, who played Mace Windu, noted that he loved seeing his Jedi costume because at last he had an idea of who he was, how to carry himself, and a way of being.  The Jedi tunics looked like they consisted of coarsely woven wools and linens, but they were actually made of polyester and silk so that they could last longer on the set.

Natalie Portman’s sumptuous gowns are on display and commentary is provided as to how the materials and designs were created to express her change in character over the series of films that she starred in.

Of course, the show wouldn’t have been complete without displays of the lightsabers used in the movies.

 

Where:Discover Times Square, 226 W. 44th Street, NY, NY.

When: Now until September 5, 2016

Click HERE  for more info.