Today’s review features the Queen Amidala inspired chiffon top by Fashions For Fans. I am always on the look-out for Padme’ Amidala inspired fashion, so of course I instantly fell in love with the apparel range by Fashions For Fans – she has so many Padme’ themed designs to choose from! This chiffon shirt is inspired by the red ‘Throne Room Gown’ Queen Amidala wears at the very beginning of The Phantom Menace.
An embroidery-inspired design fit for a queen!
- Front panel is edge-to-edge custom printed just for you
- Sublimation transfer print technique embeds dye into the fabric allowing it to stay soft and drapey
- Option of black or white back panel, sleeves and binding
- Slightly sheer 100% Polyester chiffon with silky handfeel, ideal for wearing as a layering piece with your faithful cami or bralette
- Loose cropped boxy style fit
Available in sizes XS to 2XL, the shirt is priced at US$28.07 each – RedBubble can ship internationally, which is great!
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- Women’s Queen Amidala Chiffon Shirt – US$28.07 each – sizes XS to 2XL
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- Check out our interview with Fashions For Fans here
- Shop the range of Fashions For Fans apparel on RedBubble
The shirt came folded in a clear plastic zip-lock pouch. This is my first RedBubble garment, so I was curious to how they package their products. Knowing chiffon can be a delicate fabric, I am very happy to see how well packaged this shirt was for sending. The bag is made from recycled plastic, and the packaging encourages reuse or recyling, rather than discarding – a good sentiment. Inside the shirt was folded over a plain cardboard insert, to help keep the shape.
The Queen Embroidery shirt is made from chiffon, with a red and yellow-gold design printed on the front. The back of the shirt, sleeves and neckline binding are made from black chiffon. This design is also available with white chiffon sleeves/back/binding, but I feel the black works better with the print, representing the dark colour of the faux fur details of the original costume.
I know I am not alone in my desire for more Star Wars fashion inspired by the gorgeous costumes of Queen Amidala (read more here). It is frustrating that many companies continue to ignore a main female character – I am so happy to see fan labels like Fashions For Fans celebrate Padme’ Amidala, her importance to fans, and her amazing costumes. This chiffon shirt is a stylish alternative to a t-shirt, and works well for office wear or evenings out.
The front shirt panel is a gorgeous red, with the embroidery-inspired design printed in a muted yellow to represent the gold thread on the original costume. The yellow colour is handled well in this design – bright enough to represent gold, without being a garish contrast against the red background. As an ‘everyday cosplay’ style garment, the colour choices of this design reflect careful thought about the balance between stylish fashion and costume reference.
Please note that it can be very hard to accurately represent true colours, due to lighting conditions and screen settings. I have done my best to capture the gorgeous red colour of this shirt – honestly, it instantly says Queen Amidala to me. It feels like a true red, no pink or orange tones.
As the entire red front area is printed on base white fabric, I am excited to see just how closely this shirt looks like the image on the RedBubble website (as a print-on-demand service, the image is a rendered simulation, not a photograph of the final product).
Most fans are quite familiar with print-on-demand t-shirts, and the typical print quality – but I haven’t had the opportunity see the printed chiffon from RedBubble in person before. The print of this shirt is crisp and clean, even up close. The colour is even throughout the entire printed front panel.
For many costumers, the design down the front is instantly recognisable as the embroidery from Queen Amidala’s throne room gown. The gold scrolling design doesn’t feature any recognisable Star Wars logo or symbol, so it is perfect for subtle ‘everyday cosplay’ fashion – most people will not know it is Star Wars inspired. The gold embroidery of the original costume has always reminded me of the interior decorations of a luxurious 18th century French palace, especially since we only see the costume in the Theed Royal Palace on Naboo (the classic Naboo symbol is also very reminiscent of the classic ‘fleur de lis’ design, which is closely associated with France).
There is a white garment tag sewn into the back neckline seam. The tag notes the fabric composition (100% polyester), garment care instructions (cold machine wash), and also “Don’t slap pandas” – I had to laugh! There are no other garment tags, which is useful for a semi-sheer fabric shirt (some shirts have an additional tag in the lower side seam, which would show through when wearing a shirt like this).
The shirt front is printed on base white fabric, and sewn together with the plain black chiffon fabric sleeves, back, and finally finished with binding at the neckline. The seaming is all very tidy, stitched in black thread.
The shirt has a loose, boxy style fit that is comfortable to wear. This shirt is a size XS – approximate measurements (lying flat) –
- 48cm across the chest (underarm to underarm)
- 48cm across the lower hem (side seam to side seam)
- 46cm from front neckline to front lower hem
- 22cm sleeve length from top shoulder seam to sleeve hem
The back of the shirt is plain black, as expected. The original Queen Amidala costume doesn’t include black – the faux fur is actually brown, though the lighting of the scenes does make it appear darker (compared to photos of the costume on display in exhibitions). In any case, the combination of red and black is iconic in the world of fashion, and certainly looks better in the context of an ‘everyday cosplay’ inspired design, where the goal is to reference, rather than copy the original.
The front panel is custom printed on white chiffon fabric – the underside is white. This means that if you snag the fabric, white threads will show through the design. This fabric doesn’t feel flimsy, but chiffon is a fabric that should always be cared for, whether printed or not. While technically the front of the shirt is entirely printed, it feels like regular fabric – the front has the same lovely soft drape as the plain/non-printed black fabric.
Chiffon is a fabric that can vary a lot – this shirt is not as see-through as many chiffon fabrics, but it is still semi-sheer (the RedBubble website recommends wearing a cami or bralette underneath).
I really like the use of a different fabric for Queen Amidala inspired garments, beyond knit t-shirt fabric – she always wears luxurious fabrics, even when relaxing at home on Naboo with her family. While in reality we find ourselves often reaching for a comfortable t-shirt, I love the idea of incorporating some of Padme’s personal style into garments that are inspired by her. Royalty goes hand in hand with high fashion – this shirt combines the comfort and ease of a t-shirt, with the wonderful drape and feel of something from Padme’s wardrobe.
The lower hem is turned over twice, so the raw edge is secured inside the hem. The stitching is all done in black thread – this shows as a small row across the lower hem on the front, and blends in against the plain black fabric of the back and sleeves. The side seams are all overlocked (serged) in black thread on the inside.
The same as the lower hem, the sleeve hems are turned over twice, sealing the raw edge inside. Having the edges completely sealed is a good way to protect the hems and avoid any possible fraying – and it just looks nicer for areas where the inside seam can be seen when wearing.
This gorgeous shirt is perfect for forming the basis of a Queen Amidala inspired look, or just sneaking a subtle touch of Naboo royal style into your outfit. Keen-eyed fans may recognise the costume embroidery pattern, but for everyone else it is a beautiful intricate design.
The shirt goes beautifully with gold jewelry, or red faceted rhinestone accessories that reference Queen Amidala’s headpiece. Black is an easy colour to coordinate into a wardrobe, and the pop of red keeps that bold sense of style that is so synonymous with Queen Amidala.
Disclaimer: this item was supplied by Fashions For Fans for review purposes. The Kessel Runway stands by the position that this, and all of our reviews, are an honest analysis and opinion regardless of whether the merchandise was purchased or supplied by a manufacturer/retailer.
