Captain Blackwell reporting in!

It seems lists of everything are all the rage these days, and I thought what better list for Star Wars than the best and worst dressed!

The saga's chief costume designers - John Mollo, Aggie Guerard Rodgers, Nilo Rodis-Jamero, and more recently, Trisha Biggar - have certainly presented no paucity of remarkable ensembles throughout the years. Some are stunning, some are outlandish, some are boring, and some simply make one go, "what the..." But with such an ecclectic collection, which costumes could light up the promenade of a posh Coruscant palace, and which could gag the most swinish Gammorean Guard? Since I'm hard pressed to find any such evaluations elswhere, I've decided to play amateur fashionista and compile a list myself.

So, without further ado, I offer you my personal countdown of the "Best" and "Worst" dressed in the Star Wars universe!


Remember, these are just my opinions. I encourage you to share your own lists.

The Best

10. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine
Harkening back to medieval European royalty, this deliciously lavish formal wear exudes the power and prestige of its ambitious wearer, while the drab tones offer a subtle hint to his darker agenda.

9. Imperial Officer Uniform
An obvious amalgam of German SS and WWII Japanese officer uniforms, while not the most original, these slick, classically militaristic outfits offer a sense of authority and professionalism that is absent in most other SW apparel.

8. Anakin Skywalker (Revenge of the Sith)
I'm not particularly enthralled with the typically dull and floppy robes employed by most Jedi (they are just sooooo Old Republic), but there's something about this one that struck a chord with me. Is it the rich burgundy colors that portend Ani's journey towards the Dark Side? Is it the rebelliously broad leather tunic shoulders? Whatever the case, it's infinitely more stylish than anything else worn by Jedi of the time, and it fits Anakin and his character like - well, like a well-tailored suit.

7. Luke Skywalker (Hoth Gear)
There's not much to say about this one other than I think it remains one of the more futuristic and real world-practical of all the SW costumes. Also, maybe it's the tan and off-white colors, or the soft yet durable contour, but it just has this ineffable aesthetic quality, I think.

6. Queen Amidala (Red Formal Costume)
Rife with ornate echoes from various Asian cultures, this incredibly majestic costume is exotic and otherworldly without being overly flamboyant. Unlike anything else seen in SW, it is truly a work of art.

5. Imperial Guard
A mysterious, elegantly wicked costume that visually screams, "I can go kung-fu on your butt and look fancy doing it." Definitely one of the more ingenious and striking designs in the Star Wars universe - costume-speaking or otherwise.

4. Stormtrooper
At first glance, it's impossible to decipher that these crisply white armored uniforms are designed to serve the evil Empire. (I suppose it just goes to prove once again that the Empire is cleaner and much more fashion savvy than the scrappy Rebels.). Unfortunately for the bad guys, the armor coverings seem to be more cosmetic than pragmatic, as I've yet to see a blaster hit fail to take down a trooper clad in these pale coverings. If looks could kill, however, the Stormtroopers would be invincible.

3. Darth Vader
A costume so classic it has become the icon for villains the world over. And it's easy to see why - though time and parody may have worn off some of its luster, this instantly-recognizable all-black suit, with its ominous mask and samurai/German solider-derived helmet, remains ultra-cool and has "bad guy" written all over it.

2. Luke Skywalker (Return of the Jed)
Luke was certainly stronger with the Force than his predecessors when it came to fashion sense. Though by all accounts a staunchly devoted Jedi, he wisely eschewed the droopy robes of traditional Jedi for this form-fitting, Catholic priest-like mufti. Effectively symbolizing his confrontation with the Dark Side, this entirely jet black costume is sleek yet simple, stylish yet practical. The chest flap offers a subtly masculine touch, while the cloak and off-color tunic are serviceable accessories.

1. Jango Fett
(What? Did you think I was going to pick Princess Leia's slave outfit? Pervs.) Yes, perhaps it is a slightly biased choice, what with me being the biggest Jango Fett fan this side of Boba. Nevertheless, I can assure you that it would still rank prominently in my list regardless of how I felt about the universe's best bounty hunter. The fact is, from the T-shaped visor to the streamlined shin guards, this shiny, ultra-sleek Mandalorian armor is just simply too cool to offer a worthy description. Heck, if it fit, it could even make Jar-Jar look good!


The Worst

5. Handmaiden Robes
These semi-burkas make the handmaidens look more like cultists than loyal servants, and are way too bright and attention-drawing (especially when considering that Queen Amidala often disguised herself as a handmaiden).

4. Lando Calrissian (The Empire Strikes Back)
A character as cool as Lando deserves threads better than this obscene mutation of a Latin dancer's costume/disco outfit. (I mean, is he an industrial administrator, or Saturday Night Fever reject?) It's not dashing. It's just tacky and excessively metrosexual.

3. Greedo
You know why Han really shot you, Greedo? Because of your crimes against fashion - only the man who made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs could get away with the sleeveless vest look!

2. Watto
I'm not sure this can even qualify as a "costume". It's more of a crude speedo that serves to barely hide the more arcane elements of Watto's anatomy. But thank the Force he at least wore something - I have no need to see Toydarian genitalia!

1. Fat Dancer in Jabba's Palace
.......