It occurred to me the other day, while I was watching Episode II again, that Padme' didn't seem to be all that consistent when it came to her ideals. Hear me out on this one...

OK, in Episode I, we learn that she's from this little planet called Naboo. Not much happens there, and the population lives a decent life. Padme', however, had so many luxurious outfits to wear! Jeez, even the outfit she picked to wear to get arrested by the Trade Federation had lights in the skirt! Oh yeah, and she (probably, no visual proof was provided) had duplicates of everything made up for her handmaidens, in case she needed a quick decoy. And don't get me started on the headgear. Jeez, look at that thing she wore to address the Galactic Senate about the invasion of Naboo! Can you say "extravagant"? Granted, she was the Queen at the time, but come on!

OK, Episode II. This was an over-the-top tour-de-force from Padme's wardrobe selection committee. I was not happy with her choice of outfits when she and Anakin reached the Lake Country. OMG! If she was so sure that any relationship with Anakin would be trouble, why did she, oh, wear the MOST PROVOCATIVE OUTFITS SINCE THE METAL SLAVE BIKINI?!?!?! Then there were the scenes on Tatooine. Padme' tries to be humble in front of the Lars by wearing another luxurious, partially revealing outfit. Hardly the garb of a simple woman in the desert...

Episode III was even more outrageous. Padme' had more clothing layers than you could shake a lightsaber sat, ostensibly to cover her (snicker) growing belly. But, holy moly, every layer of every outfit was probably made of light-yet-comforting fabrics that were probably hand-woven by semi-intelligent silk-bugs on some far-flung planet. She nearly redeemed herself when she traveled to Mustafar. Although that gawd-awful little gray jumpsuit did nothing for her figure, pregnant or not, it was perhaps the most down-to-earth thing she ever wore. (The Geonosis outfit doesn't count... look at how easily the ENTIRE MIDRIFF tore away with one little swipe of a nexu's paw. I can see a couple of rips, but the entire lower half of the top came off! )

So, was Padme' a hypocrite? She spent most of her career championing the plight of the down-trodden, fighting against the greed and corruption in the Senate, but managed to flaunt her wealth and position nearly every scene she's in. Seems to me that she was...