How to Make Princess Leia's Metal Bikini

Princess Leia's metal bikini from "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" found its way into costume history. Websites dedicated to the creation of the bikini are found around the Internet. An episode of the TV show "Friends" featured an episode entitled "The One with the Princess Leia Fantasy." In the episode, Ross tells Rachel that he has a fantasy about Princess Leia in the bikini. Fans at conventions can be seen dressed in homemade bikinis. Carrie Fisher wore the costume in the beginning of "Return of the Jedi" when she was Jabba the Hutt's prisoner.

Things You'll Need

• Long piece of thick wire
• Model Magic clay
• Gold craft paint
• Glue
• Brush
• Brown boots
• Thread and needle
• Panties
• Cardboard
• Red, stretchy cloth

Instructions

1. Mold a wire around your chest and hips. The top piece should go around the breasts and neck, like a bikini. You may need help to form the wire correctly. Form a hook in the back, behind the neck, by making a hook-and-eye catch. For the bottom piece, connect towards the back.

2. Mold Model Magic clay around the wire to make the cups of the bikini top. Paint the cups gold. Use Model Magic to make gold designs for the boots. Glue the designs onto the boots. Use wire for embellishments on the boots. Sew the wire onto the boots.

3. Cut red, stretchy fabric into two long strips. The strips should be wide enough to cover the insides of the thighs, about 8 to 10 inches wide The strips should hang from the front and back of the bikini bottom to a few inches above the floor. Sew the strips onto the bikini bottoms. Glue the panties to the wire piece.

4. Make a front and back plate for the bikini bottom out of Model Magic. Mount it on cardboard or more wire and attach it to the bikini bottoms.

5. Paint a strand of wire gold and wrap it around the upper arm to make an arm cuff.

6. For the headpiece, mold the Model Magic on a piece of cardboard. Attach it with bobby pins or clips on the back of the head. Braid the hair.

References

• Princess Leia's Bikini: Home Made Metal Bikini

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Wired: The Cult of Leia's Metal Bikini