45. The Handmaidens’ Traveling Gowns
Like Queen Amidala herself in TPM, the handmaidens have multiple costumes, though not quite as many as their mistress. Dressing a Galaxy notes that a major concern for the handmaidens’ costumes is generally making their faces tough to see (60). Why? So that Padmé can go undercover as one of her own handmaidens. Actress Natalie Portman, who plays Padmé, is actually standing to the left here, not seated in the middle with the queen’s makeup on.
The reason this costume makes it onto the list is because it’s the one we see the most of for the handmaidens overall in the entire film. They wear it while traveling between Naboo, Tatooine, and Coruscant. It is also, as already noted, one of the costumes Padmé wears herself, as opposed to one that only her handmaidens wear.
In fact, this outfit also had the lucky honor of being one of the three Amidala dolls produced as part of the marketing for TPM.
The red and orange palette calls back to Amidala’s throne room gown, appearing later on this list, and call forward to the red-and-black decoy dress as well. Per Dressing, they are ombré-dyed silk and velvet.