Leia, May the Force Be With You: Remembering Princess Leia's Iconic Costumes

By Shrey Sankalp

27th December will forever be a day of infamy for every Star Wars fan, for it is the day the Force turned dark following the passing of Carrie Fisher, Princess Leia herself.
2016 had its share of soul shattering deaths, from the beloved actor Alan Rickman, to beloved musicians David Bowie, Prince and George Michael, but the most hurtful death was reserved for the last, with Carrie Fisher collapsing from a heart attack and passing days later at just 60 years of age.

There is nothing we can say here that could remotely begin to express our grief, and we are as stunned at the suddenness of it as the rest of world. There's nothing to be said about the woman that hasn't been said before, but let it be reiterated how Carrie Fisher held an important place in the hearts of both fans of Star Wars and her other films, as well as her readers. Yes, as popular as she might be for the costumed antics of Star Wars and its sequels, Carrie Fisher was also an excellent writer.
Carrie Fisher's prowess as a screenwriter is well documented, (where her skills as a script doctor were so prolific, one could say they were almost Jedi-like), but it is her razor sharp wit combined with her narrative fluidity that made her an excellent writer instead of someone trying to cash in on their costumed alter ego. Her memoirs Wishful Drinking (based on her one woman Off-Broadway show of the same name) and The Princess Diarist (for which she had been touring at the time of their death) might be fascinating insights into her mind, but her piece-de-resistance is Postcards from the Edge. A semi-autobiographical novel, the book is a look into the life of a recovering alcoholic actress, dealing with her delusions and addictions.
This frankness came to define Carrie Fisher, for the other side to her glorious legacy is her willingness to confront and converse about issues that were stigmatized, such as her addiction to drugs, bouts with bipolar disorder, and living with the two.
She remained a lifelong advocate for mental health awareness, and the credit for bringing these issues into the light must go to her, especially at a time when nobody quite knew what to make of it.

The twin bun hairstyle and the no-nonsense costume have become an embodiment of hope and resilience.

It would seem combating and conquering were in her nature, for whether her legacy is fully comprehended or not, one aspect of it is: her portrayal of Princess Leia Organa.
Fans have multiple reasons to love Star Wars - the characters, the mythology, the narrative, the costumes - but the common denominator is Princess Leia.
Leader of the Rebel Alliance, Leia was introduced in 1977's Star Wars from the very first scene, and from her very introduction, she won the hearts of audiences all over the world. Played by a then 19 year old Fisher, Princess Leia was a departure from your average female character - instead of being the typical delicate damsel in distress to be rescued by the hero who has to have a skimpy costume, Leia was a strong no-nonsense leader.
Even when she were captured, necessitating the heroes to save her, her composure and quick-thinking embody a true leader.
And it didn't matter what situation Leia was in, her demeanor always assured you she was owning it.
Of course, the series was never short on providing her adversity, but she was never never short on the determination to plow through it. Her Princess costume gave way to a more militarized costume that was in line with the Rebel Alliance costume, and Leia took it in her stride as she shed any trace of royal upbringing with her costume and embraced her new role and commanded the Alliance.
Even when destiny caused her to shed the Alliance costume and don the now immortal golden bikini costume for Jabba the Hut, she didn't let it make her vulnerable, she embraced the situation and once again flourished.
And just when you'd think fate had had enough, she found herself leading yet another Resistance years later, except this time against her own son.
And as you would have expected, Leia took on this duty, and carried the weight that came with the costume of a General.

The Princess Leia golden bikini costume is one of the most iconic costumes of all time.

The obvious takeaway here is that neither did adversities stop springing themselves on Leia, neither did she stop taking them head-on. A recurring motif of Star Wars is hope, and Fisher always ensured Leia was brimming with it.
It was this combination of resilience and hope that made Leia so endearing as an idea, and whatever was left, Carrie Fisher dealt with it.
This makes Leia's popularity all the more obvious.
With a characterization like this, and an actress like Fisher playing her, Leia would have found popularity in any story, but being a character in Star Wars enabled her to have an impact far greater than herself.
We have covered extensively in the past how Star Wars has used costumes and character designs as conduits for ideas, and just as a Darth Vader costume provided the embodiment of pure evil, the Princess Leia costume became a conduit. The Princess Leia costume has primarily come to be recognized as a symbol of hope and resilience, as it embodies the best of the character, but with the popularity Fisher found owing to the role, it served as a gateway to who she is and what she stood for as well.
Whenever a costume is seen with the iconic twin bun hairstyle and the white robed design that is more functional than objectifying, you instantly think of Princess Leia.
And just as Princess Leia's traditional costume has come to signify resilience and hope, the other most popular Princess Leia costume, the golden bikini has become a symbol of beauty at its utmost apex.
Both costumes enjoy a massive presence, both in pop-culture (with actresses such as Tina Fey and Amy Schumer having used the Princess Leia costume in recent years to particular effectiveness, and with the general media continuing to reference Star Wars) and in the hearts and homes of general audiences, and for this purpose, we can rightfully say Princess Leia was probably the character that brought the costume culture to the forefront.

This is a difficult time for everyone, from the fans, to the Reynolds family who had the misfortune of losing both Carrie Fisher and her mother, Debbie Reynolds, a day apart, and our hearts go out to the family.
Carrie Fisher may be gone, but the movement she started lives on among the hearts of her fans. Fisher taught us to be resilient, hopeful, and stand in the face of adversity and not blink.
Carrie Fisher may be gone, but her legacy will live on.
With every fan who puts on the Princess Leia costume, to every fan who picks up her books, they are all remembering her and celebrating what she stood for, hoping the Force is with her, guiding her along the path.
Carrie Fisher is one with the Force now, and may the Force be with her.