Luke saw Leia seated there, now, by Jabba’s belly.
She was chained at the neck and dressed in the skimpy costume of a dancing girl.
He could feel her pain immediately, from across the room – but he said nothing,
The Scene
Forty years ago, Return of the Jedi, the third and final installment of the original Star Wars trilogy, hit theaters. In addition to many scenes and quotes that are now legendary, this film spawned one of the most iconic outfits that remains etched in the collective memory of pop culture and all adolescent nerd boys to this day.
The infamous Leia’s Slave Outfit, aka Princess Leia’s Gold Bikini.
The costume
Leia’s slave outfit was designed by costume designer Aggie Rodgers. The sexy, skin-tight ensemble consists of a shiny metallic bikini top, a red skirt, and gold bracelets. It was designed specifically for the scene in which Leia is held captive by the gangster Jabba the Hutt. Although it only appeared in a few short scenes, the gold bikini left a lasting impression and became one of the most famous costumes in film history. BTW: The costume worn by Princess Ardala in Buck Rogers (1979) and the costume worn by Princess Aura in Flash Gordon (1980) were undoubtedly sources of inspiration for this costume.
Controversy
However, the Slave Outfit also sparked a lot of controversy. Some critics argued that the costume was sexist and objectifying, reducing Leia’s character to her appearance. Carrie Fisher herself later expressed concern about the gold bikini and its impact on the image of women in the film industry. Others, however, argued that the costume was a feminist symbol and a powerful representation of a woman who goes her own way.
But in my opinion, both sides overlook the role the costume plays in the context of the story. That’s what should matter.
It is understandable from his point of view that a powerful gangster boss wants to demonstrate his power by humiliating his prisoners, just as it is understandable that he wants to display/present them like trophies. This is behavior that can also be seen in many Bond Films or other gangster films, for example. So from a story perspective, Leia’s slave outfit fits perfectly with the plot and the situation. It is therefore neither a symbol of strength and self-determination nor unnecessarily objectifying.
In comparison, there are many other films in which male and female (!) gaze gratuitous nudity scenes and costumes really only serve to objectify, without fitting into the plot or being necessary for it. (Star Trek Into Darkness; Aquaman; Star Wars AotC; etc.).
But unfortunately, in today’s culture of exaggerated political correctness, the political message that can be interpreted into a costume or scene has become much more important than whether it fits into the story. Not to mention that art must always be viewed in the context of the time in which it was created.
The Legacy
Despite the controversy, Leia’s slave outfit remains an icon of the Star Wars franchise and a symbol of Carrie Fisher’s iconic portrayal of Princess Leia. The costume and scene have been frequently referenced and parodied in various films, TV shows, comics, etc. One of the most famous examples is probably in the series Friends.
The costume is also very popular with cosplayers, especially at Star Wars conventions. In 2013, I had the opportunity to photograph many cosplayers in Leia’s slave outfit at the three-day Star Wars Celebration Europe in Essen.
(Photos from SWCE2013: Day 01; Day 02; Day 03).
There is also the following story/joke related to Gold Bikini Cosplay:
No matter how much you hate Episode I.
if your girlfriend says she’ll go to the convention in the Slave Outfit if you go as Jar Jar Binks.
There’s no question about it: You’ll happily run around as a Gungan and endure the ridicule of the fandom all Con-day long! You’ll do it no matter what! – Period! – No question! – No thinking!
Merchandising
One thing that is always associated with Star Wars is merchandising. So it’s no surprise that Princess Leia’s slave outfit has been turned into literally EVERYTHING you can imagine in terms of merchandising. From posters, life-size displays, statues, action figures, Barbies, to Lego mini-figures, even Christmas tree decorations—everything! And those are just the officially licensed products; there are also all the DIY projects, such as Playmobil figures.
At least these official merchandise products were still available until a few years ago…
The (sad) future
In 2012, Lucasfilm was acquired by Disney, including the rights to Star Wars. As is well known, Disney tries to present itself as family-friendly, which is why they try to “keep certain aspects out” of their IPs. Aspects that, according to their exaggerated woke opinion, would not (or no longer) fit into today’s world. One of the victims of this sometimes very extreme “policy” is Leia’s slave outfit.
For this reason, there has been no official merchandising featuring this costume since 2013.
This becomes particularly clear when you look at the action figures Disney/Hasbro released for the 40th anniversary of Return of the Jedi. Insignificant and unknown background characters! I didn’t even know there was a Rebel Commando Scout Trooper Disguise in the movie. Fans want a new figure of Princess Leia in her Slave Outfit. Just look at the prices of the 6” Black Series figure from 2013 on eBay. Sorry, but this is clearly a missed opportunity to make money. On the other hand, it fits in with Disney’s current motto: Go woke, go broke!
Summary
Regardless of all the controversy, Leia’s slave outfit, aka Princess Leia’s Gold Bikini, remains an unforgettable symbol of the Star Wars franchise and an important part of film history. Especially in the minds of all the pubescent nerd/geek boys who saw it in the cinema when they were 16…
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