The Senate gown, a complex and layered ensemble, formed a significant part of the wardrobe belonging to Queen Padmé Amidala of Naboo. The outfit included an escoffiate headpiece, a deep red outer robe adorned with embroidered rosette patterns and gold edging, an orange-gold silk taffeta underdress embellished with beads, and a black cloak featuring pointed shoulders. This regal attire not only showcased the Naboo culture but also provided practical protection for the queen.
Amidala donned this attire during her initial address to the Galactic Senate on Coruscant, speaking about the invasion of her homeworld by the Trade Federation. The gown aided her in maintaining composure and detachment throughout the proceedings.
The Senate gown, an intricate ensemble, was specifically worn by Padmé Amidala when she addressed the Galactic Senate in her capacity as the Queen of the planet Naboo. This meticulously crafted gown served a dual purpose: it was both a fashionable statement and a protective garment, offering resistance against blaster fire, ease of removal when necessary, and concealed gadgets within its jewelry.
The primary component was a loosely fitted, deep red robe exhibiting a variety of textures. It was decorated with embroidered rosette designs and gold, triple-braided soutache trim. Below the robe was an orange-shot-gold silk taffeta underdress characterized by heavy pleating, a high collar, and fitted sleeves extending to her knuckles, all accentuated with small gold beads. A black cloak with broad, peaked shoulders could be added as an additional layer to the robe and underdress.
Queen Amidala complemented her Senate gown with an escoffiate headpiece, featuring a wig styled to resemble the horns of a [guarlara](/article/guarlara] creature. Golden hairbands encircled the two gathered "horns," and elaborate finial hairtip ornaments adorned the ends. The closely fitted gold cap included orichalc finework suspensas that framed her face on either side. The entire ensemble incorporated historical symbols, such as the Symbol of the Royal House of Naboo on the cap and the Royal Sovereign of Naboo medal positioned at the center of the escoffiate. A red scar of remembrance was painted on her lip, along with the traditional royal white facepaint and red beauty marks on both cheeks.
In 32 BBY, Amidala chose to wear the Senate gown to deliver a speech before the assembled Senators on Coruscant, the galactic [capital](/article/capital], following the invasion of Naboo by the Trade Federation. While she was getting ready for the hearing, young Anakin Skywalker came to the apartment where she was preparing and asked to speak with the Handmaiden Padmé, unaware that the Queen and the Handmaiden were, in fact, the same person. Amidala assured the boy that she would pass on his message.
Amidala's stunning attire conveyed the essence of Naboo culture through the majestic symbols of the Royal House of Naboo. Wearing the gown also assisted her in maintaining a calm and detached demeanor during the proceedings. During the Senate hearing, she wore it with the black cloak. Sheev Palpatine, the Senator representing Naboo and secretly the Dark Lord of the Sith who orchestrated the Trade Federation's invasion of their homeworld, accompanied her.
Padmé Amidala's Senate gown made its debut in the 1999 prequel trilogy film, Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, and was worn by the actress Natalie Portman. In 1995, the artist Iain McCaig initiated the design process, envisioning a costume that incorporated a Mongolian hairstyle. Costume designer Trisha Biggar and her team then brought the final costume to life. An early sketch featured tall shoulders, similar to those seen on the outermost layer of the finished costume; these shoulders were subsequently toned down in later sketches, including one dated December 15 of that year. McCaig's storyboards also frequently included the headdress.
Biggar and the costume department created the peak-shouldered cape using black faux fur lined with red silk. Beneath the cape is an outer robe in red-shot-green silk velvet, with freehand embroidered motifs in bronze metallic thread and ruched yoke and hem panels. The robe is lined at the cuffs and collar in orange silk taffeta that is overlaid with gold metallic organza, seed pearls, and trapunto detailing. The trapunto method involved stitching small tubes into a design and injecting them with thread to create a padded effect. It took one person a week to complete the embroidery and trapunto. The underdress is orange-shot-silk vintage silk taffeta with a green weave; at the time, the fabric was seventy years old. To catch the light when the character moved, it was constructured with layered sunray-pleated panels and decorated with antique pieces of beaded lace.
Costume prop supervisor Ivo Coveney oversaw the creation of the escoffiate headdress. It was initially crafted from copper using electroforming, then gold-plated with genuine gold to achieve the desired color quality, and finally adorned with small jewels. The costume was prominently featured in the film's marketing, including on bus sides.
Within the new Star Wars canon, the costume was initially designated as the "Senate outfit" in the 2017 reference book titled Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia. However, it was subsequently renamed the Senate gown in the 2018 reference book Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, New Edition, authored by Pablo Hidalgo and David Reynolds. This later name aligns with its designation in Star Wars Legends continuity, which Reynolds established with the 1999 reference book Star Wars: Episode I The Visual Dictionary.