A while back, I went to ROFCON and actually was a part of the Rebel Legion costuming panel. We had a Rebel Fleet Trooper, a young Obi-Wan Kenobi with a professionally made costume, and me as the generic Jedi with a costume I made. And yeah, I’m just getting around to posting about it now. J
Me and the Rebel Fleet Trooper were fully dressed in our costumes. Jon (Obi-Wan) was partially dressed, on purpose, so I got to see his shirt. I also got to see the waistband of his Pants. He was wearing pants with a button and a zipper, and they were full length. My have always been long, slightly baggy, capris (tucked into my boots), with elastic waistbands. I’ve actually made three pairs of Jedi pants and I’ve never been quite happy with how they turn out in the waist height. The reason they have been capris is because that was the pattern I originally found to be the correct one.
With the Jedi tunics, they are long enough that they hang down over the top of the pants, pretty much to mid-thigh length. You can’t see the waistbands. Jon pointed out that fact but did say you might want to still stay away from pleated pants.
Anyhoo, Jon had his pants specifically made for him, and during that panel, a light bulb went off above my head.
I don’t need to make my own pants, because like I just said, I’ve never really been personally happy with them, but they are functional and correct. So after the con was over and my costume was washed and hung back in my closet, my happy ass when trotting on down to the thrift store and went straight to the women’s khaki pants section.
I found two pairs of really comfy, and suitable, pairs of pants for my costume now. They are the correct color and fabric choice for my character’s costume, and I spend $10 plus tax on them. I would have easily spent that much, or more, making two pairs of pants myself. And the best thing is…I HAVE EXTRA POCKETS!
This is a big comfort thing for me…enough pockets! Last year after ROFCON, I went so far as to rip open the side seams of my first two pairs of pants to add in wonky pockets. Because again, because of the way the tunics are designed, I can be a little “hippy” (not “hippie”) as a woman with pockets and it doesn’t disturb the lines of the costume. And let’s be honest, the pouches on the Jedi belts just aren’t enough. Hell, I even re-sewed my original Jedi collar/dickey with some reinforced hems to create a pocket up there to hold my glasses when we take pictures.
Anyway, I just wanted to get it out there, to any current or future Jedi’s that your local thrift store can be a viable place to get your pants.
