Padme's Red Senate Gown

The most elaborate of all of Padme Amidala's outfits in my opinion! This outfit was a joy to recreate for my Tonner Tyler 40cm doll. My version was constructed using glorious orange silk (which I hand-pleated), softest darkest red silk velvet, and metallic crinkle silk embroidered with golden swirls which I hand-dyed to be as close a match to the original version as possible. I made the elaborate headdress from thin golden sheet metal and turned all edges carefully with jewellery pliers for safety. The 'hair' is dark brown/black fabric, cut to shape and lightly padded. The long red drops are constructed from ornately carved thick brass beads carefully wrapped with silk (into which I had already cut-out and sealed the rectangular holes to prevent fraying), sandwiched between various brass and gold-plated bead finials at each end. The numerous gold-plated trace chains are attached to either side of the headdress with a pinky-red sparkling Swarovski crystal.  I hand-knitted the textured sections of the outer coat from ultra-soft, dark burgundy chenille, and embroidered numerous swirls all over the velvet of the coat with variegated red-burgundy silks.  The bodice and shoulder adornments of the dress are made from gilded lace, with hand-strung and knotted minute glass beads on golden thread to create the dangly effect.

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