Galactic Style Guide – Flightsuits and Jumpsuits

Welcome to your monthly installment of the Galactic Style Guide, where we break down the ‘Star Wars aesthetic’ to help you create a more authentic ‘outer persona’! This time around, we’re taking a look at the kinds of flightsuits, jumpsuits, and utilitarian coveralls typically worn by mechanics, pilots, spacers, and other common types of citizens.
Considering the ‘spacey’ and often militaristic setting, it should come as no surprise that the inhabitants of the Galaxy Far, Far Away frequently wear these kinds of garments. And why shouldn’t they?: space is cold, and maintaining spacecraft is dirty work! However, in the original Star Wars, we don’t actually see any examples until we reach the Cantina, which is fitting as it’s a style associated with pilots. Let’s start out with some actual spacesuits:

It’s worth pointing out that the original costumes weren’t costumes at all, they are actually High-Altitude Windak Pressure Suits made in the early 1960s for the RAF by Baxter, Woodhouse and Taylor Ltd.
I have to salute the developers of Jedi Academy for their choice (long overdue) to differentiate their Trandoshans, instead of making them more off-the-shelf Bossk clones. It’s amazing how a few differently-colored spacesuits can make the setting feel so much more vibrant and realistic. I only hope the costuming community can come to embrace this kind of diversity as well.
-de Maal’s flightsuit (possibly this specific suit) was used by a chimpanzee in Escape From the Planet of the Apes.

Next, some examples of Rebel Alliance-pattern flightsuits:

Fun fact: much like Rebel pilots, the flightsuits of US Navy pilots from 1957 to 1969 were colored “international orange”! (Henderson, The Magic of Myth, p181).
I’m 85% sure that Hood’s suit is Rebel-pattern, but we can positively identify Noa’s as (out-of-universe) surplus Rebel-wear by the code cylinder pocket on the upper arm and the commpad window at the lower arm.
Speaking of everyone’s favorite Ice Cream Maker Guy, let’s draw attention to the fact that Hood’s suit is NOT ‘X-wing pilot orange’; he’s a civilian, not a Rebel pilot! I’ve noticed this seems to be a pretty prevalent ‘reenactorism’ in the costuming community, as I’ve seen a fair number of ICMG cosplays, yet never seen one wear a muted flightsuit.

And speaking of misremembered costumes from The Empire Strikes Back…
At first glance, one may think that Luke Skywalker wore a flightsuit during his Jedi training and subsequent trip to Bespin. However, as we can see, this outfit is deceitful as it is actually a pair of pants and a separate jacket; during the fight scenes with Vader, these were secured with a wide strip of Velcro!:Now for some miscellaneous jumpsuits (note that they pair well with vests!)

I would consider Jabesq’s is more of a proper coverall than a flightsuit; as has been mentioned earlier, note the odd asymmetrical closure—likely evidence of local Naboo fashion tastes.

The younger members of the New Jedi Order are frequently depicted wearing similar nondescript jumpsuits in the later New Republic years:

So what does this all mean for us, as ‘reenactors’ of the GFFA? It means way more costumers should be creating characters wearing flightsuits! If you don’t feel like sewing your own or modifying a milsurp example, I can highly recommend the folks over at WampaWear. Their price has gone up a little since I bought my tan flightsuit last year, but the quality is totally worth it. Their flightsuits aren’t costume pieces, they’re solid coveralls made to exacting 501/Rebel Legion CRL specifications, and tough enough for actual real-world usage. Check them out!
Is there anyone I’ve missed? Leave a comment and let me know down below. Until next month’s installment!

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