Galactic Style Guide – Pants II and Shorts

Welcome back to another installment of the Galactic Style Guide, where we break down the ‘Star Wars aesthetic’ in order to help you create a more authentic ‘outer persona’! This month we’re wrapping up our look at in-universe lower-body garments, both long and short.

When the subject of non-cargo kinds of pockets comes up in costuming circles, I’ve seen some people try to argue that hip/slash pockets don’t exist in-universe. Based on our sources I can say that slash pockets do exist in the GFFA, but they aren’t appropriate for all impressions. Rebel soldiers, agents, or operatives frequently wear pants with familiar pockets.:

It is worth noting that the distinctive hip pockets-and-belt-loops of the Specialist appear to be inspired by surplus Austrian M75 pants (though those also have thigh cargo pockets).

Jodhpurs or riding breeches are a somewhat ‘antiquated’ style of trousers in-universe; the Episode I Visual Dictionary denotes them as a ‘traditional’ style. These are good for invoking a more old-school militaristic feel, but don’t lend themselves to casual wear…it would feel incongruous for a working spacer to be seen wearing them, but they would be great for something like a member of the Planetary Security Forces or an Empire-sympathetic impression.

While reading Dark Horse’s Out of the Wilderness arc, Ember Chankeli appears to wear plain stretchy, shiny capri pants while stranded on Prine! A bit too pedestrian to feel truly in-universe (add some paneling or side stripes and they’d be great), but there you go!

While the typical denizen of the GFFA is usually conservatively dressed in some style of long sleeves and pants, there is room in the galaxy for short pants as well. These are rare, however, and are best limited to specific scenarios or character types/species.

Note that our final example appears to be wearing baggier, nautically-appropriate sailor’s ‘slops’. Also note that over a third of these examples are children. While this selection shows there is a place for shorts in the GFFA, they’re probably a better fit for your younglings.
*The zone runners, while appearing only in Dark Horse’s Rebellion #6, would be a lot of fun to recreate and interpret—especially for someone with skill in track & field sports. They were part of a local anti-Imperial resistance group, and eschewed heavy arms and armor in favor of an apparent uniform of shorts, running shoes, and cloaks; using their speed and mobility they would run in close to Imp armored vehicles, throw sticky satchel bombs, and run away.

Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade also wear cargo shorts while vacationing on Garqi just before their marriage (Union).

So what can we take away from this? Hopefully I’ve shown that there are many more options out there besides plain khaki Dickies or copying Han Solo’s exact style! After putting together my Mark I Naboo partizan in 2018, I decided my trousers were too plain and needed some in-universe detailing. I thought the pattern on Padme’s blue and gold dressing gown in Episode II—the closest repeating motif I could find in a Naboo context—might look fitting, and commissioned a pair of embroidered ‘bloodstripes’:

I think they might be a tad militaristic for Naboo society, but they definitely do their job of adding visual interest to some otherwise plain trousers. What do you think? Will you be adding any details to your lower-body garments? Leave a comment below (or come show off your duds in the SWLH facebook group) and I’ll see you next month for our next installment!

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