The Best Outfits From 'Star Wars' Episodes I Through VI

Image via Complex Original

Character: Darth Maul

Planetary Location: Naboo

If they had Yohji Yamamoto and Rick Owens in a galaxy far, far away, you can bet that Darth Sidious' (or the Emperor, whatever you want to call him) first apprentice would be repping those labels heavily. As the first real danger of the prequel trilogy, Darth Maul had to strike fear into hearts as quickly as possible if George Lucas was going to successfully establish the creeping presence of the Sith in the galaxy. So, naturally, it only makes sense that he'd deck himself out—not in the muted brown robes of the Jedi—but in the ominous, flowing black robes of the Sith.

While his first on-screen tussle with the Jedi in Tatooine sees Maul completely robed up on his dope speederbike, “Bloodfin” (which, by the way, how unfuckwitable is that name?), it's the final duel on Naboo that's really Maul's shining sartorial moment. From the instant he throws off his drapery and ignited, not one, but two, lightsaber blades, it was clear that Maul wasn't just the most lit (pun intended) villain to ever grace the galaxies, he was a street goth Sith savior. —Gregory Babcock

Character: Count Dooku

Planetary Location: Geonosis

You have to respect the fact that Count Dooku, also known as Darth Tyranus, was unflinchingly devoted to his “regal old man” flow. From the grandmotherly cape tied with a single gold chain, to the curved, cane-like lightsaber, Dooku was a classy old dude. Considering he technically played positions for both the Jedi and the Sith, his costume was a blend of Jedi robe-ready light browns and Sith-tastic jet blacks. But, as the movies exposed, he was more of a cunning tactician than a truly formidable duelist. That's undoubtedly why Dooku was more apt to fight with force lightning than with his lightsaber (that, and actor Christopher Lee's own advanced age at the time of filming). Sure, the soon-to-be Emperor was the man truly pulling the strings, but Dooku was all about running the separatist movement from behind the scenes.

Besides, can you really imagine a dude like Dooku screwing up his upper crust duds with a little lightsaber tomfoolery? We didn't think so. —Gregory Babcock

Character: Anakin Skywalker, Pre-Darth Vader

Planetary Location: Mustafar

Before he was chopped to bits by Obi-Wan Kenobi and revived as Darth Vader, Anakin had just started showing signs of leaning toward the dark side. Appropriately, his looks in Revenge Of The Sith were much darker compared to the dusty ones of the Jedi Council. The look, mostly dark brown with his black leather robotic hand and drapey hooded robe, worked as a perfect allusion to his darker future, but was also easily the best look in best prequel. Just as people tend to get wrapped up in the worlds of Rick Owens, Ann Demeuelemeester and Yohij Yamamoto and their sinister drapey ways once they discover them, such was Anakin's preference for the dark side—and the outfits that came along with it. —Skylar Bergl

Character: Luke Skywalker

Planetary Location: Tatooine

Luke's humble beginnings started with just as humble an outfit. It looks like something that would happen if you told The Leftovers to team up with Lemaire, but with Tatooine's crazy hot and arid climate (courtesy of two suns), it's a necessity to be covered in head-to-toe white. It may be the most on-trend fit of the series. You could conceivably drop that outfit onto someone in the modern day and they wouldn't get too many side-eyes. The sandy tones, baggy top with tighter pants and high, side-zip boots are a bit advanced, but wouldn't look like they were from a galaxy all that far away. Perhaps Lemaire has been watching the series in search of inspiration, because those wrap tops with the scrub-like collar look pretty familiar. —Skylar Bergl

Character: Lando Calrissian

Planetary Location: Cloud City

It was hard to decide who had the fresher fit in Cloud City: Han Solo or Lando Calrissian. Granted The Empire Strikes Back is home to some of Solo's most fire ensembles, but Calrissian becomes the obvious choice when it comes to sheer swagginess. Admittedly, the outfits in Cloud City are perhaps the most obvious reminder that Episode V was filmed at the tail end of the 1970's; it's nearly impossible to imagine Lando having any fewer than two buttons undone on any shirt he's wearing on his home turf. Add in the tucked in shirt, the mandarin collar popover top, and the silky accents on his baby blue cape, and he really is the smoothest dude in the galaxy. We know that Leia loved Solo, but I have a hard time not imagining Lando offering Leia mustache rides while his buddy was trapped in carbonite—he is one of the universe's most well-known traitors after all. —Gregory Babcock

Character: Luke Skywalker

Planetary Location: Endor

For all intents and purposes, Luke was the weakest character in the original Star Wars trilogy. He was simply a means to turn his father back to the light side of the force and take down the Emperor Palpatine. But boy did he get some of the best outfits, and he saved the best for last. In Return Of The Jedi, I'm convinced his all-black getup of a high collared shirt with a cropped robe layered over it, slim pants, black leather boots and one glove (covering his robotic prosthetic) is what took him to the next level and actually helped fulfill the prophecy. Luke may be the worst, but he was best-dressed. —Skylar Bergl