Saber Forum

I need a costume for Halloween this year. I think I've found the thing, an American Jedi Knight.

I need some input though.

If Jedi were real, and lived in the world we live in, how would they dress?

A saber on the belt is a given, obviously. I have a Consular with covertech belt clip, so that's covered.

But what else? A hoodie would be appropriate, I think, but what color? I think black is possible, but looks a bit too Sithy for my taste. I want the general public to be able to recognize what I am relatively easily. So brown?

What about pants? Jeans okay?

Shoes? I would imagine work boots would be good. No?

Would the Jedi Order be a branch of the military? Would they wear a soldiers uniform? Camo, or class A's? Or would they wear their own type of dress? Would they be unique or Uniform? Would they be obvious or would the be discreet/under cover? This is an interesting topic!

If I had the choice I'd probably just be in plain clothes, under cover but have some tactical qualities to my clothing. You know, Boots, BDU pants with a easy access saber pocket. And maybe a thick long sleeved plain colored shirt. Maybe have some simple body armor underneath.  I wouldn't want any one to know I was a Jedi, but have simple clothing as not to hinder a quick impromtu battle.

BDU style pants with bloused boots ala Jarhead, man.

[img width= height=]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Marines_in_formation.jpg[/img]

They would be known to the public, so one would not hide the fact that they're a Jedi, except on certain missions that call for it. This IS a Halloween costume. Doesn't do much good if no one knows I'm dressed up. :D



Well I don't have BDU pants(or even cargo pants for that matter, never was my style), so that won't work. I don't have the money to go buy a pair.

Mine are just plain black. We had to cut off the blousing for the Academy.

I would also consider being dressed up in a full buisness suit, ala Secret Service or Mafioso. But still remain under cover. Just as long as I got my suit and tie.. lol, sorry I'm wearing a suit and tie right now and I look good! (Just got home from my sisters wedding)

True. Yeah doesn't do much for Halloween if no one knows it. I'd probably be in a sithy outfit, with all black, maybe a hood? Not sure, maybe if I lived in a rainy area, but definitely boots and BDU pants. Maybe some leather accents. Saber on the belt.

I'm thinking fingerless gloves are good. I can get those easy enough. And some leather accents are a must.

I have a pair of grey jeans that should do well with work boots and a brown hoodie. (It's the best I can do on a tight budget, otherwise BDU pants would be a go) I'll try and get a pic up for critique once I get the hoodie. And some leather accents are a must.

Any ideas how to add pouches and such to a belt?

Well considering they live in a futuristic world anyway. They'd dress the same. They don't consider themselves soldiers so they would not wear DCPUs.
The idea of a Jedi is that they wear modest clothing.
If you wanted a more 'modern' look for whatever reason, you could go with a ROTJ Luke sort of tunic.
Otherwise you're just wearing a hoodie with a lightsaber. And not a Jedi.

I'd also like to point out that the Jedi were also sort of a religious institution. If they lived here in our modern world I'm sure that the Force would have been some sort of religious understanding as well as a practical use.

I doubt the Jedi would have been a military group if they actually existed, especially due to their code. Knowing Star Wars history and the Jedi Code, they would be more like a religious sect that only fought when they absolutely needed to.

I suggest white hoodie, tabbards, Obi, khakis/sand coloured slacks, and work boots.

the way I see it the Jedi Order has a religous sect but also has a law enforcement or peace keeping role. perhaps you could put the symbol of the Jedi Order on your tabards?

I like the khaki ideas. That seems to be the plainest color in our world today. The Jedi did wear a lot of brown but I guess you could call khaki our brown.

I also like the hoodie idea, that seems practical. But instead of tabards that others have suggested, how about a scarf? You could wrap it around your neck in a tabard fashion and maybe secure it all with a tactical belt or some sort of a leather duty style belt.

For boots, motorcycle boots would be closest to the movie Jedi but they are not real practical for all of the running and jumping a Jedi does so I would agree that tactical or work boots would be best suited.

Personally, this has never been my favorite costume idea. I like obscure ones, but to me this is just not the easiest for people to get. It strikes me as harder to get character into the costume with. *shrug* That's just MHO though. ;)

So... I'd say look at how they are in the films. They wear plain clothes, but still stand out to anyone who knows who they are. The robes suggest a sort of simple traveling attire. Also, the tunics come across as old fashioned and out of style across the more populated areas. If I were doing this, I would probably go for something like a woodsman or mountain man. MAYBE something of the traditional dress of the native americans or anyone else throughout history who lived off the land. Think like this: If you were living simply, plainly, but were proud of who you were, had to do your own work to get by... provide for yourself, and you didn't have much in the way of possessions, then what would you look like? How would you dress? Is your particular Jedi living in an area of conflict? Is he a fighter, a defender of the innocent? Is he a pacifist, a knowledge seeker, a healer? These answers will direct you towards or away from things like BDUs, Lab Coats, or the general appearance of The Wolverine. ;) rofl

Personally, since the only folks I ever had out your way were all farmers, and that's really about all I know about your area besides colonial era history, I'd say go for something like what a Farmer might wear. Or maybe go Cowboy Jedi, and put that saber in a nice leather holster. 8) (you can laugh, I've made one for my Dominix V2, and it's SICK to carry it around that way! lol)



P.S. Seriously, Wingmate. Next year. STIG X-Wing Pilot. ;)

Yes avoid the hoodie...that is so cliche'.

Having a viable modern Jedi look...having a US saber will connect any look you have.

Not having access to a military uniform bypasses that thought, so go with what you have.

You will need to explain it, a quick blurb, "I'm from a place and a time far far far away...I am a modern Jedi"

But once the saber is engaged then all will be good.

No one within reason with ID any icons or badges.

Another thought to to take the T-shirt route...print one up with Jedi instead of Security.

:D

I have a t-shirt that reads, "Trust Me, I'm a Jedi." Would that do?

I take it you're going for like an "urban Jedi" type bit...

I wear my sabers everyday. Generally I go for my black tactical style cargo pants, and a long sleeve shirt, and a long paramilitary style jacket. I can try to post pictures if you're interested.

modern urban jedi?
go for a utilitarian outfit; Cargo pants, pockete vests, fanny pack.. pretty much anything of a survivalist nature... avoid camo or anything overtly military. Obi-wan's outfit was mainly utilitarian in nature... the robes would be passe' for modern Jedi.

Dude!

1980 called...they want their cargo pants, pocketed vests, and fanny packs back!

lol

(http://16.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_koj6pmXH8L1qz8yr3o1_500.jpg)

LMAO ok, I wasn't thinking THAT pastel

Lol :D

Yes, "Urban Jedi" is a good approximation of what I'm going for... The only issue with black, as I stated before, most people will see a guy dressed in black carrying a lightsaber, and immediately think "Sith."

Post pictures anyway. I'm sure I could use the same stuff only brown.

@Wingmate: I suppose I could wear my boots and a flannel shirt, and be a "Redneck Jedi......." actully that's not a bad idea....

(Threadjack singing the lead!)

(http://xellos.tripod.com/lumber2.jpg)


I'm a saberjack and I'm OK
I sleep all night and I work all day

(He's a saberjack and he's OK
He sleeps all night and he works all day)

I cut down trees, I eat my lunch
I go to the lavat'ry
On Wednesdays I go shopping
And have buttered scones for tea

(He cuts down trees...)
(He's a saberjack...)

I cut down trees, I skip and jump
I love to press wild flow'rs
I put on women's clothing
And hang around in bars

(He cuts down trees...)
(He's a saberjack...)

I cut down trees, I wear high heels
Suspenders and a bra
I wish I'd been a girlie
Just like my dear papar

(He cuts down trees...)
(He's a saberjack...)

Truth be told, Master Kane, I am interested.  You mentioned before that you carry your saber everyday.  As awesome as that sounds, I just do not know how someone can "pull it off".

I tend to march to my own drummer in terms of fashion, too. I like to wear a full brim hat (I get a lot of Indiana Jones comments even though it is more of a bush hat than a fedora). I would love to carry a saber in public but I am not sure I am that bold. Maybe a little inspiration from you can get me going. :)

I've gone shopping with my saber on my belt. No one said anything, but I found it a bit uncomfortable after a while, especially sitting.

They would probably be like a combination of Catholic priests and the NSA, only way more secretive and more potentially combat oriented but all the more abstinent to the point of tons of scandals coming to light involving marriage and relationships.
YMMV at this point.

Obviously, they would get a lot of flak from the public for invading the lives of pretty much everyone and creating so many self-subscribed terrorists (dark-Jedi) or Rogue Jedi [agents] as apparently all Jedi are super angst driven [based on the EU it's a prerequisite] with some sort of "dark and terrible past or secret" and going through some sort of "revelation" where they question the very nature of morals, life, existence, etc.

Please, tell me, name a Jedi in the EU that did not question their presence in the force or did not have a relationship of some sort and almost fall to the dark side?  I bet your list will be extremely limiting, in either case, I commend you for your efforts.

---

But of course, the world's leaders would totally deny it like they deny UFO's or Area 51 or conspiracy theories.

They would basically be the equivalent of "The Men in Black" only much less silly.

A lot of people [so far] think that Jedi would look and dress like rebellious teenagers riding on motorcycles when in fact, that is specifically inclined towards force sensitives or Rogue Jedi, not conscripted Jedi.  Up until that point they would probably all be wearing regulated uniforms and following a specific code of conduct.  I mean, why even ride a motorcycle or be present in society when they can just mind-trick literally everyone to make them disappear, allowing them to move about much more logically than with "style" or "coolness"?

Think about it, this makes way more sense then wearing hoodies and... well, let's be honest here, clothing that you would normally find at stores like Hot Topic.  The "rule of cool" DOES NOT apply to the "real world" which is what we're talking about here.  In the real world people have to use the toilet every 2-3 hours and get knee problems for landing the wrong way from a fall.  Also, they probably wouldn't be able to deflect bullets as easily, as blasters apparently travel at slower speeds then conventional bullets, and they seem to hurt a lot less, which is pretty funny, or maybe the plot armor of Leia was extremely thick, but I digress.

Have you tried running a marathon in your Jedi Costume?  I tried walking a parade in Anaheim this last weekend, even just walking I was sweating ridiculously.  My friend wearing the Vader costume was faring no better.  So yeah, robes are out of the picture.  Let's substitute robes for all black Hot Topic clothing with hoodies.  Oh wait, that's just as worse if not more so, and it cost you over $200 for just the pants, shirt, and jacket alone [excluding the arm-wraps and boots].

Basically what I'm getting at is Jedi would look and act exactly like private security or body-guards act like, very cool, precise, stoic, and logical [usually].  While I would like to dress up as a cartoon character all the time, it just doesn't work, unless you live in like San Francisco or something.

I erased my rather long post regarding the last post...it really caught me off guard.

This was a request for costume advice for a Halloween party, not thoughts of Jedi and religion and politics.

Pretty intense post waxman.

Thank yo Rel.

I appreciate your input guys, BUT this thread has gotten away from what I had originally intended. Like Rel said, I asked for some simple advice on a Halloween costume.

Oh whoops, my B.  ;D

I should have read the beginning.

But yeah, my point still stands, just dress up like a Vatican Catholic Priest / NSA personnel and carry a lightsaber.
Boom, modern day Jedi.

Perhaps one could say that we all see something different in the Jedi.  So, that being said, what do you see in the Jedi? Your original post mentioned a military image of them. If that is what you see them as, and I am not saying you are wrong because that is how I see them too, then I would build from that. Even if you need to improvise, you can still make it happen.

I am sure you can come up with something. I hope you post a picture when you do.  Think of this as interpreting art...there is no wrong answer.  :)

TJ since you are not creating a persona for a convention circuit, then perhaps take a more simple and viable approach?

Once the saber is turned on then everything will come home to roost...

How about jeans, regular shoes of your choice, and a classic star wars t-shirt...no questions there...either a mega fan or a real Jedi...

(http://www.honcho-sfx.com/images/junk-food-mens-vintage-star-wars-t-shirt-charcoal-p1345-2960_zoom.jpg)

or

(http://dpegb9ebondhq.cloudfront.net/product_photos/1494457/TRUST_20ME_20I%27M_20A_20JEDI_20T-SHIRT_20STAR_20WARS_20T_20SHIRT_20YODA_20MENS_original.JPG)

The "Trust Me, I'm A Jedi" shirt may be a viable option. Under a flannel shirt, of course. :D

I wear my "Trust me, I'm a Jedi" shirt all the time.

My saber has become so much a part of me, it's weird if I don't have it.

I'll make a separate thread with more detail as to not thread jack Threadjack's thread... Jack

Hey, would this count?

[img width= height=]http://www.ktar.com/emedia/az/32/3250/325032.JPG[/img]

One possibility, TJ, is to go to a second hand clothing place and look for a trench coat/duster. I've done modern Jedi stuff before wearing black pants, shirt, and black trench.

I feel like the most reasonable for a modern jedi would be a white or brown hoodie,  a pair of loose comfortable sweatpants, boots, fingerless gloves, and a athletic style shirt.

So, I've tried a few things I have already, and nothing seems to work. I need to go get a brown hoodie.....

The trench coat idea is sound Ben, I never thought of it.

And Nekesus, that's essentially what I pictured.

Thanks TJ, glad you like it. Don't know what second/third hand places you have around you, but I know that here you can get all kinds of stuff. In fact, I got a great wool trench from Austria, tags still on it for less than $10

I have a new suggestion. Hoodie.... sans sleeves. It provides both the impression of the cloak, and the tabbards, without the cumbersomenimity (yes, I made that word up. No, I don't care. It's a real word to me since five seconds ago.) of either. 8)

Not to take away from the original conversation, but I can see it going in a different path altogether.  I am writing a bit of fiction dealing with the creation of a Jedi-like group and this is one of the things that I tackle.  After a long debate, it is decided that their dress should follow a generally uniform appearance, but with the ability for customization to a limited degree.  It is agreed that a more eastern look would be appropriate over western appearances due to the type of training they do.

The clothing is an inner tunic, trousers or skirt, outer tunic, tabards, and obi.  A leather belt, boots, and gaiters are worn as is a robe.  For most everyone, the cloth parts are white with their preference of edging color (once they reached journeyman/woman rank).  The leather parts are in black as are the robes.  Instructors also wear white hakama and masters wear black hakama.  Finally, high masters wear leather tabards over the white in a color of their choice.  Journey ranked and higher carried a katana on their belts, while apprentices carried bokken.

I would say a trenchcoat or long coat of some kind is a must maybe with a brown or grey hoody under neath some well fitting jeans with boots over the top and I think you'd be recognisable as a modern jedi.

(http://cdn11.lbstatic.nu/files/looks/large/2013/03/12/2898882_open-uri20130312-15683-cm8k5c.jpg?1363113214)

Hmmm...maybe not that one...cause damn he is fierce lol...


(http://cdn12.lbstatic.nu/files/looks/large/2013/06/16/3108311_DSC_0967d.jpg?1371412429)

Uhhh...I suspect he swings a saber but not the kind...never mind...moving on...


(http://sheisdiva.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Kanye-West-long-brown-velvet-coat-hoodie-Bottega-Veneta-leather-pants-Fall-Winter-2012-and-Timberland-boots-Upscalehype1.jpg)

This comes across as more hip hop than Jedi to me...the lack of skinny jeans is most appreciated.


I think it is the combo of long coat, hoodie, skinny jeans, and boots...you either catch one extreme or the other...hardly fitting in...unless it is an intended fringe look like a crunker (though I suspect skinny jeans among this crowd would be instant ground for shunning which is street for getting a beat down), a fierce runway walker, or a goth/emo type.

No sir, I am not seeing this as a Jedi look I can get behind...maybe a modern sith because they are all rawr and yah...maybe....and then it is only getting behind them to present a decent target for apprehending and bringing them in...cause...skinny jeans + hoodie + trenchcoat = fashion crime

lol

:D

I said well fitting I didnt say skinny lol. Not to big myself up or anything but my calves (from lifting and bjj) can barely fit into normal jeans as I discovered with my outfit for the mcm con let alone skinny jeans. But yeah hate skinny jeans, maybe a Qui gon tattoine style outfit then? bit hippyish lookign but very jedi.

I'm not sold on the coat...but that hair style is a must.  :D
NJOTB.....New Jedi On The Block.

Yeah... I'm with Rel on this one. Those looks are not for me.

I do like the sleeveless hoodie though, thanks Wingmate! 8)

Keep the ideas coming. Just because Halloween is over, doesn't mean we can't plan for next year.