Star Puffs

OnALegendsArticle

Leia with the hairstyle

Leia with the hairstyle

Star Puffs was the name given to[1] a hairstyle that originated on Naboo.[2] Featuring two hair buns, variations of the style were worn by both Padmé Amidala[3] and her daughter Princess Leia Organa,[4] as well as Alderaanian senatorial aide Liana Merian.[5]

The style became a signature look for Leia, who wore it often in the time around the Battle of Yavin, though as a child the princess disliked the elaborate hairstyle forced on her by her family and Alderaanian royal duties.[6]

Behind the scenes

"Straight from STAR WARS...the beautiful Princess Leia Organa, complete with her Royal Robe and Star Puffs hairdo."
―Action figure package[1]
The name first used on Kenner's packaging

The name first used on Kenner's packaging

Princess Leia's hairstyle became famous after its use in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, and the character was seen using the style exclusively during all early spin-off materials such as Marvel Comics' Star Wars comic series, and The Star Wars Holiday Special. The term "Star Puffs" comes from the packaging and instructions from Kenner's large-sized Leia action figure, which included a brush and comb and encouraged children to style her hair in various looks. They mention four other hairstyles: Star Burst, Star Swirl, Lunar Loops and Sun Sweep.[1]

The hairstyle was not part of early Leia costume concepts, but designed by the film's hairdressing team.[7] According to Leia actress Carrie Fisher, the style was given to her by hairdresser Pat McDermott after many styles were tried, and it was approved by George Lucas in April 1976 when Fisher visited the set of the Mos Eisley cantina.[8]

Lucas commented on Leia's "cinnamon bun" hairstyle in a 2002 Time magazine interview: "In the 1977 film, I was working very hard to create something different that wasn't fashion, so I went with a kind of Southwestern Pancho Villa woman revolutionary look, which is what that is. The buns are basically from turn-of-the-century Mexico."[9] In 2017, the traveling Smithsonian exhibition "Star Wars and the Power of Costume" included a photo of Mexican revolutionary colonel Clara de la Rocha as one of the inspirations for the style, alongside photos of Native American Hopi tribe women with a similar "squash blossom" hairstyle.[10]

Appearances

Non-canon appearances

Sources

Amidala wearing the style

Amidala wearing the style

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kenner-Template Kenner's Star Wars toy line (Large Size Action Figure: Princess Leia Organa) (backup link)
  2. ↑ Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary
  3. ↑ Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
  4. ↑ Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
  5. ↑ Star Wars: Episode I: The Visual Dictionary
  6. ↑ StarWarsTales-Icon "The Princess Leia Diaries" — Star Wars Tales 11
  7. ↑ Star Wars Costumes: The Original Trilogy
  8. ↑ The Making of Star Wars
  9. ↑ Premium-Era-real So, What's the Deal with Leia's Hair? by Cagle, Jess on Time.com (April 21, 2002) (backup link archived on April 25, 2002)
  10. ↑ Premium-Era-real Remember when Carrie Fisher debuted Princess Leia's side buns? by Palumbo, Jacqui on CNN Style (December 18, 2019) (backup link archived on May 16, 2022)