Museum Replicas launching Jedi costume line

Casual cosplaying is about to get a whole lot easier – at least if you want to dress up as a Jedi. Museum Replicas is launching the “Become Your Own Jedi” costume line at SDCC today.

For the first time, fans can design and create their own complete and totally unique Jedi ensemble, utilizing replica costume pieces from the Star Wars films. All of the costume pieces in this collection were designed directly from the screen-used clothing, housed at the Lucasfilm Archives. Months of study and research have gone into making these costumes as close to the on-screen counterparts.

There’ll also be an “online Jedi Interactive Design Lab” to expediite the process for curious would-ve Jedi. The clothing can be purchased at MuseumReplicas.com.

Tosche Station wants you, fan artists and costumers, to help them replace Mara Jade’s catsuit

Many of us Mara Jade fans have never really been big fans of character’s ‘default’ outfit, the leather catsuit. And Tosche Station has finally has it:

By the Gods of Kobol, we hate the catsuit. It’s objectifying, it’s demeaning. Mara’s a character whose innate personality makes her engaging. She doesn’t need to wear a skintight outfit that’s woefully ill-suited to combat to get fans to like her.

So, they’re having a contest! Come up with a more appropriate outfit for Mara and you could win some books. And/or the gratitude of Mara fans!

Here are a few existing fanworks that just may fit the criteria: Mara in robes, in a jacket, in a turtleneck, (!!) steampunk (well, at least it’s different,) in a flight suit and inspired by one of the Japanese covers. Be inspired, but don’t copy!

In the news: Vader costume going on the auction block

Costume for sale. An original Darth Vader costume – believed to have been from The Empire Strikes Back – will soon be going up for auction at Christie’s in London. It’s being put up for sale by “an American private collector” and is expected to fetch at least $250,000. A percentage of the sale price will go to cancer research.

In spaaaaace. A stable planet orbiting twin stars has been found 49 light-years away. (Alas – it is a gas giant.) Still, researchers have named the planet “Inrakluk,” which sounds pretty Wookiee to me.

Partnerships. Lucas Online has a new partner, Big Spaceship, for some of their digital endeavors. Maybe this means we’ll see a kickass StarWars.com app?

People. USA Weekend interviews Matt Lanter, the actor who angsts enough for two on The Clone Wars and 90210.

Books. Visions is getting some nice press… Check out a profile of contributing artist Robert Bailey, who got to meet George Lucas, from The Edmonton Journal.

Celebration V: George shows up early

Jawajames has been out and about in his Bounty Hunt duties, and caught George Lucas walking the con floor before it opened Friday morning. With the Big Event nearly upon us (reports are that it’s already “insane,”) we all have early call times so I’m trying to make this quick.

(Volunteering and blogging is not a good combo. Though if you stop by the StarWars.com booth and talk to one of the orange shirts there this weekend, there’s a good chance it’ll be Eliz or I, and we have bracelets. Or just come to Fandom in 140 on Sunday, hint hint.)

Good luck to everyone tomorrow! And remember: Twitter is the place to be for on-the-moment news!

Some last-minute Star Wars Halloween costume ideas

SpoooookyStarWars.com’s Bonnie Burton has a guest-post up over at io9 with a variety of tips and tricks for DIY Star Wars costumes from all around the internet.

I’ve always been fond of the quick and easy Jedi robe. Sure, it won’t get you into the Rebel Legion or anything, but it’s easy and instantly recognizable, and what more does one really need out of a Halloween getup? (And if you pair it with some of those old-school printable masks, like Yoda up there, actually kinda creepy.)