Perhaps one of the most iconic bathing suits in film history- you know, minus the myriad of James Bond entries- is Carrie Fisher‘s gold bikini from “Star Wars: Episode VI- Return of the Jedi.” Worn by Fisher as Princess Leia, the divisive outfit has undergone some scrutiny. Fisher herself went back and forth on the symbolism of the bikini, which notorious gangster Jabba the Hutt forced the Rebel leader to wear. It’s even gone through a name change officially, from the not-so-great ‘Slave Leia’ to ‘Hutt Slayer.’
Well, the controversial outfit from the Palace on Tatooine is part of Prop Store’s upcoming November auction.
Lot #393 is listed as a ‘production-used’ bikini, but some careful reading reveals what it actually is. Key elements of the outfit are indeed taken from production-used molds, but the soft goods (suede lining and ties on the bra and the skirt) are reproductions. Also interesting are the boots, which fans will note look NOTHING like the ones Fisher wears in the film. These were apparently used for costume test fittings though, so that means Carrie Fisher did actually wear these, just not in the film.
“What redeems it [the bikini] is I get to kill him, which was so enjoyable … I sawed his neck off with that chain that I killed him with,” Fisher recounted to People. “I really relished that because I hated wearing that outfit and sitting there rigid straight, and I couldn’t wait to kill him.”
“I didn’t even think it was going to be in the movie. She’s a princess,” co-star (and former lover) Harrison Ford said. “What the hell is she doing walking around in a bikini?”
A Hutt-Slayer bikini was sold by Profiles in History back in 2015 for $96,000, but the provenance has long been contested.
This bikini has a starting price point of €20,000. It is estimated to fetch €40,000-60,000 in day one of the auction, which will kick off November 3rd, 2022. We’ll let you know what it goes for. You can browse through the catalog online now.
UPDATE
Lot #393 sold for €67,500, which is actually €84,375 with the buyer’s premium added in. WOW.