OK, call me insane, but I think the 501st CRL is completely wrong on a few major points (they'd be small points on any other costume but this thing is so tiny it actually covers a substantial part of it!) - I'd love a second/third/any other opinions.
The description of the front portion of the leotard says this: "The chest piece consists of two tear-drop shaped pieces that cross in the centre and connect to the belt. Each piece has a piping line down the middle of the tear-drop."
Not only do I not see a tear-drop shape, I don't see any piping or seams at all.
To me, the front crossed pieces look like they're pretty much straight strips of fabric. Obviously the shape of the bust curves them, and they're cut slightly narrower at the ends where they attach to the waist piece than they are over the bust, but other than that I don't see any seams, piping or obvious shaping - just natural scrunching in the leather/fabric.
And the parts that go under the arms aren't separate straps as stated/implied in the CRL (it says "The chest piece has two long rectangular strips that wrap under the armpits and connect to the back of the collar") - to me these look like a continuation of the main bust/front pieces that attaches to the belt, and only look thinner because they pass through those leather loops that attach to the neckpiece - this scrunches up the fabric, which looks like it also may be twisted a bit where it passes under the arms/up the back to keep the smaller shape, and then the straps look like they're sewn into the neckpiece at the back slightly bunched up rather than lying flat.
Leaving aside the four straps attaching to the collar at the front, the entire of the leotard from the waist up is two pieces - the two straps that attach at the waist, cross over the bust, pass through the loops under the arms and are sewn to the back of the collar.
It also says the collar "has at least three (3) distinct sections layered on top of each other" but to me, it looks like there's only two - one roundish piece flat against the lower neck/collarbone, and a section around the neck itself that is just one piece that's longer than the neck and relatively loose-fitting, and therefore bunches up to give a layered look?
I'm going to watch the film this evening and try and zoom in on some shots that aren't readily available online which may clear things up but would love to know if anyone agrees with me on these very pedantic points... (or disagrees, of course!!)
Pictures which show what I mean:
I have too much fun trooping with the Rebels to look elsewhere...
