Thrift Store Ideas (Star Wars)

When I'm prowling thrift stores, I tend to get laser-focused on the pieces I need for a specific project. But the thing is, these are the places of the unexpected. I almost never find what I'm looking for exactly when I need it, but that's kind of the fun. Instead, there's an endless sea of potential props and costumes, just of things you haven't thought of yet. So while I don't have enough hours in a day to make each of these into a prop, here are some ideas.

1. Pilot helmet





In almost every good-size thrift store, there's a sports equipment section with lots of helmets. So many helmets, ranging in size, shape, and price. Of the types you see, probably the motorcycle helmets or baseball helmets would be the easiest to modify into pilot's helmets, though some may better suit Republic, Imperial, or Rebel fighters. I've not attempted to do so myself, but there's an awesome tutorial on making a budget X-wing helmet using a baseball helmet by AWE Me's DIY Prop Shop. Below we have helmets worn by Luke Skywalker in Empire Strikes Back, Y-wing pilot Telsij's in Return of the Jedi, Green Leader Arvel Crynyd in A New Hope, Poe Dameron in The Last Jedi (I think), and the clone "Oddball" in Revenge of the Sith.




 2. Macrobinoculars



Occasionally I see VR goggles in thrift stores for $3 to $7. They're pretty cool and futuristic looking in themselves, and I can see them in a lot of potential for masks and goggles. For a Star Wars application, I can see it being the basis for a pair of macrobinoculars. They're not exactly an iconic prop, but you can see Luke use a battered pair in A New Hope and so does a stormtrooper. In Star Wars Visual Encyclopedia by Adam Bray, Cole Horton, and Tricia Barr, there is also a page showing the different types of binoculars seen in Star Wars.

 

3. Binder cuffs


I'm not exactly sure what the heck this was, but it was in the hardware/utility section of a thrift store for about $2. Now to me they kind of look like large mismatched binder cuffs used mostly by stormtroopers. The sizing looks like it'd be better for Wookie or something, but in a pinch this could work. You see different binders used on Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi and Poe Dameron in The Force Awakens. 




4. Diplomat's belt



This belt was found for about $3. Although it is reminiscent of paisley designs, its anything too Earthbound to rule out it's use in the Star Wars universe. In particular it reminds me of the designs you see in the prequels for the diplomats and nobility. Below are some examples, with Padme's pilot belt in Attack of the Clones and Leia Organa's belts in A New Hope and The Force Awakens.

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