Countdown to Ahsoka: Revisiting Ahsokas Look Throughout The Years

Welcome back to another installment in Star Wars News Net's 'Countdown to Ahsoka' series,  in which we revisit the history of the character and her impact on the Star Wars fandom. You can check out our full countdown here, and tune in daily for new articles added to it.



Ahsoka Tano has had many iconic looks over the years. Throughout her 15-year existence, each of her outfits and designs has helped to portray something new and different about her. And much like Luke Skywalker, each redesign communicates something about her character growth.



With the character soon to take center-stage on Disney Plus, now marks a good time to look back at Ahsoka's different designs, what they say about her, and how her look has evolved over the years. And while the character has changed, her look has always displayed the same characteristics reflected in herself: strength, youthfulness, wisdom, beauty, and femininity. Here are five of Ahsoka's most well-known outfits and what they say about the character.


<h2>The Clone Wars Movie and Ahsoka's First Appearance</h2>


Ahsoka Tano in The Clone Wars movie



Ahsoka was always meant to be a character that children, especially young girls, could look up to and relate to. As a result, it makes sense that for Ahsoka's initial design, her outfit and physical features would help to accentuate her youthfulness most of all.



Sporting a red bandeau, red mini-skirt, white leggings, and red armored boots, Ahsoka's outfit highlights her teenage, 'snippy' attitude, but also her athletic capabilities. Her very open outfit allows her to move freely and gives her the flexibility to perform many of the high-flying, exaggerated and acrobatic flips that are so quintessential to the character and the animation. Perhaps one of the most notable features about Ahsoka is her smaller stature and accentuated doll-like eyes. Both of these features help give her the appearance of a younger, almost Barbie-like doll.


<h2>The Clone Wars Season 3 and Ahsoka's First Redesign</h2>


Ahsoka Tano in The Clone Wars Season 3



In later seasons, the story shows Ahsoka growing, maturing, and learning to become a more responsible, capable, and stronger Jedi. And her outfit and redesign reflected that. In Ahsoka's first redesign, the team at Lucasfilm Animation decided to give her a darker dress that covers her entire upper body but still leaves her arms wide open to move around in combat. She also wears maroon armbands that wrap around her biceps, and grey leggings that replace her original white ones. The darker colors suggest that Ahsoka is getting older and maturing. This redesign aged her up a bit, while still committing to her bold personality and youthfulness as a Padawan.


<h2>Rebels Gives Ahsoka a Major Evolution</h2>


Ahsoka Tano in Rebels



With Star Wars: Rebels taking place long after The Clone Wars, that would also mean her outfit and appearance need to drastically change. Ahsoka is much older and wiser, but also more battle-hardened in Star Wars: Rebels.



For her physical traits, she's taller, her montrals and lekku have grown longer, and her white facial patterns are much more prominent. But with Star Wars: Rebels taking place during a time when the Empire was at its peak, Ahsoka's outfit also features more armor than ever before, bearing a large chest plate, arm bracers, leather pads on the side of her skirt, and even more protection on her boots. It shows that Ahsoka is ready to take on an even greater threat. Yet, take away all that added armor, and the same basic outfit from The Clone Wars can still be found underneath with her dress, leggings, and combat boots present. It's a great way to evolve the character, while still maintaining the same basic foundation that was present before.


<h2>The Clone Wars Season 7 Brings Ahsoka Back to Her Roots</h2>


Ahsoka Tano in The Clone Wars Season 7



With the franchise going back to The Clone Wars one last time, it also meant going back and creating one final look for the character that would help bridge her appearance from The Clone Wars to Star Wars: Rebels. In The Clone Wars season 7, fans saw Ahsoka don a blue Mandalorian-style dress, looking similar to her later The Clone Wars outfit, but with a simpler color palette that channeled more of her experience and wisdom.



Probably one of the biggest features of Ahsoka's season 7 appearance is her montrals and lekku. Resembling that of human hair, the montrals and lekku being shorter help to make her look younger, bringing audiences back to when she was still a Padawan. In terms of clothing, her blue Mandalorian outfit is a departure from her traditional color palette of reds, browns, whites, and grey. But what this does do, however, is add to Ahsoka's connection to Mandalore and Anakin -- both of which have a strong connection to the color blue. The dark blue also signifies her maturity and inner strength. By simplifying her colors to just orange, white, and blue, the outfit creates a more clean visual style. Not to mention that her combat boots and military bracelets are also extended, showing that Ahsoka is more than ready for combat.


<h2>Ahsoka's The Mandalorian Live-Action Debut Is Her Biggest Design Change Yet</h2>


Ahsoka Tano in The Mandalorian



The switch to live-action features the biggest appearance change for the character. However, this makes sense considering the different challenges the creative team now has to think of, and also, how much time has passed since her last appearance in Star Wars: Rebels.



Ahsoka's most recent appearances in live-action show her in more medieval, black Japanese wear. Featuring black, baggy, samurai pants, and ninja-like footwear that creases in the center of the foot, it was obvious that the creators wanted to take Ahsoka back to Star Wars' traditional Japanese roots. This outfit change also emphasizes just how much more of a solemn, reclusive warrior she has become. Yet, there are still hints and callbacks to her original design with her arm wraps still forming diamond-shaped cutouts, and the exposed shoulders still providing her more open mobility.



Although, many fans have complained about Ahsoka's lekku being much shorter than they were before in Star Wars: Rebels, creating a design inconsistency. However, her lekku were originally shortened to allow Rosario Dawson freedom of movement. And, Dawson has said that the headpiece is difficult for her to hear while on set, making the lekku and montrals a bit difficult to act in. However, it seems that the Ahsoka creators have considered the fan feedback as her lekku are longer in the upcoming show.


<h2>A Visual Evolution of a Character</h2>


Clothing, body physique, and physical flourishes all help to tell a story and build a character. Over time, Ahsoka's look and overall appearance evolved, developed, changed, and matured as the character has, as well. Because of the constant evolution of the character for almost 15 years, fans have witnessed many iconic and recognizable designs that will last in the minds of many fans and viewers for years to come.



Be sure to check back at Star Wars News Net as we count down to the premiere of Ahsoka on Disney Plus with new articles every day that look back on the history and legacy of Ahsoka. In the meantime, check out our article on what we know and don't know about Ahsoka, and also, a watch guide of every appearance of Ahsoka up to this point.



Ahsoka airs on Disney Plus beginning with a two-episode premiere on August 23rd.



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