This Star Wars-only costuming site gives helpful tips for beginning sewers and posts the achievements of the more accomplished ones, with links to costumes organized by character and by episode. A costume research page may include several sections, such as resource images and photos, making-of tips and tutorials and photos of fans dressed in their own creations. Importantly, some of the photos come from fans who have attended Star Wars costume exhibitions; these pictures capture and magnify elegant little details that flash onscreen for mere moments.

Padawan's Guide lights upon every aspect of costuming, from beadwork to latex to, egad, working with synthetic hair. With tips from this site, any person with a few dollars and a dream can look the part of any one of Lucas'—and costume designer Tricia Biggar's—fabulous creations.

The Web site, however, is not definitive: except for a small Darth Maul section, Padawan's Guide is weak on the Dark Side, and some of the lesser-known costumes receive scant attention. But each month adds to the growing database of frothy silk dresses (for Padme re-enactors), sturdy earth-toned cotton gis (for Obi wannabes) and hair buns (for the painfully obvious).

Central to the site is a blog that contains news and updates, much of it submitted by generous costumers who willingly share their knowledge. Padawan's Guide is a gift to fans from other, better-dressed fans, and it wears well.

So many costumes. So little time.