One of the best aspects of prequels is the Easter eggs to future events that have yet to happen in the franchise's chronology. In Star Wars, these teases can be overt, like setting up the Empire by Palpatine instigating the Clone Wars. They can also be subtle, like showing where Han Solo's gold dice originate from. While these are great nods to the fans, some Easter eggs are so subtle even the most die-hard followers may need a hand finding them. One example of this is hiding in plain sight within Lando Calrissian's wardrobe in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Since his first appearance in The Empire Strikes Back, Lando has always enjoyed an opulent lifestyle. His standards are often perfectly juxtaposed with Han Solo's gruff style choices and the way each of them cares for the Millennium Falcon. Where Han lives with the bare necessities, Lando makes space for all of his luxuries. Some of his most prized possessions include his outerwear accessories like capes and scarves. In fact, the scarf he wears prominently during the movie is the source of the Solo's most well-hidden Easter egg.
Solo reinvigorates Lando's look by giving him a vibrant yellow shirt, black and blue cape, black pants with a red sash belt and black scarf. The scarf has thick white lines that, altogether, are an homage to the classic chasm swing scene from A New Hope. The Easter egg is confirmed in the pages of The Art of Solo: A Star Wars Story, where costume designer Glyn Dillon breaks down the inspiration for the scarf, stating, "[he] adjusted the levels so it was dark and the pill lights on the Death Star were hard white." Being the only article of clothing with a design that Lando wears in most of the film, it also ties the outfit together, giving a sense of regality to his wardrobe.
One of the reasons that the scarf works so well for Lando is because he is still finding himself as a character. Lando still has a lot to learn and desires to make a statement. This is a big reason why his color choices are much more outrageous when he is younger versus the muted tones in the original trilogy. While others can't see it yet, Lando has huge aspirations for himself, and Dillon explains the look as, "...a bit of rock-'n'-roll and young, but you can tell that he has pride in the way he looks. We all know where he's heading."
Another hidden irony in the scarf is how much the tone of the scene that inspired it fits with Solo's vibe. A New Hope is a futuristic adventure story with its fair share of swashbuckling action. That classic action inspired by old adventure films is seen at its height when Luke and Leia swing across the chasm. The tensions are high as stormtroopers are firing on the hero and the princess, and they swing into the unknown to make their escape. Solo also emulates this swashbuckling energy with the characters taking on hazardous tasks and escaping by the skin of their teeth. So not only is the scarf design an Easter egg, but it's also a spiritual connection to the film that inspired it all.
Solo: A Star Wars Story takes all of the best elements of adventure films and Star Wars and ties it together. Each character's personality is put on full display, and some, like Lando, even wear it on their sleeves. Through Lando's scarf, the film pays homage to one of the best scenes in the franchise and cinema while also showing how much the world has grown since. It also adds more credence to George Lucas' belief that the entire franchise is poetry and how everything rhymes, whether in a big action scene or a stylish accessory.