If you’ve always wanted to see the Emerald City and meet its inhabitants, look no further.
Wicked costume designer Paul Tazewell gave E! News' "By Design" an exclusive peek into the world of Elphaba, Glinda, Fiyero, the Wizard, and more.
“For the film we’re expanding what the whole world is because we’re going to see the whole world,” Tazewell told E! News of adapting the musical from the Broadway stage to the screen. “How do I create costume design or clothing design that also is representative of other communities from within Oz?”
For Ariana Grande’s character of Glinda the “good” witch, Tazewell kept her signature color—pink—while giving her fashion-forward looks.
Noting many of her ensembles are “inspired by the 1950s,” Tazewell said he gave Glinda, “Some of that Dior-style affection. There’s an elegance about that I really embraced and loved for the character of Glinda.”
One standout look is Glinda’s rose-shaped dress for the dance at the Oz Dust Ballroom at a key moment in the film.
“Embracing the idea of flower petals, and then with that, we created this dress, magical dress, that actually ended up being one of Ariana’s favorite costumes,” he shared of the look. “It provides that romantic allure while still being fashion-forward and edgy as well.”
For Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba, Tazewell took a different approach, focusing on a darker palette.
“She’s almost in mourning for her mother,” Tazewell said, “who she lost at an early age.”
And he, of course, made sure to incorporate Elphie’s signature accessory.
“Cynthia definitely knows how to wear a hat,” Tazewell said of the Broadway veteran. “When she dons that hat, Elphaba actually changes that into this power moment and she makes it into her iconic silhouette.”
And when it comes to Jonathan Bailey’s heartthrob character Fiyero, Tazewell wanted the clothes to fit the man.
“For Fiyero, he’s a prince, and heroic,” Tazewell explained. “And his character played by Jonathan Bailey, needed to embody all of that. The embroidery that we used on his Oz Dust Ballroom suit, inspired by tribal design, which I think gives it a little more edge. It’s more of a North Africa or Southern Spanish quality, along with military stylings with all the gold buttons is in direct keeping with who Fiyero is and then becomes—the royal family that he comes from and where he ends up in the second film as well.”
Wicked hits theaters nationwide Nov. 22.
(E!, Universal and Fandango are all part of the NBCUniversal family.)
For some of Cynthia and Ariana's real-life Wicked fashion, read on.
Coming Attractions
Presenting together at the 2024 Oscars in March, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were already teasing what was in store from the first installment of Wicked, coming to theaters Nov. 22.
Erivo, who plays green-hued "bad" witch Elphaba, looked ready for both the red carpet and battle in leather Louis Vuitton with reptilian ruffles down the back. And Grande, who costars as "good" witch Glinda, channeled old Hollywood glam in a powder-pink Giambattista Valli Haute Couture column gown magically accented with enough fabric to provide a peplum, a stole, a bustle and a train all at once.
They Know About Popular
The Wicked train chugged into CinemaCon in April with Grande all aboard in a white and pink Oscar de la Renta minidress that resembled a blooming flower, while Erivo sported a green and silver Versace ensemble, including fierce thigh-high satin boots.
Not the colors of dear old Shiz, but she has an open invitation to play Quidditch for Slytherin.
Très Chic
Gold for best dressed went to team Wicked at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the costars were spotted at multiple events.
But first, they kicked off the Games at the July 26 Opening Ceremony, Erivo in a strapless green Louis Vuitton gown with a gravity-defying silhouette and Grande in a drop-waist powder-pink Thom Browne dress that would've made Audrey Hepburn proud.
Where Troubles Melt Like Lemon Drops
Erivo, who also performed "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" at the event, looked wickedly good in a glittering emerald gown by Naeem Khan at the 2024 Academy Museum of Motion Pictures 4th Annual Gala on Oct. 19.
Another popular choice: Grande's leather-trimmed polka dot ball gown courtesy of Balmain.
Coat of Many Colors
Erivo accessorized her T-shirt and cropped jeans with bright-green pumps and a patterned Louis Vuitton coat at an Oct. 28 screening of Wicked at the DGA Theater in New York.
Grande looked ready for her first day of witch university in a cream-colored button-down vest and matching skirt by Atelier Versace.
Peas in a Pod
It's unclear if Grande floated to the WSJ. Magazine 2024 Innovator Awards inside a magical bubble, but her delicately embroidered white Vivienne Westwood gown was fit for such a journey.
Meanwhile, Erivo's Erdem dress—gray pinstripes overlaid with embellished green silk—was Land of Oz meets Wall Street.
Good Witch of the North
Grande went full Glinda at the Nov. 3 Australian premiere of Wicked in a pink Vivienne Westwood ball gown.
Far From Basic
Erivo leaned into Elphaba's wicked future at the premiere in a black Louis Vuitton strapless gown, accessorized with a massive lion's head choker and another bedazzled green manicure.
"I love this outfit so much because it speaks to my character," the British actress told Vogue Australia before heading to the red carpet (or, in this case, yellow brick road). "It reminds me of wings and defying gravity."
Every Look There Is or Was
Erivo cast yet another spell at the Nov. 5 Wicked photocall in Australia, this time in an emerald and black Marc Jacobs blouse paired with a black embroidered skirt.
And for her latest trick: Dividing the eye's attention between her dainty fascinator and the towering multistrap Mary Jane platforms that added at least 6 inches to her 5-foot-1 frame.
Ways to Flirt and Flounce
Grande was the gift in bow-trimmed Bode at the Australian photo call.
Changed for Good
Louis Vuitton didn't hold back on the green for Erivo and Thom Browne provided Grande's dainty gingham look at the Los Angeles premiere of Wicked on Nov. 9.
Because I Knew You
Leaning into Elphaba's eventual preferred color, Erivo wore Dior to a Nov. 14 Wicked screening hosted by Vogue at New York's Museum of Modern Art, while Grande turned up the pink meter from pastel to hot in Louis Vuitton.
The Chance to Fly
Across the pond for Wicked's London premiere on Nov. 18, Grande was cheery as a buttercup in a dreamy Ralph Lauren gown and Erivo hit the sweet spot where punk meets princess courtesy of Schiaparelli.