Working on Wicked had Paul Tazewell dancing through life.
After all, the costume designer for the film duology had Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande to work with as his muses.
“Each of them is a beautiful person, they are beautiful inside and out,” Paul exclusively told E! News’ Justin Sylvester at Wicked: For Good’s Nov. 17 premiere in NYC. “They are fashion forward and are always thinking about what looks best on them. And then they translate that into how they want to play these characters that are so very moving—both individually and together, how they resolve their relationship. So, on so many levels, it was so satisfying.”
Plus, the collaboration worked both ways, with Cynthia and Ariana often opting to carry Elphaba and Glinda into their fashion choices during the films’ press tours.
“To be one of the subjects of their inspiration—I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Paul said. “I’m just so moved that they would do that.”
The 61-year-old also reflected on the ways his involvement has left him changed him for good—including as owner of a new Academy Award for Best Costume Design.
“Just everything about the two films—Wicked and Wicked: For Good—has changed my life in such a profound way,” he said. “The culmination of this moment—and it’s inclusive of everything that led to this, all the years I’ve spent working in theater, working in film—to be able to live this brilliance is life-changing.”
And Paul isn’t the only member of the Wicked family who knows it will take far longer than one short day to move on from his time in Oz: Ariana, too, will be defying gravity for much time to come.
"It's been such an incredible ride and an incredible experience to create with people we love so much and respect so much creatively, but also who just have such great hearts," the actress behind Glinda gushed to E!, adding that she's can’t wait for fans to "finally be able to get the full story" and the "full arc of these women that we love so much and have spent these years with."
After all, "It's almost five years that we've spent with them," she continued. "So, for them to finally be getting the full picture and to know the secrets we've known all along is very exciting."
For the 32-year-old, her time as Glinda the Good has left her with “overwhelming gratitude.”
To see more of the Ozian-inspired fashion at Wicked: For Good’s premiere, read on.
Ariana Grande
In custom Schiaparelli.
Cynthia Erivo
In Balenciaga.
Jonathan Bailey
In Loro Piana.
Michelle Yeoh
In Givenchy and Mikimoto jewelry.
Jeff Goldblum
In Prada and Jacob & Co. timepiece.
Ethan Slater
In Tanner Fletcher.
Marissa Bode
Bowen Yang
In Simone Rocha and Jimmy Choo shoes.
Bronwyn James
In Marques Almeida.
Colman Domingo
In Dolce & Gabbana.
Scarlett Spears
Jon M. Chu
Nina Dobrev
In archive Narciso Rodriguez.
Megan Hilty
In Pamella Roland.
Claire Danes
Trisha Paytas
In Garo Sparo.
Constance Wu
In Cult Gaia.
Natasha Bedingfield
In Christian Siriano.
Jimmy Fallon
Auli'i Cravalho
In Mitiliane Couture.
David Burtka & Harper Burtka-Harris
Harper in Alice + Olivia.
Gayle King
Beanie Feldstein & Bonnie-Chance Roberts
Beanie in Simone Rocha.
Justine Lupe
Phillipa Soo & Andrew Chappelle
Ariana Biermann & Gia Giudice
Gia in L'idee.
Hasan Minhaj & Beena Patel
Melanie C & Chris Dingwall
Patricia Clarkson
Remi Bader
In Rodarte.