‘Fit Check
Paul Tazewell discusses the movie’s extensive wardrobe.
The chronically online know thatWickedstars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivocant stop cryingon their press tour.
I was definitely overcome emotionally.
If they see themselves as that character, Ive done my job.
The bubble dress among other recognizable looks in the upcoming film carries a multitude of histories.
The book is a response to the 1900 novelThe Wonderful Wizard of Ozand its 1939 film.
For theWickedmovie,Tazewell paid homage to the dress and built on it.
(And thats just one out of more than 1,000 costumes throughout both films.)
The bubble dress is widely discussed on TikTok.
That said, Glindas color palette is inspired by the bubble and its iridescence.
In Oz mythology, ruby slippers became synonymous with the 1939 movie.
I noticed that they make an appearance in the film just not as Roses shoes.
Roses dad gifts her these crystal-encrusted silver slippers.
I was hoping to create a new image of what the special shoe is.
The heel is a tornado that swirls around with sparkles and then envelops the rest of the foot.
Thats another little nugget Ive put into the design I hope people actually get it.
The Elphaba hat is going to be iconic.
Its a new take and is greatly inspired by Cynthias textured sensibility as Elphaba.
Cynthia has great style and is in very control of clothing.
The audience sees that when she sweeps the cape around shes very much in control of the cape.
With the hat, shes wearing it in a way that displays her power.
That was what I was hoping for.
It had different sizes throughout the film.
And then it ends up expanding as she becomes more powerful.
It becomes a marker of her growing power.
Her sleeves seemed to be changing size too.
They expanded just with movement.
I always wanted her to have that beautiful silhouette from the 1890s, but made to feel otherworldly.
The audience sees it when she first arrives in her coat.
Then she comes out of that, and its another dress that feels like the 1890s silhouette.
But then her uniform suit is an extreme-shouldered tailored jacket with a skirt thats almost like a Dior suit.
Then you compare that to Glindas, which has a similar design.
I want to talk about Jonathan Bailey for a second, who plays dreamboat Fiyero.
How did you bring out his dreamboatiest iteration?
I tapped into 33 years of experience in costuming productions to create an iconic heroic prince.
I had to think about What color is most expressive of being a prince?
There was a bullion that was worked into it in a kind of geometric pattern.
I thought that would express all of the royal blood and military background.
Im always trying to figure out how to best show off Jonathan as this hero hes been cast.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
