Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Mushroom Couture: "Wicked" Costume Designer Paul Tazewell on Drawing Inspiration From the Natural World
The Credits: Few films this year showcase intricate detail and epic scale like director Jon M. Chu’s Wicked does. The breathtaking costuming created by acclaimed costume designer Paul Tazewell is a vital element of the filmmaker’s captivating vision.
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3 comments:
The inspiration of nature to be infused into the costumes is a great choice and it shows beautifully from the designs, especially in Glinda and Elphaba. The patterning and texture in Elphaba’s dress design to look like the gills of the mushroom create fascinating shapes and draws you into the mesmerizing patterns. Mushrooms in the world are often seen in the world to be gross and disgusting when they can be really beautiful and provide an incredibly helpful service to the world in the decomposition of organic matter. From what I understand Elphaba takes a similar journey throughout the story of wicked. She begins unsure and misunderstood and finds her way to what she wants to do and her purpose. The choice of the colorful, tropical, and flowery designs for Glinda opposites Elphaba perfectly. The costume designs for the more popular girl are bright and immediately inviting in a friendly manner.
I thought it was really interesting what Paul Tazewell had to say about the differences between costuming theater and film. Specifically the idea that he was able to really focus on lots of minute details because the audience would actually be able to see them. I feel like this is one of the downfalls of live theater because it's a wonderful experience that unites an audience but many design choices get overlooked due to how far back the audience sits in the house. Whereas many film designers can use specific textures and tiny patterns that speak to the characters personality. I thought the mushroom fabric patterning was incredibly neat but under the stage lights in a live performance all the layers would blend together and the audience would not be able to see any of it. I think it would be really interesting if someone was able to create a show using video media design that showed this disparity to the audience.
Having seen Wicked this past week, I have become absolutely enraptured with the costumes. Paul Tazewell has completely outdone himself by creating showstopping pieces that I am sure will at least be nominated for an oscar, if not win it outright. As he says in this article, Elphaba’s wardrobe indeed channels the power of nature and forms that connection in the minds of the audience. The texture of her costumes are definitely mushroom-like, and the micropleats that they are made of reflect the light nicely, which makes her clothing even my dynamic and fluid. There is a feeling of movement in all the costumes Tazewell designed; from Glinda’s Popular dress to Elphaba’s cape in Defying Gravity. They add to the characters and also make the audience immerse themselves in the world of Oz as the costumes work with the actors to bring their characters to life. Tazewell’s work is definitely deserving of the best costume design oscar award.
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