www.indiewire.com: Early on, “Wicked” costume designer Paul Tazewell decided that the beauty of Oz needed to be reflected in the wardrobes of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande). This would help define their identities as part of the magical world envisioned by director Jon M. Chu. He took inspiration from “Oz,” the “Wicked” novel, and nature.
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Understanding every detail that went into the creation of these costumes really makes me appreciate the movie even more. I love love love that Glinda’s costume was created by a lot of Fibonacci spirals and just all the symmetry really makes sense for her as a character. I feel like the challenges of costuming for the movie when there is already such a huge established literature on the movie are huge because there is such a great expectation to provide something that is fresh and original but also still stays true to what the universe is already built to be and what is already a wildly successful musical on Broadway. It is so interesting to me to see how detailed the world building is and what the thought processes behind each decision in the costuming are. This was such an informative article and I wish that in the future, there would be more articles like this where I could read about the different processes that go behind iconic shows like this.
I’m fascinated by how these visual elements go beyond mere aesthetics to mirror the internal struggles and themes of the characters. Tazewell’s approach to Glinda’s wardrobe, with its sparkling, bubbly pinks, seems to reflect her light, ethereal personality—like something created to enchant and delight. It made me think of the way lighting in drama can elevate characters’ emotional states or themes, often working hand-in-hand with costumes to create a more immersive experience. The iridescence in Glinda’s wardrobe isn’t just a visual tool; it’s a tangible representation of her outwardly sparkling nature, yet with an underlying artifice that matches her superficial charm.In contrast, Elphaba’s designs, inspired by nature and the darker, more grounded elements of Oz, use textures that suggest organic, earthy beauty—like mushrooms and fungus.
Ever since I started reading about the costume design for Wicked. Incredibly, the designer has incorporated nature in the designs of both Glinda and Elphaba. The costumes were so elegant and beautiful but in their own ways. I was so impressed with the idea of using the Fibonacci Spiral to make Glinda look like she was floating in her pink dress, and I was in awe over her pink and gold OzDust Ballroom look. As for Elphaba, I love how the forest of Oz and mushrooms were incorporated into her looks and dresses. They were super stunning. My two favorite looks overall were Glinda's bubble dress and her ballroom look, they were just stunning and super brilliant. Tazewell also noted that some purple fabric was underneath one of Elphaba’s costumes in a certain light. These costumes were so complex and thoroughly thought out and I am just so impressed with all the designers that worked on Wicked.
Paul Tazewell’s Wicked costumes blew me away. As a longtime fan, I loved how these nature-inspired textures really reflect Elphaba and Glinda’s identities. Mushrooms and forests for Elphaba, bubbles and roses for Glinda. It keeps them visually so appealing and so magical. Seeing it on screen, the attention to detail was absolutely amazing. Elphaba’s layered fabrics had so much depth, it made her look so powerful and Glinda’s gowns felt airy and just radiant. The swirling shapes and iridescent textures made Oz feel alive, reinforcing Wicked’s themes of identity and self-acceptance.I’ve always adored Wicked, but the film brought a new level of beauty to the story. I'll never forget the first time I saw the show on Broadway when I was 6 and I've been in love with it ever since. Tazewell’s designs honored the classic looks while making them richer and more immersive. And I don't think we could have asked for a better designer to do the job because he truly did it justice.
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