As fans eagerly awaited the release of Wicked: Part One, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo made an impact off-screen with their captivating premiere outfits. Throughout the press tour, they used their looks as a visual narrative, blending elements of their roles as Glinda and Elephaba with their styles.
Grande’s press tour outfits were a perfect mix of her already feminine style and her dream role of Glinda. In 2011, the actress and singer tweeted, “Loved seeing Wicked again…amazing production! Made me realize again how badly I want 2 play Glinda at some point in my life! #DreamRole.” It made sense that she continued to play up the role off-screen with a series of Glinda-inspired looks, incorporating light pink, ethereal fabrics, and sparkles.
Cynthia Erivo has also expressed a deep emotional connection to her role as Elphaba. With various black fabrics, structured gowns, and intricately designed acrylic nails, Erivo captured the essence of her role on the red carpet.
Their looks throughout the tour showed us how beautifully fashion can intertwine with art, character, and personality.
October 28: special cast screening of wicked
Universal Pictures held a special screening of the film for cast members and the filmmakers. Since this was a pre-screening, the cast’s outfits were at their most casual.
Of course, because it was a film event, the cast did not stray far from their characters, as their styles always reference them. The event was not exclusive to the cast of the movies; members of both the new film and the original Broadway production were in attendance as well. Notably, Kristin Chenoweth, the original Glinda and one of Broadway’s most well-known actresses and singers, also attended, supporting her close friends and the new cast while giving fans a moment of nostalgia.
Grande was seen wearing a custom Atelier Versace ivory ensemble with an asymmetrical vest featuring molded cups and silver detailed buttons. She paired the look with a pair of white elbow-length gloves, dainty pearl earrings, and a Versace Medusa ’95 handbag.
Erivo elevated her casual white shirt and jeans with a bold green trench coat. Erivo’s simple outfits come from none other than Louis Vuitton, as she donned a pair of their jeans and a green embroidered Louis Vuitton coat. This was the same coat that she wore at the 92nd Oscar luncheon in 2020. She accessorized with a striking purple and black feather flower brooch and green pointed-toe heels. To top it all off, her nails were adorned with intricately designed acrylic art that added an extra layer of drama to the look.
November 3: Wicked‘s Australian premiere
The first global premiere took place in Sydney, Australia. For the premiere, both leading roles channeled their characters. They left everyone starstruck with their elaborate yet simple style choices.
Ariana Grande brought the movie to life as she came down in a bubble, sporting a custom Vivienne Westwood blush tulle gown heavily inspired by Glinda’s dress in the movie. The gown boasted oversides cap sleeves with a full tulle skirt and crystals dancing on the fabric. The look was completed by a Lorraine Schwartz diamond butterfly necklace, which pulled together the ethereal and fairytale-like design.
Cynthia Erivo embodied Elphaba in a black Louis Vuitton gown with a structured skirt. She wore a chunky Roberto Coin lion pendant as a choker necklace, which complemented her co-star’s similarly chunky necklace. Throughout the tour, you’ll see the subliminal ways they coordinated their opposite aesthetics.
November 5: Australian photocall
For the photocall, Grande modeled a custom two-piece ensemble by Bode. The design took on an off-white strapless top with three light pink bows embroidered on the bodice. The second piece included a structured high-waisted skirt that matched the color of the bows on the bodice. The design consisted of pleated fabric and ruching at the waist, giving the skirt an almost lightweight appearance. The ruffled texture and bow accents added the feminine charm of Glinda. The look was paired with dainty Manolo Blahnik heels and Swarovski jewelry.
Contrasting her light look, Erivo wore a dark and bold Marc Jacobs design from the label’s Fall 2011 Ready-To-Wear collection. The design included a black and emerald blouse with embroidered designs, a rounded neckline, and long sleeves. It fell into an intricate black lace at the bottom, which accentuated the simple, yet chaotic top. Erivo infused additional flair with a mini cow print hat and dramatic Kiki boots.
Their outfits worked together to showcase the actors’ personalities while capturing distinct elements of the characters they portray in the film.
November 9: Wicked‘s LA premiere
Like their roles in the film, the actresses’ fashion generally differed greatly; however, during the LA Premiere, both actresses were styled with the same trend-forward aesthetic.
Grande stepped out in a pink and white gingham gown by Thom Browne, with a matching hair bow and a pair of delicate, wrist-length gloves. The gown’s matching white gingham bolero reinforced the refined, elegant nature of its design. The look was further enhanced by the accessories of pearl earrings and a pair of silver crystal-encrusted pointed heels.
Meanwhile, Erivo wore a sleek, lime green Louis Vuitton gown with cutouts in the front and the saids, as well as a dramatic floor-length fringe wrap, which added depth to the otherwise simple dress. The look stood out with a diamond and emerald collar statement neckless, layered diamond earrings and rings, and extravagant gemstone nails.
Although the two pieces were designed separately, they couldn’t have been more seamless together.
November 11: Mexico premiere
In Mexico’s yellow carpet, the cast reverted to their fantasy-inspired wardrobe. Grande served in a pearlescent Versace tiered gown, with a plunging neckline and structured bodice that fell into a voluminous ruffled skirt. She also wore Swarovski jeweled rings and a necklace, as she recently launched a collaboration with the jewelry brand.
Erivo paid homage to her role in a stunning, glittering black Thom Browne dress. What truly stole the show, however, were the hand-claw shoulder pads, which produced the illusion that wickedness was creeping out from within her. Adding to the drama of it all, she wore black platform heels.
November 14: New York premiere
For the Wicked premiere in New York, Evrio shifted from bold to chic in a custom Dior Haute Couture gown with a sheer bodice and silk skirt. Stephen Jones finished her look with a mesh veil. However, her stand-out accessory was her 4-inch acrylic nails with intricate designs that pulled inspiration from the film.
Ariana Grande similarly opted for chicness, wearing a one-of-a-kind Louis Vuitton raspberry satin dress with a peplum design. Her pointed-toe heels, matching in both fabric and color, contributed to the appealing design of the dress.
November 19: Wicked‘s London premiere
As the press tour neared its end, both actresses began to deviate from their film roles. From there, they ended up drawing upon other elements of the film. Grande traded her pink gown for a yellow-green tulle gown by Ralph Lauren. Keeping her accessories simple yet again, she topped off the look with green round-frame glasses and a Swarovski necklace.
Erivo wore a black dress with a structured metallic rose gold slip and tights with fading rose gold sequins. Her black velvet hat, designed with a pointed structure, cleverly mimicked the Tin Man’s iconic funnel hat. Created by Schiaparelli, the look seemed to emulate the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz.
Knowing that Wicked was the most anticipated film of the year, the cast, designers, and stylists did not disappoint when it came to fashion. We will definitely be getting more looks as we wait for part two to release next year!
Crystal Necklaces
December 4, 2024 at 7:08 am
Love the fashion choices! Ariana and Cynthia’s press tour looks are absolutely stunning and full of personality.