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‘Wicked’ Fashion: Every Time Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Channeled Their Characters
No one mourns the wicked, but countless people appreciate some tie-in fashion.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo took a page from Margot Robbie’s Barbie playbook in their approach to getting dressed throughout the months-long lead-up to the release of Wicked, making for one of the greatest sartorial teams there’s ever been.
Meaning, Erivo channeled the spirit of the gravity-defying Elphaba, evoking both the Emerald City and her character’s green skin in structured couture that looked ready for battle, be it in Oz or on the runway.
Also understanding the assignment, Grande went full Glinda in pastel pink, floral motifs, ruffles, polka dots and other looks befitting the witch-in-training who will one day be deemed “good.”
And, suffice it to say, Wicked proved a popular choice for moviegoers, the first installment of director Jon M. Chu’s two-part saga based on the smash Broadway musical raking in almost $650 million worldwide and earning four 2025 Golden Globe nominations.
All of which has been the opposite of something bad. Erivo’s favorite color was even already green before this journey began!
“I love it, and I will always love it,” the nominee for Best Actress in a Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy told Vogue in September. “In terms of my casting, it’s given me an excuse to buy more green clothes.”
Pink, however, was a new project for Glinda, er, Grande.
Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
“Pink was never really a part of my life until I started collecting a lot of pink pieces during the audition process three years ago,” the Eternal Sunshine artist told Vogue. And even though she wore wigs in the film, dyeing her hair bright blond and tinting her eyebrows were also essential parts of getting into character.
There’s “a softness that Glinda has with the lighter brows,” she explained. “It didn’t make any sense when I had my dark brows.”
Happily, both she and Erivo were that girl who “really loved to shop in character,” Grande added. “I just wanted to live in the DNA and mindset of the character. Now I love the color pink and it feels like part of me. I think it’s something I’ll be forever intertwined with in a very special way.”
Don Arnold/WireImage
Already a part of Erivo was her love of a fierce manicure, so it wasn’t a stretch to add artfully painted nails to her magical motif. But, she told Vogue, “it’s a case of using the nails to connect the story of Elphaba, rather than interpreting her. It’s continuing the culture that was there before.”
Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz, “had nails,” Erivo explained. “I have nails and Elphaba has nails. Technically, she has nails because of us.”
Grande, meanwhile, has been sporting demure French manicures in keeping with Glinda’s dainty traditional tendencies.
And for further frank analysis, take a closer look at every one of Erivo and Grande’s Wicked-inspired looks right here:
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Coming Attractions
Presenting together at the 2024 Oscars in March, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were already teasing what was in store from the first installment of Wicked, coming to theaters Nov. 22.
Erivo, who plays green-hued “bad” witch Elphaba, looked ready for both the red carpet and battle in leather Louis Vuitton with reptilian ruffles down the back. And Grande, who costars as “good” witch Glinda, channeled old Hollywood glam in a powder-pink Giambattista Valli Haute Couture column gown magically accented with enough fabric to provide a peplum, a stole, a bustle and a train all at once.
David Becker/WireImage
They Know About Popular
The Wicked train chugged into CinemaCon in April with Grande all aboard in a white and pink Oscar de la Renta minidress that resembled a blooming flower, while Erivo sported a green and silver Versace ensemble, including fierce thigh-high satin boots.
Not the colors of dear old Shiz, but she has an open invitation to play Quidditch for Slytherin.
JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images
Très Chic
Gold for best dressed went to team Wicked at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the costars were spotted at multiple events.
But first, they kicked off the Games at the July 26 Opening Ceremony, Erivo in a strapless green Louis Vuitton gown with a gravity-defying silhouette and Grande in a drop-waist powder-pink Thom Browne dress that would’ve made Audrey Hepburn proud.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Where Troubles Melt Like Lemon Drops
Erivo, who also performed “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” at the event, looked wickedly good in a glittering emerald gown by Naeem Khan at the 2024 Academy Museum of Motion Pictures 4th Annual Gala on Oct. 19.
Another popular choice: Grande’s leather-trimmed polka dot ball gown courtesy of Balmain.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Universal Pictures
Coat of Many Colors
Erivo accessorized her T-shirt and cropped jeans with bright-green pumps and a patterned Louis Vuitton coat at an Oct. 28 screening of Wicked at the DGA Theater in New York.
Grande looked ready for her first day of witch university in a cream-colored button-down vest and matching skirt by Atelier Versace.
Noam Galai/Getty Images for WSJ. Magazine Innovators Awards
Peas in a Pod
It’s unclear if Grande floated to the WSJ. Magazine 2024 Innovator Awards inside a magical bubble, but her delicately embroidered white Vivienne Westwood gown was fit for such a journey.
Meanwhile, Erivo’s Erdem dress—gray pinstripes overlaid with embellished green silk—was Land of Oz meets Wall Street.
Saverio Marfia/Getty Images
Good Witch of the North
Grande went full Glinda at the Nov. 3 Australian premiere of Wicked in a pink Vivienne Westwood ball gown.
Don Arnold/WireImage
Far From Basic
Erivo leaned into Elphaba’s wicked future at the premiere in a black Louis Vuitton strapless gown, accessorized with a massive lion’s head choker and another bedazzled green manicure.
“I love this outfit so much because it speaks to my character,” the British actress told Vogue Australia before heading to the red carpet (or, in this case, yellow brick road). “It reminds me of wings and defying gravity.”
Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
Every Look There Is or Was
Erivo cast yet another spell at the Nov. 5 Wicked photocall in Australia, this time in an emerald and black Marc Jacobs blouse paired with a black embroidered skirt.
And for her latest trick: Dividing the eye’s attention between her dainty fascinator and the towering multistrap Mary Jane platforms that added at least 6 inches to her 5-foot-1 frame.
Don Arnold/WireImage
Ways to Flirt and Flounce
Grande was the gift in bow-trimmed Bode at the Australian photo call.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Changed for Good
Louis Vuitton didn’t hold back on the green for Erivo and Thom Browne provided Grande’s dainty gingham look at the Los Angeles premiere of Wicked on Nov. 9.
XNY/Star Max/GC Images
Because I Knew You
Leaning into Elphaba’s eventual preferred color, Erivo wore Dior to a Nov. 14 Wicked screening hosted by Vogue at New York’s Museum of Modern Art, while Grande turned up the pink meter from pastel to hot in Louis Vuitton.
Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images
The Chance to Fly
Across the pond for Wicked’s London premiere on Nov. 18, Grande was cheery as a buttercup in a dreamy Ralph Lauren gown and Erivo hit the sweet spot where punk meets princess courtesy of Schiaparelli.
(Originally published Nov. 7, 2024, at 3 a.m. PT)
Watch the 2025 Golden Globes on CBS Sunday, Jan. 5, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. And don’t miss E!’s Live From E! red carpet show starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.
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