Here’s How Wicked Costume Designer Paul Tazewell Created Ariana’s Iconic Bubble Dress

Arianna Grande brings her charm and wit to the role of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North in the new movie Wicked directed by Jon M. Chu. The singer and actress shows off her vocal skills in numbers like Popular and displays her acting range by taking us through Glinda’s emotional story arc. But what stands out the most in this film are her pretty pink costumes that were meticulously crafted by esteemed costume designer Paul Tazewell. He created one of Grande’s iconic pieces the bubble dress that pays homage to the famous 1939, Victor Fleming film adaptation of The Wizard of Oz.

Billie Burke Dress In The Wizard of Oz

In the opening scene, Ariana Grande floats down in her ethereal pink bubble dress to greet the Munchkins from Munckinland. “Ariana wears the perfect pink and for her dress, I was originally inspired by the 1939 Billie Burke version seen in The Wizard of Oz,” says Tazewell. He collaborated with tailor Ian Frazer Wallace to shape her bodice and work on the voluminous organza spirals for the lower half of her dress.

“We were inspired by the Fibonacci Spiral and wanted that to be reflected in her dress and accessories. I wanted her dress to display this buoyancy and iridescence that reminds you of air” explains Tazewell. These circular patterns can also be seen in Grande’s rhinestone-encrusted tiara and spiked bubble wand. As a man of detail, he executed many of these elements into her costume. From the intricate beading and embroidery to the multi-colored silk organza, Paul Tazewell is truly a master when it comes to telling stories through clothes.

Towards the middle of the movie, Ariana performs the well-acclaimed song Popular in a show-stopping peony pink peignoir nightgown. Tazewell translates the concept of spirals into these larger-than-life pleated swirls adorned on Grande’s shoulders and at the hems of her gown. “Many of the silhouettes that I used for Glinda were based in this 1950s Dior romanticism,” says Paul. For her bedroom scene with Cynthia (who plays Elphaba), we see Ariana glide and twirl her nightgown in her dance number showing off how lightweight and airy it is. I truly admired how well-tailored and whimsical many of these costumes looked and it works so well in grounding you into the World of Oz.

Glinda’s Costume and Shiz University

Wicked written by Novelist Gregory Maguire is the prequel story to the original The Wonderful Wiz of Oz written by Lyman Frank Baum. Based on the book, the movie explores Glinda’s (Arianne Grande) time as a student at Shiz University and her budding relationship with Elphaba. As the popular girl in school, Arianna embodies this wholesome goodness that’s uniquely expressed in her pink and pearl grey uniform. “I wanted the students to have some individualism while still fitting into the mold of the university uniform,” says Tazewell. Several design elements were incorporated into her outfit and it was key for Ariana to wear a corset to evoke that turn-of-the-century look.

Wicked Good Fashion

For her uniform, she wears a well-tailored women’s pinstripe suit jacket. The bodice features these broader shoulder pads paired with this double-breasted silhouette that molds neatly to the waist of Arianna. To help maintain the structure of the blazer front darts were sewn in from waist to bust level to accentuate the inward curves of the body. Then you have the deep peak lapels that curve around her neck and shoulders to give the look of a more pronounced collar.

Plus, the rolled wrist cuffs make room for Glindas’ delicate grey hand gloves seen in her welcoming scene to Shiz University. Paul Tazewell worked to deconstruct the uniform and used layering in a fashionable way to do so. For the lower half of her costume, Arianna wears a grey knee-length pleated skirt with the geometric shape of the pinstripe layered over top. To complete her look, Tazewell accessorizes the suiting with gold buttons and uses bows on her heels and hat to represent this pretty preppiness that Glinda exudes.

In the Wicked film, we get to see Glinda’s character transformation through her costume progression. Each outfit tells a deeper story and connects you to who she is and her persona. As an Emmy and Tony award-winning costume designer, Paul Tazewell takes the looks of Wicked to new heights with his unwavering talent and 34-year career preparation. He truly brings the character of Glinda to life in a new and exciting way while still staying true to the original source material.