Dream Bubble: How Ariana Grande’s Viral ‘Wicked’ Dress Went From an Idea to a 100,000-Piece Wonder
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Ariana Grande’s iconic Glinda dress in “Wicked” is creating buzz among fashion lovers and fans of the original Broadway show that inspired Jon M Chu’s latest musical film.
The outfits, especially the pink bubble dress that went viral on the internet, aren’t just about looks; it’s about the journey from concept to creation. Costume designer Paul Tazewell worked with over a hundred artisans, including tailors, dressmakers, weavers and embroiderers, to bring his designs to life.
Ariana Grande’s dress in ‘Wicked’ has a connection to ‘The Wizard of Oz’
An official poster for ‘Wicked’ (@universalpictures)
Ariana Grande’s Glinda practically floats in her famous pink bubble dress. But did you know that the design was actually inspired by Billie Burke’s look in the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz”? Tazewell, known for “Hamilton and West Side Story,” had one goal in mind: to keep Glinda’s dress both timeless and unique. Therefore, he added his own twist to Burke’s look to create an unforgettable outfit for Grande. “I wanted to bring my own voice to the world of ‘Wicked’ played by Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda,” Tazewell said in a behind-the-scenes video.
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It replaces the bright pink of the original with a softer, warmer shade to give Glinda a more grounded elegance. The dress is delicate yet structured, with a beaded bodice and bell-shaped skirt that gives off a “lighter-than-air” vibe. The legendary costume features layers of crinoline, tulle and silk organza that create a translucent effect. He thus brings a unique charm to the character while paying homage to both the original Broadway show and the world of “The Wizard of Oz”.
What inspired Ariana Grande’s viral bubble dress in ‘Wicked’
The base of Glinda’s bubble dress in “WICKED” is based on the Fibonacci spiral pic.twitter.com/BPkkcD7TaF
– Jillian🫧 (@JillianChili) October 21, 2024
Tazewell revealed: “Glinda’s designer, he started approaching it from the Fibonacci spiral and creating shapes using that as a springboard, and then evolving that into the dress we have now.”
For the unversed, the Fibonacci spiral is a curved shape based on a sequence where each number is the sum of the two preceding it (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8…). This often inspires fashion designers to create balanced and flowing designs. Its application concerns cuts, patterns and arrangements of clothing in order to make pieces more organic and visually appealing. Tazewell mentioned that for Glinda, the dress had to be “about curves, softness, femininity and rainbow tones.”
Speaking about the dress, Grande said in the BTS video: “Glinda’s fashion story is so fun. For the first bubble dress, we thought we should go with pink. I wish you could touching these clothes. It’s just all this pink and fluff, I almost had a heart attack.”
Each stitch and swirl of the fabric thus embodies the spirit of Oz itself. “Wicked” is not just a musical, but an experience rich with hidden layers and stories woven into every costume. Tazewell hasn’t just created gorgeous outfits that we’d love to have in our wardrobe, he’s created magic that’s destined to become a treasured part of the “Wicked” story. And we can’t wait to see how it all plays out on a bigger screen.
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“Wicked” is scheduled to be released theatrically in the United States on Friday, November 22.