Wicked’s Costume Design win makes history as Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande showcase seven outfit changes
Wicked's costume designer Paul Tazewell made history this weekend as the first black man to win the Oscar for best costume design, and the the film's stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande celebrated by bringing the fashion with multiple looks.
At the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday (2 March), Paul Tazewell was awarded the Oscar for best costume design for his spellbinding work on smash hit musical Wicked. During his acceptance speech, he said, “I’m the first Black man to receive the costume design award,” adding he was “so proud of this.”
Paul was previously nominated in the same category for West Side Story in 2021, but took home the win this year. He said he hoped to be an inspiration to others in the industry saying, "There was never a Black male designer who I saw that I could follow and see as an inspiration. But to realise now that it's actually me."
During his speech, he also thanked Wicked's lead actors saying, “To my muses, Cynthia and Ariana and all the other cast."
Cynthia Erivo (who plays Elphaba in Wicked) and Ariana Grande (who plays Glinda) were also at the awards, and they proved that the film fully deserved recognition for its iconic looks by delivering multiple of their own on the night.
Throughout the evening the stars brought the fashion by wearing no fewer than seven outfits between them (yes, really!).
Both arrived in looks their characters would have been proud of, with Cynthia in a dramatic green velvet gown with sharp detailing. Ariana, on the other hand, went for a bold gown with a structured skirt in ballet slipper pink satin.
The pair had an outfit change for their epic on stage performance, opting for opera-worthy gowns with full skirts and, in Cynthia's case, an attached cascade of flowers for dramatic detail.
Chatting to other guests backstage, the pair were also snapped in more fitted black dresses - Cynthia with a ruffled collar and Ariana choosing an interwoven strap design.
Never one to outfit repeat, there was yet another change in store from Cynthia who was a vision in tulle and bows as she switched into an asymmetric look for the Vanity Fair after party.
Has there ever been such a fashionable duo?
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