"THE CULTURAL COMMENTARY"
Fashioned for Good: Cynthia Erivo's Top Five Looks from the “Wicked" 2024 Press Tour
By: Dayton Page
With the new "Wicked For Good" film set to release on Nov. 21, starring the beloved duo, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, we can all assume a tearful yet fashionably iconic round two of press tours is up ahead. The first round of tours was filled with nothing but jaw-dropping looks, subtle nods to the wonderful land of Oz, and enough haute couture gowns that would even make Glinda clutch all her pink pearls. So, with this next round of tours, it's reasonable that viewers expect nothing but wicked iconicness. In honor of the upcoming “Wicked for Good” 2025 press tour, let's take a trip down the yellow brick road of fashion and recap Cynthia Erivo’s top five looks from the previous “Wicked” 2024 press tour, all styled by celebrity fashion stylist Jason Bolden.
"Elphaba in Paris"
Taking home the gold for Team Wicked during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Erivo dazed viewers with her fashionable Parisian spell. She wore a custom Louis Vuitton ensemble with a gown featuring a strapless sweetheart bodice tucked into a beautifully sculpted skirt with pleated folds at the hips in an enchanting emerald green satin. Her jewelry was from Roberto Coin, while she wore metallic leather pointed-toe pumps, but best of all, she wore a brimmed chapeau that gave us “sorcery but make it fashion” vibes, and it was pure perfection. With her and her stylist having a unique understanding of pop culture, they were able to bring unique class and refined references to this look. She told British Vogue that when she and Bolden were looking for references for this moment, they landed on Dominique Deveraux from "Dynasty," whom they considered a “beautiful, strong Black woman” known for her iconic edge, sophistication, and uniquely elegant Parisian style. And that is exactly what they delivered to us for this grand Parisian Emerald City-like fashion moment.
"A Spell in Latex"
As Erivo hit the carpet of the Los Angeles premiere, I just knew somewhere in Oz, one of those flying monkeys' jaws hit the floor. Erivo captured Elphaba’s edge and essence in a custom Louis Vuitton fitted latex sleeveless dress that featured a slight halter neckline whose triangular shape was echoed in the cut-out over the midriff. Decorating the dress was an electrifying fringed cape that fell around the elbows of Erivio, highlighting her silhouette. Jewelry from Roberto Coin and Suzanne Kalan accessorized Erivo, and the overall look was paired with green patent leather pumps that ever so slightly peeked from underneath the dress. She told Harper's Bazaar that she felt like “Diana Rose's child,” being that the dress was sexy but still refined and regal. I always used to imagine what Dorothy hallucinated when the Poppy Girls used magic opium glitter on her, but I’m almost certain this is what she saw in her dreams. I mean, I would pass out too if I got to dream of the Wicked Witch of the West looking this seductively stunning on a premiere carpet in real life.
"The Bad Witch Wears Dior"
Erivo showed up to the New York City premiere walking through the front door with absolutely no broomstick needed. Wearing a full haute couture Christian Dior ensemble, the look featured a sheer knit long sleeve top that beautifully rests over a tulle corseted sweetheart bustier with a plunging V, along with a large silk skirt that billows with elegantly sculptured pleats and drapes of fabric that took around 1,200 hours to make, according to Harper’s Bazaar. She is adorned by a veiled headpiece by Stephen Jones and Mikimoto Jewelry with accents of emeralds as a subtle nod to her character, Elphaba. While this dress was not only a top look because of its exquisite craftsmanship, it ultimately succeeds because of the way it brings the characteristics of Elphaba to real life. With the overall look being in black, Elphaba’s commonly worn color in the film, the intricate details and layers of the gown, paired with the implied restraint of the veiled headpiece, work together to symbolise Elphaba's life in Oz, but in a high fashion and innovative sense. But despite that gown's beauty, I know that Erivo was hiding something that night, and I know that she was hiding the ruby red slippers under that large skirt. I just can't prove it. You can’t trick me, Erivo!!
"One Short Night in Emerald City"
Erivo absolutely wowed viewers at the final stop of the press tour, which was London. She arrived on the carpet in an ensemble from Schiperelli’s fall/winter 2024 haute couture collection, which featured a velvet black bodice that was surrounded by a high-low asymmetrical ruffled black tulle skirt and showcased a bronzed metallic structure that peaked underneath the entire ensemble. Accompanying the look, Erivo wore black sheer bronze metallic stockings with patterned detail that radiated up the leg, bringing a symbolic motion to the transformation that takes place in Erivo's character, jewelry from De Beers, custom Schiperelli heels, black velvet fingerless gloves to show off the iconic nails, and best of all, a velvet feathered headpiece that stood tall. According to Harper's Bazaar, Erivo’s outfit reigned as a top look as it took inspiration from the film’s musical number “One Short Day,” where Elphaba can be seen with her full black cloak and pointy witch hat in an adventure to Emerald City. Despite the title of the song this look was inspired by, this ensemble will be remembered by many for longer than just “One Short Day,” as this is a high fashion and symbolic moment that will live well past the final bow of the show.
"Wicked Hands and Wicked Glamour"
Despite this garment's dark and villainous color, the song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” should be dedicated to this look because that's how magical it is. Erivo wore a custom Thom Browne ensemble with a black hooded bolero jacket and a strapless black and green sequin dress with sculpted, angular hips that gave an undoubtedly intriguing silhouette to the actress. But the most show-stopping part of this whole ensemble is the extra pair of witch hands that emerge from the shoulders of the bolero jacket. These hands not only allowed Eurvio to sport two sets of manicures, but they also allowed her and Bolden to be able to create an iconic pop culture reference that foreshadowed the infamous image of the original Wicked Witch of the West, played by Margaret Hamilton in "The Wizard of Oz." The hands also foreshadowed how I’m going to look if I ever get a chance to get close enough to this dress, as I will be stealing it for my personal archive while yelling, “I got you my pretty!!” Erivo and Bolden not only echoed Elphaba's overall aesthetic and powerful presence in the film, according to RAIN Magazine, but they also ultimately showcase what it means for fashion to literally defy gravity.
Throughout each look, Erivo and Bolden didn't just dress for a press tour, but they fashioned Erivo’s character, Elphaba, for good. Through every styling aspect, from garment to accessories, to nails and more, each became a part of a larger referenced story that not only defined Elphaba’s character even more, but it proved that fashion is all about becoming something or someone greater than yourself.