‘Wicked’ Costume Designer Paul Tazewell Details Working With Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo
Cynthia Erivo knows fans across Oz were curious about her attire.
One particular costume piece quickly took on a life of its own after the release of Wicked: For Good when it was featured prominently during a romantic scene between Cynthia’s Elphaba and Jonathan Bailey’s Fiyero. And while viewers quickly memed what was dubbed the “sex cardigan,” as the Wicked star explained, the costume served a very specific purpose.
“I just wanted to present an opportunity to see this character who everybody at this point has seen as this strong fighting woman, who is the Wicked Witch, as someone who could actually be on her own,” Cynthia shared with fans during a recent Airbnb event. “I just wanted something that removed the armor for a second, while, yes, showing you a more sensual, more connected side of her.”
As the 38-year-old added, the aforementioned cardigan—which Elphaba wore during the song “As Long As You’re Mine” in her hideout—was not meant to turn her character “into a sexual object.”
