The Discussion with Costume Designer, Paul Tazewell - The Podcast Exploring Costume Artistry

The Discussion with Costume Designer, Paul Tazewell - The Podcast Exploring Costume Artistry

Paul Tazewell, the 2025 Academy Award-nominee costume designer for the highly anticipated Wicked movie, recently shared his creative process in an exclusive interview on The Art of Costume Podcast.

In the season five premiere, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and various other podcast platforms, Tazewell delved into the intricacies of designing the iconic costumes for the film. He discussed his inspiration, which came from the original 1939 Wizard of Oz film, and how he incorporated modern fashion elements to create a fresh cinematic look.

One of the most notable changes Tazewell made was to Glinda's bubble dress, which he chose to be pink, inspired by Billie Burke's portrayal of Glinda arriving in a pink bubble in the film. This was a deliberate departure from the Broadway version, which uses a blue dress for Glinda, partly due to legal constraints on using pink for the stage show. Tazewell saw pink as central to capturing the classic visual of Glinda’s character.

Tazewell also spoke about the design of Elphaba's finale costume for Defying Gravity, highlighting his approach to modernizing beloved designs with a combination of vivid character-specific symbolism and contemporary aesthetics. He emphasized the importance of respecting the characters' unique personas and the narrative’s themes, resulting in a high level of craftsmanship and thoughtful reinterpretation of the source material’s visual identity.

The podcast episode also explores the vibrant use of color in Oz, the importance of a strong costume crew, and the magic behind Glinda's sparkling bubble dress. It offers a fascinating insight into Tazewell's work, making it a must-listen for fans of the Wicked franchise.

The episode can be shared on various social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and even via email. It is also available to watch on YouTube, making it accessible to a wide audience.

With Tazewell's background work bridging classic inspirations with fresh cinematic styling, particularly evident in Glinda’s signature pink bubble dress and the refined costumes for Elphaba during her impactful moments like “Defying Gravity,” the Wicked movie is set to deliver a visual spectacle that blends historical homage and innovation to serve the new film adaptation.

Tazewell's innovative costume design for the upcoming Wicked movie, available on multiple podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, showcases a blend of classic inspiration and modern fashion elements, making it a must-listen for fans of movies-and-tv and entertainment. His approach to iconic characters like Glinda and Elphaba, such as the use of pink in Glinda's costume and the contemporary aesthetics in Elphaba's finale costume, promises a visually stunning spectacle for the film.

Read also: