Wicked’s Costume Designer Paul Tazewell Shares Magical Film Secrets

“She’s almost in mourning for her mother,” Tazewell said, “who she lost at an early age.”

And he, of course, made sure to incorporate Elphie’s signature accessory.

“Cynthia definitely knows how to wear a hat,” Tazewell said of the Broadway veteran. “When she dons that hat, Elphaba actually changes that into this power moment and she makes it into her iconic silhouette.”

And when it comes to Jonathan Bailey’s heartthrob character Fiyero, Tazewell wanted the clothes to fit the man.

“For Fiyero, he’s a prince, and heroic,” Tazewell explained. “And his character played by Jonathan Bailey, needed to embody all of that. The embroidery that we used on his Oz Dust Ballroom suit, inspired by tribal design, which I think gives it a little more edge. It’s more of a North Africa or Southern Spanish quality, along with military stylings with all the gold buttons is in direct keeping with who Fiyero is and then becomes—the royal family that he comes from and where he ends up in the second film as well.”

Wicked hits theaters nationwide Nov. 22.  

(E!, Universal and Fandango are all part of the NBCUniversal family.)

For some of Cynthia and Ariana’s real-life Wicked fashion, read on.