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Ariana Grande Reacts to Fans Who Criticized Her 'Wicked' Casting
No one mourns the wicked, but countless people appreciate some tie-in fashion.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have taken a page from Margot Robbie's Barbie playbook in their approach to dressing throughout the months-long lead-up to the theatrical release of Wicked on Nov. 22.
Meaning, Grande has been in full Glinda mode in pastel pink, floral motifs, ruffles, polka dots and other looks befitting the witch-in-training who will one day be deemed "good." And Erivo is channeling the spirit of the gravity-defying Elphaba, evoking both the Emerald City and her character's green skin in structured couture that's ready for battle, be it in Oz or on the runway.
Which has been the opposite of something bad, since the Tony winner's favorite color was already green.
"I love it, and I will always love it," Erivo told Vogue in September. "In terms of my casting, it's given me an excuse to buy more green clothes."
Pink, however, was a new project for Glinda, er, Grande.
"Pink was never really a part of my life until I started collecting a lot of pink pieces during the audition process three years ago," the Eternal Sunshine artist told Vogue. And even though she wore wigs in the film, dyeing her hair bright blond and tinting her eyebrows were also essential parts of getting into character.
There's "a softness that Glinda has with the lighter brows," she explained. "It didn't make any sense when I had my dark brows."
Happily, both she and Erivo were that girl who "really loved to shop in character," Grande added. "I just wanted to live in the DNA and mindset of the character. Now I love the color pink and it feels like part of me. I think it’s something I'll be forever intertwined with in a very special way."
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Already a part of Erivo was her love of a fierce manicure, so it wasn't a stretch to add artfully painted nails to her magical motif. But, she told Vogue, "it's a case of using the nails to connect the story of Elphaba, rather than interpreting her. It’s continuing the culture that was there before."
Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West in 1939's The Wizard of Oz, "had nails," Erivo explained. "I have nails and Elphaba has nails. Technically, she has nails because of us."
Grande, meanwhile, has been sporting demure French manicures in keeping with Glinda's dainty traditional tendencies.
And for further frank analysis, take a closer look at every one of Erivo and Grande's Wicked-inspired looks right here:
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Coming Attractions
Presenting together at the 2024 Oscars in March, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were already teasing what was in store from the first installment of Wicked, coming to theaters Nov. 22.
Erivo, who plays green-hued "bad" witch Elphaba, looked ready for both the red carpet and battle in leather Louis Vuitton with reptilian ruffles down the back. And Grande, who costars as "good" witch Glinda, channeled old Hollywood glam in a powder-pink Giambattista Valli Haute Couture column gown magically accented with enough fabric to provide a peplum, a stole, a bustle and a train all at once.
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They Know About Popular
The Wicked train chugged into CinemaCon in April with Grande all aboard in a white and pink Oscar de la Renta minidress that resembled a blooming flower, while Erivo sported a green and silver Versace ensemble, including fierce thigh-high satin boots.
Not the colors of dear old Shiz, but she has an open invitation to play Quidditch for Slytherin.
JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images
Très Chic
Gold for best dressed went to team Wicked at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the costars were spotted at multiple events.
But first, they kicked off the Games at the July 26 Opening Ceremony, Erivo in a strapless green Louis Vuitton gown with a gravity-defying silhouette and Grande in a drop-waist powder-pink Thom Browne dress that would've made Audrey Hepburn proud.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Where Troubles Melt Like Lemon Drops
Erivo, who also performed "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" at the event, looked wickedly good in a glittering emerald gown by Naeem Khan at the 2024 Academy Museum of Motion Pictures 4th Annual Gala on Oct. 19.
Another popular choice: Grande's leather-trimmed polka dot ball gown courtesy of Balmain.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Universal Pictures
Coat of Many Colors
Erivo accessorized her T-shirt and cropped jeans with bright-green pumps and a patterned Louis Vuitton coat at an Oct. 28 screening of Wicked at the DGA Theater in New York.
Grande looked ready for her first day of witch university in a cream-colored button-down vest and matching skirt by Atelier Versace.
Noam Galai/Getty Images for WSJ. Magazine Innovators Awards
Peas in a Pod
It's unclear if Grande floated to the WSJ. Magazine 2024 Innovator Awards inside a magical bubble, but her delicately embroidered white Vivienne Westwood gown was fit for such a journey.
Meanwhile, Erivo's Erdem dress—gray pinstripes overlaid with embellished green silk—was Land of Oz meets Wall Street.
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Good Witch of the North
It's unclear if Grande floated to the Nov. 3 Australian premiere of Wicked in a shimmering bubble, but her pink Vivienne Westwood ball gown wouldn't have looked out of place emerging from such a ride.
Don Arnold/WireImage
Far From Basic
Erivo leaned into Elphaba's wicked future at the premiere in a black Louis Vuitton strapless gown, accessorized with a massive lion's head choker and another bedazzled green manicure.
"I love this outfit so much because it speaks to my character," the British actress told Vogue Australia before heading to the red carpet (or, in this case, yellow brick road). "It reminds me of wings and defying gravity."
Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
Every Look There Is or Was
Erivo cast yet another spell at the Nov. 5 Wicked photocall in Australia, this time in an emerald and black Marc Jacobs blouse with a swirly pattern paired with a black embroidered skirt.
And for her last trick: Dividing the eye's attention between her dainty fascinator and the towering multistrap Mary Jane platforms that added at least 6 inches to her 5-foot-1 frame.
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