From the dazzling period costumes in West Side Story and Harriet to the looks in the magical world of Wicked, Academy Award-nominated costume designer Paul Tazewell has shown that few artists weave as much versatility into their creative DNA. “I love period work and telling stories connected to history. What excited me about Wickedwas designing a world rooted in period silhouettes while also creating a fantasy,” he says.
For the monumental task of transforming the beloved Broadway hit into two films, the designer says he drew upon a wealth of inspiration: “Wicked was about digging deep into where the original story came from. With the L. Frank Baum book, the 1939 film, Gregory Maguire’s Wicked and the Broadway musical, you’ve got four distinct expressions of the same story.” Maintaining the essence of the show while putting his own spin on it, Tazewell introduced a fresh perspective without entirely modernizing it. “We stayed true to the play’s visual language,” he says, “but added layers that reflect the characters’ emotional journeys.” Tazewell had an even more personal connection to the Oz universe, noting that “I used to watch it every year. It’s part of my visual memory bank, and it shaped how I see icons.” This familiarity contributes to the feeling of the costumes as both nostalgic and original.
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