Paul Tazewell has opened up about the intricate thought and emotional depth that went into designing the costumes for Wicked and its sequel, Wicked: For Good.
In a new conversation with PEOPLE Magazinethe acclaimed costume designer said every detail was approached with intention, as he wanted the wardrobe to fully support the narrative and immersive world of Oz.
“I also went to nature, elements of nature that are timeless,” Tazewell explained.
He then described the challenge of uniting the many regions of Oz through costumes while honoring their individuality.
He added that “establishing a style, a visual style and a sensibility that was specific to the people of Oz” was critical, especially given the diversity of communities, from Munchkinland to the Uplands where Glinda is from, to the Emerald City.
“All those countries had to speak together.”
Tazewell added that in addition to the aesthetics, Wicked’s emotional core deeply influenced his design choices.
He explained that the relationships, love and inner conflicts that the characters experience are symbolically conveyed through fantasy, making it essential that the world itself felt authentic.
“I think the great thing about Wicked’s story is that these are very real emotions that our two main characters are struggling with,” he said.
“The idea of love, the idea of intimacy with Fiyero, is all told allegorically through these fantasy characters.”
To support that emotional realism, Tazewell emphasized that Oz needed to feel like the audience could really step inside.
“I wanted to make sure that we created a world that felt completely real in itself, that you as an audience member could walk into Oz and everything was answered, everything made sense.”
Before closing, he summarized his creative mission by saying, “It’s not a cartoon of the world, it’s the world. And that was a great joy for me as a designer.”
