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From Sketch to the Screen

See how the design team created Oscar-winning looks for the Wicked films

November 2025

By Karen Grimaldos

Brian Isom

Paul Tazewell

How do you bring characters from a fantasy world to life on the big screen? It’s all in the details says master costume designer Paul Tazewell. And he should know: His designs earned him an Academy Award for last year’s movie musical Wicked. Even more of his fantastic designs will hit the big screen on November 21 in the sequel, Wicked: For Good.

Over his 30-year career, Tazewell has designed not only for film but also for television and theater. He rose to fame when his designs for the hit musical Hamilton won him a Tony award in 2016. His experience in designing costumes for musicals made Tazewell a natural choice for the Wicked movies.

Before filming, Tazewell met with director Jon Chu and other lead designers, like makeup and hair designer Frances Hannon, to develop a look for the movies. “We discussed the world of Oz and the story before moving on to how each individual looks,” says Hannon, who was also nominated for an Academy Award for Wicked.

After they decided on the looks for each character, Tazewell got to work. He carefully considered every detail of each costume—from buttons and beads to shoe leather and fabric patterns. More than 70 costume makers worked in eight workshops to make the garments. This village of professionals included beaders, knitters, weavers, hatmakers, and more. The team made more than 1,000 costumes!

How do you bring fantasy characters to life on screen? It’s all in the details, says Paul Tazewell. He’s a master costume designer. He won an Academy Award for the costumes in last year’s movie musical Wicked. The sequel, Wicked: For Good, hits theaters on November 21. It features even more of Tazewell’s fantastic designs.

Tazewell has designed costumes for 30 years. He’s worked on films and intelevision and theater. He became famous after designing costumes for the hit musical Hamilton. That won him a Tony award in 2016. It also made him a great fit for the Wicked movies.

Before filming, Tazewell met with director Jon Chu and other designers. Together they agreed on a look for the movies. “We discussed the world of Oz and the story before moving on to how each [character] looks,” says Frances Hannon. She was the lead makeup and hair designer. She was also nominated for an Academy Award for Wicked.

Then Tazewell got to work. He carefully thought out every detail of each costume. That might mean picking the perfect buttons or just the right shade of leather for shoes. More than 70 costume makers worked to make the outfits. There were beaders, knitters, weavers, and more. They had eight different workshops. The team made more than 1,000 costumes!

Glinda’s pink bubble dress, for example, required 137 pattern pieces, 20,000 bodice beads, and 225 hours of sewing time. “Attention to detail defined the design of both films,” says Tazewell.

Wicked: For Good wraps up the tale of Elphaba and Glinda as Dorothy arrives in the land of Oz. “We have a lot of really fun looks,” says Tazewell. Both Elphaba’s and Glinda’s costumes were designed to represent their evolution as characters. “There were seeds planted in film one that play out in film two. I’m hoping the audience will notice the subtle changes in the looks and how they continue to the very end,” says Tazewell.

Glinda’s pink bubble dress was one of the biggest projects. It needed 137 pieces of fabric. There were 20,000 beads on the upper section. It took 225 hours to sew together. “Attention to detail defined the design of both films,” says Tazewell.

Wicked: For Good finishes the story of Elphaba and Glinda that started in the first film. “We have a lot of really fun looks,” says Tazewell. Both characters’ costumes were designed to show how they’ve changed. “There were seeds planted in film one that play out in film two,” says Tazewell. “I’m hoping the audience will notice the subtle changes in the looks.”

Read a Q&A with Frances Hannon, the makeup artist that developed Elphaba’s unique green hue.

Career Pathway: COSTUME DESIGNER

NOW:
Learn how to sketch, sew, and work with different fabrics. Gain experience with a local theater company to build your portfolio.

NEXT:
Most costume designers have a bachelor’s degree in costume design or fashion.

FUTURE:
Estimated Salary $85,000

NOW:
Learn how to sketch, sew, and work with different fabrics. Gain experience with a local theater company to build your portfolio.

NEXT:
Most costume designers have a bachelor’s degree in costume design or fashion.

FUTURE:
Estimated Salary $85,000

Career Pathway: COSTUME DESIGNER

NOW:
Learn how to sketch, sew, and work with different fabrics. Gain experience with a local theater company to build your portfolio.

NEXT:
Most costume designers have a bachelor’s degree in costume design or fashion.

FUTURE:
Estimated Salary $85,000

NOW:
Learn how to sketch, sew, and work with different fabrics. Gain experience with a local theater company to build your portfolio.

NEXT:
Most costume designers have a bachelor’s degree in costume design or fashion.

FUTURE:
Estimated Salary $85,000

Parts of a Circle

Watch this math video about the circumference, radius, diameter and area of a circle.

WORKING WITH CIRCLES

Circles are an important geometric shape used by costume designers like Paul Tazewell to create patterns and ensure a perfect fit.

Here are the main measurements of circles.

RADIUS

The distance from the center of a circle to any point on the perimeter.

DIAMETER

The distance from one side of the circle through the center to the opposite side. It’s twice the radius.

d = 2r

AREA

The amount of space inside a circle.

A = π r²

CIRCUMFERENCE

The distance around a circle

C = 2 π r = π d

The ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. It’s equal to approximately 3.14.

π = C ÷ d

WORKING WITH CIRCLES

Circles are an important geometric shape used by costume designers like Paul Tazewell to create patterns and ensure a perfect fit.

Here are the main measurements of circles.

RADIUS

The distance from the center of a circle to any point on the perimeter.

DIAMETER

The distance from one side of the circle through the center to the opposite side. It’s twice the radius.

d = 2r

AREA

The amount of space inside a circle.

A = π r²

CIRCUMFERENCE

The distance around a circle

C = 2 π r = π d

The ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. It’s equal to approximately 3.14.

π = C ÷ d

Answer the questions about costumes for the Wicked movies. Use 3.14 for pi and round answers to the nearest hundredth when necessary. Record your work and answers on our answer sheet.

A. Glinda’s pink bubble dress has a circumference of about 179 inches. What’s the diameter?

B. Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda, is 5 feet 2 inches tall. Is the dress’s diameter larger or smaller than her height?

C. The bottom of the dress mostly covers the platform of the bubble Glinda floats in. What’s the area of the bubble’s platform?

A. Elphaba’s hat opening has a radius of 4.2 in. What’s the circumference of the opening?

B. The hat’s brim extends 2.4 in. on all sides. What’s the diameter and circumference of the hat’s base, brim included?

Measure the circumference of your head. If you were to make a hat for yourself like Elphaba’s, but with a 3-inch-wide brim, what would the brim’s area be? Draw your hat and show your work on a separate sheet of paper. (Hint: Don’t forget to subtract the area of the opening!)