The Fashion Editor’s Guide to ‘Wicked: One Wonderful Night’—Green Paint Mishaps and All
Darling, let’s talk about spectacle. Not just any spectacle, but the kind that arrives with a 37-piece orchestra, unapologetic commercial tie-ins ranging from luxury automobiles to body wash, and enough emerald-tinted emotion to make even the most jaded fashion editor reach for their phone to text their best friends “I love you.”
“Wicked: One Wonderful Night” aired on NBC as what some might dismissively call corporate synergy on steroids. But here’s the thing about cynicism in fashion and entertainment: it’s terribly boring, and it misses the point entirely. This wasn’t just marketing dressed up as entertainment—this was a full-throttled celebration of a cultural phenomenon that has captivated audiences for nearly a year, and honestly? We’re here for every sequined, vocally acrobatic moment of it.
The special did stumble slightly in the styling department, one must admit. The audience members who enthusiastically slathered themselves in poorly-applied green face paint resembled less the ethereal Elphaba and more a slightly confused tailgate party. As any fashion editor worth her salt knows, when it comes to themed dressing, it should be an all-or-nothing affair. Half-hearted cosplay simply won’t do, darlings. Either commit to the full Emerald City fantasy or stick to your classic LBD—there’s no middle ground.
But let’s pivot to where “Wicked: One Wonderful Night” truly soared: the music. The special assembled an embarrassment of riches, bringing together cast members from John M. Chu’s cinematic adaptations alongside Broadway royalty. The pièce de résistance? An arrangement of “For Good” that united original Glinda and Elphaba—Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel—with the film’s luminous leads, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, performing live from the hallowed Gershwin Theater.
Was it slightly maddening that we couldn’t hear Erivo and Grande deliver the entire number as a pure duet? Absolutely. Did it matter once Stephen Schwartz settled at the piano and these four powerhouses began weaving their voices together in an arrangement that honored tradition while embracing innovation? Not even remotely. Watching Grande’s face contort with genuine emotion—that unguarded moment when performance transcends into pure feeling—reminded us why we fell under this musical’s spell in the first place.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect. Last year’s “Wicked” shattered records as the highest-grossing film adaptation of a Broadway musical, subsequently earning ten Oscar nominations including Best Picture. Both Grande and Erivo received acting nominations, with the film ultimately claiming statuettes for production design and costume design—categories where fashion and film intersect most beautifully.
With “Wicked: For Good” arriving in theaters November 21, the anticipation has reached fever pitch. If good things come to those who wait, as the saying goes, then perhaps transcendent things come to those who wait just a bit longer. Consider us primed, poised, and ready for whatever emotional devastation awaits.
“Wicked: One Wonderful Night” streams on Peacock tomorrow—green face paint optional, but vocal prowess highly encouraged.
