Ariana Grande wears a piece of Wizard Oz history ahead of ‘Wicked: For Good’ release
The “Wicked: For Good” press tour is already shaping up to be spellbinding.
Ariana Grande pulled a piece of cinema history from the archives for her latest fashion moment, posing in a rare 1940s gown by Gilbert Adrian, the legendary MGM costume designer behind 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz.”
The pop star’s stylist, Law Roach, shared the black-and-white photos on Instagram Sunday, gushing: “And then THIS happened… Ari wearing Adrian! Just a little piece of HOLLYWOOD history.”
Adrian, frequently credited on screen as “Gowns by Adrian,” was head costume designer for MGM from 1928 until 1941. But it was his work on “Oz” that cemented his place as an icon of costume design.
“Dorothy’s gingham dress and ruby slippers, Glinda’s exaggerated pink gown, and the endless black train of the Wicked Witch of the West were all Adrian originals, changing movie and fashion history forever,” Roach wrote in his caption.
After leaving MGM in 1941, Adrian launched his own fashion house, Gowns by Adrian. “His vision for the line kept elements of the work he had become so identifiable with, including bold shoulders, striking silhouettes, and expert tailoring,” the stylist continued.
Grande’s dress — a version of which sold on the luxury vintage marketplace 1stDibs for $15,000 — features a dramatic “winged” capelet back and tiny rhinestones adorning the fabric, creating a subtle sparkle effect.
Many of Adrian’s pieces are now displayed in museums worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Fashion Institute of Technology, both in New York City.
The actress’s mother, Joan Grande, was moved by the fashion moment, commenting on Roach’s post: “Breathtaking in every way!! The magnificent person wearing it, the meaning behind the dress, the magnificent stylist who is beyond thoughtful and precise and respectful of what each moment means… and the magnificence of the dress and designer.”
“She’s pure magic, Ariana the woman you are, seeing you in this dress, just wow,” one wrote.
Another gushed, “So iconic! 💖 Thank you for giving us the Gilbert Adrian moment we needed.”
A third predicted: “oh this press tour is about to have me on the floor.”
Roach, who famously “retired” from styling in March 2023 before pivoting to more selective projects, worked with Grande from 2015 until 2020, when the pop star hired celebrity stylist Mimi Cuttrell.
In recent months, though, Roach has been back behind the wheel, styling Grande in archival Elie Saab to kick off the “Wicked: For Good” press tour and custom polka dot Fendi for the VMAs red carpet.
The first installment of the two-part “Wicked” film hit theaters Nov. 22, 2024, raking in over $756 million worldwide and earning Grande her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Now, with “Wicked: For Good” dropping Nov. 21, Grande and Roach are pulling out all the stops for what promises to be another magical fashion extravaganza.
