Will Ariana Grande’s “Glinda Bubble Dress” Inspire Brides to Wear Pink? 

For those who have not watched Wicked Part 1 yet – stop reading this and go to the movie theaters. The opening movie scene features Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda the Good Witch, floating down to Munchkinland in a beautifully grandiose pink bubble gown. This intricate dress takes up space in the most elegant and airy way. Interestingly, Wicked on Broadway has Glinda dressed in a sparkly baby blue dress, so this baby pink may have not been expected. However, Glinda in Wicked Part 1 dresses in pink for a majority of all scenes she is featured in, just like Glinda from the original Wizard of Oz movie of 1939 who wore a pink gown in a peachier shade. 

Grande’s pink bubble dress is truly a work of art. It was designed by talented costume designer Paul Tazewell, whose inspiration for the costume stemmed from Billie Burke, the actress from the original Wizard of Oz. Tazewell also explains that Glinda in the Broadway production resorted to blue due to legal issues with using pink, but Wicked Part 1 was given clearance (thankfully). 

When you compare the two pink gowns, you can see how Grande’s dress is a modern take on Burke’s dress. It is strapless instead of the more traditional puff-sleeve, with a heart neckline and fitted upper bodice so as not to detract from the bottom layers. It incorporates beads as opposed to lace, which is more old-fashioned. Nevertheless, both are pure magic, just like a fairy godmother is supposed to be. 

In an interview with PEOPLE magazine, the design team reveals the intricacies of making this gown. They pulled over 137 pattern pieces and hand-beaded over 20,000 beads, essentially taking over 225 hours to create this spectacular gown. The top layer is silk organza, with a hoop skirt underneath to give it that bubble shape. It’s a dress that symbolizes femininity, but also power and as the movie begins with this scene before the time shift, the dress is on par with Glinda’s end-game status. 

As the Wicked phenomenon is taking the world by storm, its fashion is bound to influence upcoming fashion. The entertainment world has a powerful hold on mainstream fashion, so we won’t be surprised to see a surge in Elphaba’s signature green color, minimalist or goth aesthetic, as well as Glinda’s pale pink and whimsical aesthetic. The silhouette of short bubble dresses may be a popular bridesmaid choice in the future wedding scene. We may also see an increase in blush bridal gowns in upcoming wedding collections. As the blush color is universally connotated with femininity and flirtatiousness, those are two evident components of Grande’s Glinda in the iconic movie Wicked Part 1. We may see wedding gowns similar to celebrities Mandy Moore, who wore a blush tulle gown from Rodarte, or Kristin Chenoweth, who wore two blush dresses designed by Pamella Roland. Chenoweth was also the first Glinda on Broadway in 2003; perhaps her dress was a tribute to her inner Glinda. 

Bless the blush! 

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