Stepping onto the yellow brick road instead of the traditional red carpet, Ariana Grande showcased her love for her character in Wicked by method dressing for the film’s November 3 Australian premier.
Stunning in a light pink ball gown with puffed sleeves adorned with diamond bubbles, Grande pulled inspiration for her look from the 1939 Wizard of Oz portrayal of Glinda instead of the modern version, which showcases the Good Witch in a sleeveless ball gown.
This isn’t the first time that Grande has method-dressed to promote the upcoming musical. For the last several months, Grande and her co-star Cynthia Erivo have donned their respective character’s colors for multiple high-profile events.
They are the most recent celebrities to join a growing trend of method dressing.
But what exactly does that mean? And why is method dressing so popular?
What Is Method Dressing
Method dressing is a a hybrid of influencer and fashion marketing, where celebrities dress to embody the themes, moods, or visual cues of their upcoming film, show, or album, bringing the essence of their project to life in the clothes they wear. Fashion designers often team up with actors for these looks, leveraging both their star power and the buzz around the film to their advantage. It’s a win-win-win for the film, the celebrity, and the fashion designer in terms of marketing.
Related: Crocs Collabs With ‘Wicked’ Movie For a Limited Release Collection
Borrowing the film’s distinctive colors, themes, and imagery, these costumes turn red carpet moments into eye-catching promotional tools, aiming to attract viewers or, at the very least, raise awareness of the movie.
This style of dressing has a long history, with artists like Madonna famously adopting looks that matched the distinct, aesthetic, vibe, and persona she created for each album.
Method dressing resurfaced in pop culture in 2019 when Elle Fanning embraced the theme by wearing several looks inspired by her character, Aurora, while promoting Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.
Zendaya soon followed suit in 2021, sparking conversation again by appearing in a custom Valentino cobweb dress for the premiere of Spider-Man: No Way Home.
This trend has been notable as stars use fashion to echo their on-screen roles to build anticipation and excitement around their projects.
But it was the Barbie press tour that made method dressing almost a standard for celebrities. Margot Robbie and her stylist, Andrew Mukamal, spent the better part of a year making sure the actress wore exclusively pink or homages to classic Barbie fashion.
The Best Method Dressers
While Zendaya and Robbie have cemented themselves as actors a great eye for fashion, stunning in outfits that spark massive conversations online that can last for weeks, there are a handful of other notable stars who have taken to method dressing.
Halle Bailey’s ethereal, ocean-hued looks for The Little Mermaid press tour brought “mermaid-core” into the spotlight, capturing the attention of both luxury designers and casual fashion lovers.
Anya Taylor Joy’s method of dressing experience has been hit-or-miss. However, when she hits—like her vintage Bob Mackie My Fair Lady-inspired outfit for the premiere of Emma or the elegant steampunk outfit she wore for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga—Taylor Joy’s looks often stir a buzz.
While there’s intention behind every look, mastering the art of dressing for a red carpet can be challenging—especially under the intense scrutiny of the internet.
When a red carpet look misses the mark—even if no specific expectations were set—it can distort the film’s image or create mistrust in the movie’s promotional effort, potentially turning audiences away entirely. Fashion is tough, and stylists are truly unsung heroes.
But for Grande, this fashion moment was a hit. Based on the last several months of looks she has given, it’s probably a safe bet that she has more Wicked-themed tricks up that poofy, chiffon sleeve.
Wicked will hit theaters in the U.S. on November 22.
This article is for informational purposes only. Trendy Matters has no affiliation with any of the brands or individuals mentioned, and the views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
