Wicked costume designer defends ‘ratty’ Elphaba sex cardigan

Wicked costume designer defends ‘ratty’ Elphaba sex cardigan Danni Scott Published December 3, 2025 10:36am Updated December 3, 2025 10:36am Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook Comment now Comments Elphaba’s cardigan became a little controversial (Picture: Universal Pictures/Shutterstock)

The costume designer behind Wicked’s floating gowns and dramatic capes has defended Elphaba’s controversial cardigan.

In the second part of the global musical phenomenon, Wicked For Good, the Wicked Witch dons a cosy cardigan while seducing Prince Fiyero through the power of song.

While Cynthia Erivo would look stunning in anything, the grey knitwear filled with holes and awkward tufts did not impress fans.

Affectionately dubbed the ‘ratty sex cardigan’, they took to the internet to question Elphie’s style choice in this critical moment of intimacy.

Now, costume designer Paul Tazewell has defended the cardigan, which is actually a peignoir, in an interview with NPR.

‘It came out of, very literally, an organic decision of what does Elphaba have access to? And living alone, what choice would she make when she’s looking for a robe, some way to be protective and warm?’ he shared.

The ‘ratty’ peignoir confused fans (Picture: instagram/@cynthiaerivo)

‘It’s operating as her robe for that moment. She’s got a loom in her treehouse, where she’s weaving her own clothing.

‘She’s manifesting all these things from the elements that are around her, and the sweater is just in keeping with that.’

When asked why she couldn’t have gone for something a little more seductive, such as a ‘black slinky peignoir’, he was perplexed.

‘Where would she get… that? Well, why would she even have it?’ the 61-year-old designer responded.

Paul added that the homemade peignoir helps define the character and highlights what is important for them.

Elphaba has fled to the woodlands in Wicked For Good (Picture: Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures) Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are ‘exquisite’ (Picture: Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures)

So, if Elphaba was rocking a full designer lingerie set and silky wrap in the middle of her woodland home, it probably wouldn’t have worked.

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Staying true to their characters was clearly incredibly important to both Cynthia and co-star Ariana Grande, who played Glinda.

Wicked For Good was one of the most anticipated films of the year, following huge success of the 2024 movie musical.

Metro’s film reporter Tori Brazier gave the film four stars and noted that while it had a lot to live up to, the performances of ‘its exquisite leading ladies’ were ‘never in question’.

The film has already made $391.5million at the global box office in the two weeks since opening, on a budget of $150million.

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