Breaking Barriers: Paul Tazewell Makes Oscars History as First Black Man to Win Best Costume Design for ‘Wicked’

Paul Tazewell has made history at the Oscars as the first Black man to win the award for Best Costume Design. His win is a significant milestone in the world of film and fashion.

Tazewell, who was previously nominated for his work on “West Side Story,” also has an Emmy for “The Wiz Live” and a Tony for “Hamilton.” He outperformed notable designers, including Arianne Phillips, Linda Muir, Lisy Christl, Janty Yates, and David Crossman, to secure his Oscar win.

This season has been a remarkable one for Tazewell. He has already won the BAFTA, Critics’ Choice, and Costume Designers Guild awards. Recently, he was featured among Variety’s ten artisans to watch in costume design and received the Variety Artisan Award at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.

Overall, he is only the second Black person to win in this category. Ruth E. Carter was the first, winning for “Black Panther” and later for its sequel.

During his acceptance speech, Tazewell expressed his pride: “I’m the first Black man to receive the costume design award… I’m so proud of this.” He extended his gratitude to his team in the UK and dedicated his win to the leading ladies of “Wicked,” Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

For “Wicked,” Tazewell designed over a thousand costumes, creating standout pieces like Glinda’s bubble dress and Elphaba’s black dress. He was inspired by the original “Wizard of Oz,” especially focusing on why Elphaba, played by Erivo, wears black. This color sets her apart in the vibrant world around her and symbolizes her grief for her mother, who died during childbirth. Tazewell faced the challenge of adding depth to a black dress, ensuring it didn’t lose detail in its dark color.

He used materials like felted fabric, gauze, and chiffon for Elphaba’s dress, drawing inspiration from the pleated underside of mushrooms to bring a unique texture to the fabric.

When designing Glinda’s dress, Tazewell looked back to Billie Burke’s iconic gown from the 1939 film. While he aimed to pay tribute to the original, he chose a softer, warmer pink that gave the dress its own identity. The dress features a structured, hand-beaded bodice and a translucent bell shape, creating a magical, lightweight feeling.

For those interested in the full list of Oscar winners, you can find it here.

Source link

Oscars,Paul Tazewell,Wicked