There is a certain poetry that happens when a story draws its curtains for the last time, not with silence but with fashion that feels like a final line in a well-loved script. Wicked: For Good has taken its last bow on the global premiere circuit, and Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo chose New York as the place to honour the journey that shaped them. The city where the musical first carved itself into theatrical history became the city where its newest stars said their quiet, stylish goodbye.
Ariana arrived first, carrying the residue of her recent Galliano-era Dior moment like a soft afterglow. For the final premiere she slipped into a black and white couture creation by Schiaparelli, a piece that felt almost suspended between decades. The fitted black bodice came alive with tiny surprises along its edges, like a whispered tribute to the house’s surrealist beginnings. Beneath it, a white tulle skirt billowed with a vintage softness that has defined Ariana’s entire press tour. With Daniel Roseberry looking to Elsa Schiaparelli’s whimsical 1950s archive for inspiration, the dress moved as though it had been plucked from an old film reel and placed gently into the present.
Photo: Getty Images
Cynthia chose a different rhythm, one rooted in futuristic elegance. Her Balenciaga gown, crafted under Pierpaolo Piccioli’s direction and inspired by the brand’s spring 2026 collection, slipped over her like a spell. The floor-length ball gown featured a drop waist that felt sculptural, an inky skirt that trailed behind her with theatrical patience and long sleeves that added an air of solemn beauty. Layered over the gown was a cropped piece embroidered with leather and feathers, a contrast that added both armour and artistry. The look found its finishing note in monochrome goggles and diamonds, a reminder that Erivo’s interpretation of Elphaba has always been both daring and deeply intentional.
When they spoke to reporters, the emotion of the moment rose to the surface. Ariana described the evening as a kind of full circle, a homecoming to the same city where the Gershwin Theatre still holds the heart of Wicked. Cynthia echoed the sentiment, noting how fitting it felt to close this chapter exactly where the story began.
Photo: Getty Images
Their fashion choices mirrored this evolution. Ariana leaned into darker palettes, drawing inspiration from mid-century glamour while occasionally weaving in Glinda’s soft pastels. Cynthia moved away from the neon greens that initially accompanied her Elphaba narrative and embraced a wardrobe built on shadows, depth and metallic textures.
Even though the final premiere has passed, their impact on the 2025–2026 fashion landscape is only beginning. Awards season is already beckoning, and if a third Wicked film ever becomes more than a whisper, there is no telling what new sartorial worlds these two might build.
