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Wicked’s Costume Designer on How to Tell Stories with Clothes | Paul Tazewell | TED

If you’ve ever been swept away by the worlds of “Wicked,” “Hamilton” or “West Side Story,” you’ve seen Paul Tazewell’s breathtaking costumes. The Oscar-winning designer (whose work features in “Wicked: For Good”) explores the subconscious language of clothing and how it shapes who we view as heroes — and who we view as villains. (Followed…

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If you’ve ever been swept away by the worlds of “Wicked,” “Hamilton” or “West Side Story,” you’ve seen Paul Tazewell’s breathtaking costumes. The Oscar-winning designer (whose work features in “Wicked: For Good”) explores the subconscious language of clothing and how it shapes who we view as heroes — and who we view as villains. (Followed by a short Q&A with TED’s Monique Ruff-Bell) (Recorded at TEDNext 2025 on November 9, 2025)

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6 Comments

  1. @BecomingKhaya

    November 21, 2025 at 11:11 am

    What makes someone wicked? 😢

    • @9BillionDraculas

      November 21, 2025 at 11:40 am

      If they’re green, and wear all black haha

    • @CocoInColors

      November 22, 2025 at 4:55 pm

      “Are people born wicked? Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?” 😭

  2. @Kinochan28

    November 21, 2025 at 11:52 am

    Paul is such and amazing artist/designer 💖💚

  3. @hannah-9296

    November 21, 2025 at 9:09 pm

    Truly moving, an iconic designer

  4. @CassidyQuinn

    November 22, 2025 at 4:26 pm

    The world is so hard right now, but I am so grateful to be alive in the timeline where we’re getting all of this amazing extra Wicked content!!!

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