Ariana Grande didn’t need bubbles to float, just Bob Mackie.
The 32-year-old multi-hyphenate star wore a strapless gown from the legendary designer’s Fall/Winter 1997 collection for the NBC concert special, “Wicked: One Wonderful Night,” celebrating the upcoming release of “Wicked: For Good.”
The champagne-colored confection had a fitted bejeweled bodice and sweetheart neckline that flared out into a voluminous tulle skirt, creating a silhouette worthy of Good Witch’s Glinda herself.
She paired the archival treasure with a diamond choker and sleek ballet buns, and wrapped a coordinating champagne satin safety harness around her waist for her airborne entrance to the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.
Her dress is straight out of Hollywood: Fran Drescher originally wore the same dress in the 1997 romantic comedy The Hairdresser and the Beast.
Grande’s stylist Law Roach acquired this archival piece through Tab Vintage. The look was classic Mackie. The designer is known as the “King of Sequins” for his glittering, eye-catching pieces worn by everyone from Cher and Whitney Houston to Tina Turner and, most recently, Taylor Swift.
“Women who wear my clothes are not afraid of attention,” McKee, 85, famously said of his glamorous designs.
Grande and Roach are evoking fashion history through their current promotional efforts for Wicked: For Good, which opens in theaters on November 21st.
Recently, the “We Can’t Be Friends” singer paid homage to the original “Wizard of Oz” in a sophisticated 1940s dress by Gilbert Adrian, the MGM costume designer behind the 1939 classic film.
The singer recently debuted a hair makeover, swapping out her blonde Glinda locks for shiny brunette waves. “Aren’t you happy to see me? 🫧,” she captioned a mirror selfie on Instagram on Wednesday, quoting one of her character’s defining lines.
The “Wicked: One Wonderful Night” special will air on Thursday, November 6th at 8pm ET on NBC and streamed the next day on Peacock.
