Wicked: For Good’s costume designer finally explains origin of Elphaba’s ‘sex cardigan’
Paul Tazewell has explained the Wicked: For Good’s ‘sex cardigan’ origins. (Getty and X/@karl_delo)
Paul Tazewell has explained the Wicked: For Good's 'sex cardigan' origins. (Getty and X/@karl_delo)
The Oscar-winning costumer designer for Wicked: For Good, Paul Tazewell, has discussed the infamous ‘sex cardigan’ from the blockbuster movie and ‘Thank Goodness’ we now know the garments’ ‘Wonderful’ origins.
Ever since the sequel to 2024’s Wicked premiered in cinemas at the end of November, fans have been united in their curiosity around the gnarly and oversized grey cardigan worn during “As Long As You’re Mine”.
Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) sing the song after the latter has run from his wedding to Glinda (Ariana Grande) and stopped running from his feelings for Elphaba.
The two then sing out their feelings ending the song by levitating into bed. But this follows Elphaba discarding her battledress in favour of the aforementioned lumpy knitwear.
The moment since has taken on a life of its own online, becoming a meme and enjoyed across the internet.
“are you wearing the—“
— Samantha Bush (@stillonzoloft) November 23, 2025
“Elphaba’s sex cardigan? Yes, I am.” pic.twitter.com/R0OFrYYqg6
Speaking to NPR about the cardigan Tazewell, who won an Oscar for Wicked‘s costumes, said: “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? It’s operating as her robe for that moment.”
He continued: “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.”
And in response to questions over why she’d wear such a garment, and not more of her usual black clothing the Academy Award winner posed: “Why would she even have it?”
He added that Elphaba’s clothing choice “follows through with reasonable choices that define who a character is and what is important for them, where their priorities are”.
Wicked: For Good continues to perform well at the UK and Irish box office.
The analytics company Comscore, reporting that a further £7.7 million ($10.1 million) has been added in the film’s second weekend. In total, the film has made £32 million ($42.2 million) in the UK and Ireland.
Worldwide, the Wicked sequel has made $92.24 million at the box office.
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