The 97th Academy Awards was marked by memorable moments we won’t soon forget, from Adrien Brody of “The Brutalist” winning Best Actor in a Leading Role to Molly O’Brien and Lisa Remington winning Best Documentary Short Film for “The Only Girl in the Orchestra.” But perhaps one of the most groundbreaking moments was Paul Tazewell winning Best Costume Design for his work in “Wicked,” marking the first Black man to ever earn this prestigious award.
When moments in history such as this occur, you know we have to take a minute to deep-dive into the individual and give them the platform they rightfully deserve.
That said, today we’re highlighting Paul Tazewell and all of his incredible accomplishments leading up to his unforgettable win at the latest Academy Awards.
Paul Tazewell’s Fashion Journey
Paul Tazewell was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. Knowing he had a knack for fashion, he briefly attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY before realizing his true calling: costume design. After this realization, Paul Tazewell moved on to costume design at North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, NC. Upon graduating, he returned to New York City to attend NYU, officially receiving his MFA in costume design – which would pave the way for his future, resulting in over three decades of acclaimed and history-making work.
Throughout his decades of costume design, Paul Tazewell has been renowned for his work across Broadway and “the big screen.” He’s captivated audiences worldwide, from his exceptional work on current features like Death Becomes Her to award-winning designs seen on Ain’t Too Proud, Hamilton (2015), and The Wiz! Live (2016). His list of awards includes two Lucille Lortel Awards, four Helen Hayes Awards, a CDGA Award, and the Princess Grace Foundation’s Statue Award, proving his exceptional strides in the realm of costume design.
How Did He Specifically Start Working on this Film?
The Oscar-nominated and Tony Award-winning costume designer, Paul Tazewell, was the obvious front-runner for the costume design role on Wicked. Aside from his awards and nominations, he boasts extensive work on related roles, mentioning, “I’ve probably done five, six productions of The Wiz,” giving him insight into the characters and a sense of confidence in creating their costumes.
Tazewell’s collaboration with director Jon M. Chu for Wicked was clearly the right choice. Paul Tazewell was able to reimagine the designs in ways one never thought possible, with a prime example being his iconic witch’s hat. Another great example is his creation of Glinda’s bubble dress, with Tazewell saying, “It’s iconic. It is all pink, with butterflies. Very graceful. It’s meant to feel caught in the air or airborne itself.”
He mentions that he took great pride in stepping outside of the box of what should’ve been a more straightforward costume design for Elphaba. He says, “I set about defining why she’s in black, which is the fact that her mother passed away at a very young age, and so she was in mourning, and just making sure that there’s a tie back to the Wicked Witch of the West.”
Other Black Men Nominated in This Category Previously
The Best Costume Design award has predominantly been dominated by white designers throughout the award’s inception, but it’s clear that recognition for diverse talent is on an uptick – and Paul Tazewell’s remarkable win is proof.
However, it’s important to note that he’s not the first Black designer to win this award. He follows in the footsteps of beloved Ruth E. Carter, who became the first Black woman (and Black person in general) to win in 2019 for her work on Black Panther.
Paul Tazewell Makes History
Our hats go off to Paul Tazewell, who not only made history in the realm of costume design and awards, but looked great doing so. He says, “This is the pinnacle of my career… There was never an African American male designer that I could look up to, someone I could follow as inspiration. To realize that I am that person now — it feels like a “Wizard of Oz” moment.” Congratulations, Mr. Tazewell, and we can’t wait to see more of your future works!
