If you’re anything like me, you’ve had Cynthia Erivo’s “Defying Gravity” riff stuck in your head for the last six months. But I come bearing good news: We have another moment to think about until Wicked's second half drops into theaters: Erivo’s 2025 Oscars red carpet look. The actress just arrived on the carpet at the 97th Academy Awards looking positively Wicked—in a good way, of course.
Erivo, who is nominated tonight in the Best Actress category for her portrayal of Elphaba Thropp in the film adaptation, donned a voluminous dark forest-green Louis Vuitton dress with an exaggerated off-the-shoulder neckline, a spiky collar, and a structured, bubble-like skirt. If anything, her look felt like the perfect match to Ariana Grande's pale pink look on the carpet tonight.
The look is crafted custom for her by Louis Vuitton and longtime stylist Jason Bolden. Ahead of the show, Bolden shared with E!'s Zanna Roberts Rassi that tonight's look was "a gift to Wicked part one." "Is the witch really that wicked? No, but this dress is," he said about her look.
It's also an ode to Hattie McDaniel, who was the first African American person to win an Oscar. If Erivo wins her award tonight, she'll be the youngest woman to claim an EGOT, so it was a touching tribute as Erivo's on the verge of making history.
As for her glam, Erivo stuck to her classic lit-from-within beauty. Her close-cropped hair also showed off a stack of earrings—her red carpet signature—and a bedazzled nose ring.
However, the thing my eyes darted to this evening was her manicure. Erivo has made headlines for her out-of-the-box nails, and tonight’s set was no different. The elongated silhouettes, created with OPI polishes, featured dramatic 3D details that were very Oz-inspired, like a clock on one finger and gold dripping off another nail. Every piece is custom-made by hand, and each set takes nail artist Myca Dior hours to create.
Erivo opened the show alongside Grande. The Best Actress nominee took to the stage in a white gown to sing “Home” from The Wiz. Her dress didn’t skip out on her favorite Wicked hue altogether—the hem was tinged in green dye, and flowers adorned one side.
Her show-stopping looks at the 97th Annual Academy Awards arrives after her also very-on-theme ensemble at the Annual Oscars Nominee Dinner. Erivo joined fellow nominees Ariana Grande and Mikey Madison in a trio of vintage designer looks. Erivo opted for a yellow archival satin Givenchy jacket and skirt, taking clear inspiration from Oz’s yellow brick road in lieu of her character. This isn't the first time she strayed from an all-green gown this awards season: Last week, she opted for an all-silver gown at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Erivo is something of an Oscars veteran at this point. The near-EGOT winner has two more nominations under her belt and has appeared on the carpet several times over the past few years. One of her standout looks came in 2024, when she kicked off the Wicked press tour early on the red carpet in an emerald-green leather gown by Louis Vuitton.
Erivo's love of Louis Vuitton gowns spans years: The British actress also donned a sleek all-black number from the French house for the Academy Awards in 2022.
Speaking of her previous nominations, Erivo celebrated two for her role in Harriet by sporting a stunning white Atelier Versace gown. Her signature shaved head was dyed silver to match.
As for her first-ever appearance, though, Erivo strayed from her usual monochromatic ensembles for a floral A-line gown from Paul Sabastian's Fall 2016 Couture collection. She also eschewed stacked jewelry—a signature of hers—for a classic choker-style necklace and a wide cuff bracelet.
