Ariana Grande’s Red Oscars Ballgown Paid Perfect Tribute To The Wizard Of Oz

6 hours ago

Ariana Grande opened this year's Oscars ceremony with Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo, and took her method dressing game up a level with her Dorothy-inspired performance look.

This post may contain affiliate links. Learn more

Last night was a huge one for the film industry, with the Academy Awards returning to LA for its 97th edition. Leading the charge were Emilia Pérez, The Brutalist and Wicked – who all scored more than 10 nominations each – but in the end, it was Anora who scooped up the most awards this year, including Best Picture. And when it came to the Oscars’ opening performance, Wicked co-stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo made sure it was nothing short of magical.

A Closer Look At Ariana Grande’s ‘Dorothy’ Ballgown At The 2025 Oscars

Every year the Oscars kicks off with a video montage, celebrating the last 12 months in film. But this year, organisers of the awards took a slightly different approach.

The 97th Academy Awards opened to the now-iconic Wizard of Oz shot of Dorothy clicking her heels with the dialogue ‘there’s no place like home’, before launching into a series of scenes from hit movies that had been filmed in LA – including Barbie, La La Land and Iron Man 2 – in a cinematic tribute to the city.

And as the last images flicked by onscreen, the first performance of the night began. Wicked co-stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo took to the stage to perform a medley of songs from The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical and Wicked, starting with Grand’s rendition of ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’, Erivo’s ‘Home’ and the pair’s ‘Defying Gravity’ duet.

And while the performance itself was a hit, eagle-eyed Wicked fans soon became fixated on one element of the show in particular: the little detail on the back of Ariana Grand’s Oscars gown.

Stepping onto the stage in a glittering red ballgown by Schiaparelli, with matching ruby red slippers peaking out from the raised hemline, Grande’s outfit was an ode to Judy Garland’s character in the 1939 classic. The custom look was designed by Schiaparelli’s Creative Director Daniel Roseberry, and was embroidered with over 150,000 Siam sequins, zillions and cut beads enhanced by a tonal tulle train with aerodynamic volume.

But that wasn’t the only ‘easter egg’. As the actress turned to leave the stage for Erivo’s solo, audiences got a glimpse of another ruby slipper adorned to the back of her dress (again, covered in sequins for that ‘ruby’ sparkle).

Earlier that evening, Grande walked the Oscars red carpet in yet another Schiaparelli dress – this time in tribute to her onscreen Wicked character, Glinda. A pink number featuring a floating peplum bodice and layers of crystal-adorned (we’re talking 190,000 Swarovski crystals, sequins and rhinestones) tulle, the gown was the perfect reference to Glinda (and her shimmering arrival by bubble).

And while neither Erivo nor Grande bagged the awards for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively, Wicked did take home Best Production Design and Best Costume Design – proving that the film’s sartorial achievements remain a triumph. And with the arrival of the film’s sequel Wicked: For Good scheduled for later this year, there’s a high chance we’ll see the cast return for the 2026 Oscars, too.