Marissa Bode's premiere costume is filled with a clever nod to the country of Oz. She wears silver shoes in Australia to see her character, Nessa Rose, a pair she wears on screen. For the Los Angeles premiere on May 11. On May 9, she and stylist Alexandra Mandelkorn opted for a shimmering gold Akunvas dress with metallic Jimmy Choo heels and levian jewelry, matching the tip of the hat to the yellow brick path. But the most important part of Bode's Wicked premiere style is not the way she pays homage to the film. That's how she expresses herself.

Wicked is the first feature film starring Bode. She is also the first wheelchair user to play the role of Nessa Rose, the sister of Cynthia Erivo's Elfaba, in any production of the musical. As long as an introduction to the people watching the movie can go, it's monumental.

Her Red carpet outfit is an important part of that first impression. "Since she is the first to do such a large-scale press tour, our intention was to establish a blueprint for Marissa's style for the world to see," Mandelkorn says. "As a queer and disabled woman, Marissa had a very unique perspective on the world and wanted to reflect it in her fashion.

In their first conversation, Bode did not have a single answer to the question of what she is attracted to when it comes to style. "My everyday style is a bit over all places," she says. "But in the best way - I do not like to choose a particular aesthetic. I like to try everything a bit.

So the pair decided not to choose a single lane. Instead, they've used several timeless silhouettes through-line—and opportunalWicked references- to get playful with patterns and colors. "We absolutely love the pink and green themes of the movie and know that Cynthia [Erivo] and Ariana [Grande] are likely leaning towards those colors"Bright reds, teal, black, plaid and ginghams, denim and metallic were our focus for this run."The vision was realized with a mix of established New York designers (like Prabal Gurung and Tibi) and emerging names such as Adeam, Dorothee Schumacher and Staud. "We also wanted to have a brand like Collina Strada that did an incredible job with consistent representation on the runway," Mandelkorn adds.

Bode's Red Carpet process also has its practical considerations: "One thing that was really important was focusing on what the dress looks good and is flattering to me in a wheelchair," she explains. Some dresses have a lot of hanger charms, but do not keep the shape as Bode likes when she tries on them. Experimenting with her team and taking test photos of accessories will help her zero into dresses and sets that resonate on and off the rack.

The center of the problem is choosing what feels most like her at a given moment. "When I wear an object, I like to wear it because it's not necessarily for certain things," she says. Her golden Aknvas gown let her tap into the fun, shimmering side that she had not yet explored on the press tour. "I like the balance of being classy and chic, and there are just a few hints of coolness out there as well."W is getting ready for her Nov in Hollywood. 9. On the Red Carpet, the dress's softened and softened with twisted updos by hair stylist Graham Nation, rosy cheeks and mauve lips by make-up artist Cherish Brook Hill, and a bubble bath manicure by nail artist Shelby Heil. Played a golden glow.

Bode has several more stops on the Wicked press tour, including its premiere in New York City. "I think the message I want to convey is that fashion alone doesn't have to be something that should be taken too seriously," she says. "I think fashion should be stupid, light and playful. I think that enjoying it at the end of the day is the most important thing for me."

When the Evil finally arrives at the theater later this month, Bode wants audiences to walk away from their (first) screening with an open mind. "I'm excited for people to be able to see the various reflections of humanity in the film and the very real themes that are so prevalent in today's world," she says, "and I think people can watch this film and learn a lot from those themes as well."Her Red carpet journey so far already comes with a message: true personal style is unlimited.