Los Angeles: Ariana Grande dazzled at the Critics Choice Awards in a vintage-inspired Dior dress, celebrating her nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Engaging with fans and showcasing her vocal training for Wicked, the evening highlighted the powerful intersection of fashion, music, and celebrity culture.
Ariana Grande made her triumphant return to the red carpet at the Critics Choice Awards, following an absence from the Grammy Awards, to celebrate her nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the highly anticipated film Wicked. The event took place on January 14, 2024, where Grande showcased a vintage-inspired nude cage dress adorned with floral appliqués and a cascading fringe hem from Dior, aligning perfectly with the modern resurgence of retro aesthetics in Hollywood.
The evening saw Grande posing solo on the red carpet, although she was joined by her partner Ethan Slater and co-star Cynthia Erivo, who were also in attendance. The star’s choice of attire echoed the evolving influence of past fashion eras on contemporary celebrity wardrobes, a trend often noted in today’s pop culture where vintage styles are celebrated and adapted by modern figures.
Prior to the awards ceremony, Grande has been busy in Los Angeles engaging with fans and promoting Wicked. Notably, she appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where she captivated audiences by singing an unfamiliar song written by the show’s team. The appearance marked another moment in her ongoing promotion of the film and showcased her adaptability as a performer.
A significant highlight from her week was a Q&A session with fellow artist Billie Eilish following a screening of Wicked, where the admiration between the two was palpable. Eilish expressed her long-standing admiration for Grande, stating, “I love this girl so much, and I love this movie so much.” Speaking to the spotlight on Grande’s influence, Eilish recounted how she had been a fan since childhood. “I was just in the car telling my mom that you can find old interviews of you from like 2014 with Billie Eilish comments like, ‘I’m Team Ari’,” she recalled, further showcasing how Grande’s impact spans across generations of artists.
Grande reciprocated Eilish’s sentiments, revealing that Eilish was her “dream person” to moderate the discussion, a role she had not anticipated Eilish would accept due to her busy schedule. This connection highlights the synergy between vintage influences and modern celebrity dynamics, as new artists openly acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of those who came before them.
During the discussion, Grande elaborated on her vocal preparation for the role of Glinda, revealing the extensive training she undertook to adapt her singing style. “I started training my voice three months before my first audition,” Grande explained, emphasizing the need for her vocal cords to adjust to the demands of the part. She highlighted the importance of developing a distinct technique for the character, which involves utilising a falsetto register that differs from her usual pop music performance style.
This intersection of fashion, music, and celebrity culture at the Critics Choice Awards and throughout the week underlines the essential role that vintage designs and iconic fashion eras play in shaping the modern celebrity landscape. As artists like Grande continue to draw inspiration from the past, they remain seminal figures in the evolving narrative of contemporary style, driven by the influence of fashion historians and cultural evolutions.
Source: Noah Wire Services
