Jonathan Bailey, that dashing gent from Bridgerton and soon-to-be heartthrob of Wicked as Fiyero, just served up a whole new definition of “red carpet” with his latest look. Instead of just walking the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of Wicked, he basically became it, strutting in a pair of ruby slippers that would make Dorothy herself drop her basket of Toto treats.
The 36-year-old actor graced the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (yes, DOROTHY Chandler—coincidence? We think not!) on November 9 with a dazzling smile, a poppy pin for a touch of whimsy, and the confidence of a man who clearly knows that sparkly red footwear and silver shirts were meant to be friends. This guy wasn’t just tapping his heels—he was ready to click them all the way to Oz and back.
Why ruby slippers, you ask? Let’s do a little musical recap: Wicked is the story that leads up to the ruby-studded madness we know as The Wizard of Oz. So, Jonathan’s shoe choice is like a fashion thesis statement in shiny shoe form, channeling the spirit of Dorothy, who snagged her ruby kicks after giving the Wicked Witch of the East a very permanent housewarming gift. As for the poppy pin? That’s a little wink to the field of poppies that almost lulls Dorothy and friends into napland, which, spoiler alert, would have ended the movie about an hour early.
Jonathan rounded out his look with crisp white pants and a metallic silver shirt—basically, imagine a disco ball meeting a “walk to remember” in Oz. This look has “future Met Gala inspiration” written all over it, and it’s just the latest in a series of fabulous fashion choices Bailey’s been serving. Earlier this week, he rocked a pair of shorts that were so short they barely qualified as clothing, giving fans an eyeful of those “Fiyero-calves” he’s obviously been working on for the role.
So, if you’re wondering who to thank for making the Wicked premiere a total Oz-tastic fashion moment, look no further than Jonathan Bailey and his sparkly red slippers. Dorothy, if you’re watching, it’s official: there’s a new kid on the yellow brick block.
