I thought Ariana Grande had already given up her year-round pink wardrobe, which was a nod to her Wicked character Glinda, after seeing her wear yellow at the Golden Globes and pale green at the Palm Springs Film Festival early this year.
At the National Board of Review Gala, Ariana disproved assumptions that she had given up on pink, showcasing her signature color once more. She wore a baby pink Loewe gown that didn’t really appeal to me. However, I was drawn to her choice of white shoes.
Ariana Grande wears her signature pink look at the 2025 National Board of Review Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on January 7, 2025 in New York City, where she was honored with the Spotlight Award alongside her Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo (Credit: M10s / TheNews2 / Cover Images)
Stars showed up at the National Board of Review Gala 2025, hosted by Willie Geist at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City, to celebrate the best in cinema and support filmmakers. Good One Director India Donaldson won Best Directorial Debut Award, Nicole Kidman received the Best Actress Award for her role in Babygirl, and Daniel Craig bagged the Best Actor Award for his work in Queer.
The 2024 musical Wicked won the NBR Best Film, with Jon M. Chu taking home the Best Director Award and Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande winning the Spotlight Award for their creative collaboration.
Ariana Grande Embraces Old Hollywood Fashion in Custom Pink Loewe Gown
Ariana’s recent red carpet looks continue to disappoint me. And her appearance at the NBR Gala, wearing a pink gown that Loewe custom-made for her, only makes the list longer. I honestly like her wardrobe; I just don’t think Ariana is doing them justice.
Her pink gown is evoking Anne Hathaway’s 2013 Oscars Prada outfit. It’s chic, with a darted bodice, a square neckline, and an open-back design held in place by spaghetti straps. Although I adore the 1950s column silhouette, which features a modest front, a daring back, and a tapered skirt, I think Ariana looks less stunning than I had hoped.
In my opinion, the pink satin duchess gown was not particularly flattering on her. The matching satin shawl, while intended to enhance the Old Hollywood vibe of the ensemble, fell short as it appeared oversized and awkwardly draped over her arms.
This Loewe design surprised me. The label is renowned for its creative approach to fashion, often fusing couture and tailoring with some strange motifs. Ariana’s dress, however, felt more vintage than the Spanish brand’s typically futuristic, modern designs.
Ariana Grande’s pink 1950s-style Loewe gown features a backless design, a darted bodice, and a square neckline (Credit: Janet Mayer / INSTARimages)
Ariana Grande Injects Modern Flair into Her Vintage Look with Loewe Toy Pumps
My favorite part of this ensemble has to be her Loewe “Toy” pumps. Handcrafted from natural materials, these pumps have a second-skin construction that makes them comfortable to wear from day to night.
I love how their sculptural lacquered Toy heel, measuring around 3.5 inches, and petal-shaped toe give Ariana’s vintage-style outfit a contemporary twist. They hail from the Spring/Summer 2023 collection and retail for $1,100 at Mytheresa.
Ariana Grande gives her retro-style gown a modern flair with the Loewe Toy pumps featuring petal-shaped toes and a sculptural lacquered Toy heel (Credit: Janet Mayer / INSTARimages)
Ariana Grande Shines in Lorraine Schwartz Jewelry
Ariana and her stylist, Mimi Cuttrell, gave her feminine ensemble just the right amount of glitz with diamonds by Lorraine Schwartz.
While I would rather keep the neck bare to highlight the dress’s square neckline, Grande wore a thick diamond necklace, which wasn’t bad. It was believed to be a custom necklace featuring rectangular diamonds.
She further accessorized with diamond stud earrings and adorned her tattooed hands with dainty diamond rings.
Ariana Grande glistens with her Lorraine Schwartz diamond necklace, diamond stud earrings, and dainty rings (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
Ariana swept her Audrey Hepburn-inspired bangs to the side and pulled her tresses back in a high ponytail, allowing her diamond earrings to shine through.
I’m not really into the white eyeshadow she’s been sporting lately. I think it makes her look older and her face thinner than it already is. A swipe of mauve lipstick rounded out her glam.
On her way inside the venue, Ariana was seen carrying her essentials in a $7,400 Loewe Mini Squeeze Bag, made of hand-beaded leather with a slight ruching and a tapestry-inspired floral design.
Ariana Grande styles her hair in a ponytail and wears white eyeshadow, fluttery eyelashes, and mauve lipstick (Credit: Janet Mayer / INSTARimages)
Cynthia Erivo’s Loewe Lampshade Gown Stuns at the NBR Gala
Ariana Grande wasn’t the only Wicked star at the event. Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, was also there and, like Ariana, wore a custom Loewe piece.
Although they wore the same brand, I think it’s incredible how creative director Jonathan Anderson was able to produce distinct looks for the two.
Erivo’s black-and-white printed gown resembles the head of a lampshade. It’s sleeveless and expands to a skirt with a circular hoop.
Cynthia is believed to be wearing Christian Louboutin heels, clearly hidden beneath her structured gown.
Cynthia Erivo wears a lampshade-like black-and-white patterned gown that expands to a structured skirt with a hoop underneath (Credit: Janet Mayer / INSTARimages)
Cynthia Erivo’s fashion journey is a testament to her fearless embrace of bold and innovative styles. From her striking all-black ensembles featuring stylish coats and iconic boots to her daring green vinyl dress at the Wicked LA premiere and her powerful Moschino suit paired with Louboutin boots at the Wicked London photocall, Erivo consistently captivates with her sartorial choices.
Her appearance in a grape-printed Balmain gown at the 2024 Gold Gala further underscores her status as a fashion icon.
Each ensemble not only reflects her unique aesthetic but also sets new standards in red carpet fashion.
