Universal Pictures

2. It makes sense in the context of the scene

But why, you ask, would Elphaba choose this moment to go and put on her rattiest cardy? She’s about to have sex with the Sexiest Man Alive! Ok, please note that Elphaba is also wearing a very sexy set of lingerie underneath her cardigan. So, why not just wear that? Well, this is Elphaba’s first time being intimate with Fiyero. In fact, it could easily be her first time being intimate with anyone. Plus, we know that she doesn’t exactly always feel comfortable in her own skin. It’s no wonder she second-guessed herself after putting on her sexy underwear and, as she left the room, grabbed a cardigan to cover herself up with.

3. It actually adds to the emotional intimacy of the moment

It seems that a lot of fans of the musical were expecting “As Long As You’re Mine” to be an all-out sexy scene, complete with lots and lots of (green) skin – but the song is actually about the moments that lead up to the long-awaited coming together of Elphaba and Fiyero. It’s a little timid, a little tentative. They are testing each other out before diving into actually doing the deed.

As Elphaba sings in the opening verse: “I need help believing / You’re with me tonight / My wildest dreamings / Could not foresee / Lying beside you / With you wanting me.”

She can’t believe he wants her. And part of her is probably worried that he might change his mind. So, naturally, her Sex Cardigan comes out of her anxiety about it actually happening. And seeing her slowly let her guard down (and her cardigan) and open up to the possibility of feeling sexy with Fiyero is as intimate as it gets.

This is, as it turns out, exactly what Erivo and costume designer Paul Tazewell were going for. Cynthia greatly informed that look, he explained to the Evening Standard, who also clarified it’s actually a peignoir. “It came out of lots of conversations around how we represent this very intimate moment, the big moment where the two lovers are coming together.”

He added, “We see the green skin of her legs and her arms, normalising that for the two of them so that we can actually feel that love connection.”

Sure, the Wicked Sex Cardigan may be the least sexy thing ever… but it’s so real of Elphaba. Because, honestly, if Sexiest Man Alive Jonathan Bailey Fiyero started pulling off his suspenders in my treehouse lair, I’d probably freak out and go running for a ratty old comfort blanket (listen, let’s call it boho chic) to hide under, too.