Mrs. Maisel Has Got Herself a Swoon-Worthy Wardrobe
WARNING: Beautiful Spoilers Below!
Our favorite Jewish American Princess is back and more stylish than ever. Back on the comedy scene. Back in her luxury threads. Viewers can now tune into the third season of Amazon Prime’s superb series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel to take a spin through the ‘60s with Miriam “Midge” Maisel. “It’s the ‘60s, man!” is a frequent remark you’ll hear. (It’s 1960, to be exact.) The housewife-turned-stand-up-comic-star, played by Rachel Brosnahan, is taking her show on the road with Shy Baldwin.
The series has exploded as a beloved time-capsule of cinematic genius, clever antics, authentic caricatures, and divine fashion. The fashion is so divine that The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a two-time recipient of the Outstanding Period Costumes Emmy award. The manicured monochromatic looks and perfectly-cinched waists can be attributed to Head Costume Designer Donna Zakowska. Costumes are designed and made from scratch—bespoke, if you will—with the occasional vintage-find compiled into the collection of strikingly retro, vibrant pieces.
This period piece is indeed a work of historical fiction, yet it so on point from fashion to scenery to lingo. In response to the accurate and fiction-based styling of the wardrobe, Zakowska told casting service Backstage that “Everything begins with research: endless amounts of looking at Vogue and magazines of the period, books and photographers of the period. And then, in the experience I’ve had, it’s knowing how to translate that to the camera.”
Well, Zakowska’s vision has certainly translated in her favor. Midge’s character has a large and in charge personality, which is clearly reflected in her fanciful wardrobe. Midge’s signature coats, pill box hats, and matching sets are always a bit brighter and a bit more awe-inspiring than any other character. From her pink ensembles and pristine workwear to her Catskills companions and late-night LBDs, here are the most iconic looks from the three seasons of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. So, prepare yourself for a surge of fuchsia pink and lime green content!
When she is in all pink, Midge is ready to take on the world. That, of course, entails anything from securing the best leg of lamb to owning the streets of Paris. It is as iconic of a color on Midge Maisel as it is on Legally Blonde’s Elle Woods. Midge perceives the world through rose-colored glasses, hence the piercing use of pink. But in the final episode of season 3, Midge reprises the color as her own, adorned in a beautifully beaded hot pink gown while performing at the Apollo Theater.
Midge Maisel is known for many things. Her comedic chops surpass those of any other New York housewife, and indeed surpass those of her competitors. But even above this, her hat game is truly noteworthy. Midge likely wore every iteration of the hat from the ‘50s. Caps, pill boxes, cloches, upside-down flower pots, whimsies, mushroom hats. They are not a coverup for bad hair days, but instead the cherry on top of Midge’s complementary outfits. One could mistake her purple boomerang headband as a fascinator on the head of a Kate Middleton or a Meghan Markle today.
Lime green and teal. Very ‘50s. Very summery. Yet, rarely does Zakowska place this colorful combination in a seasonal context. The highlighter-esque hues are used when Midge is in a high-energy scene or rejuvenated state of mind. In an interview with Deadline, Zakowska said, “A lot of times the colors and the choices came from what I thought was the emotional content of the scene.” Midge and her mother wear the viridescent combo while hooting, “We got the rabbi!” You know, as mothers and daughters usually do.
Restraint in detail is not one of Midge’s fortes, as displayed by her multitude of monochromatic outfits. The coordinated harmonic looks are both classic and modern. When combined with her shorts sets, they created youthful and chic looks, fitting for the young mother and comic. Now, while few and far between, Midge’s shorts are iconic and a bit scandalous, especially in the context of her red evening ensemble. Try not to drool.
The once beloved B. Altman department store was a beacon of luxury fashion in New York City. In the series, it was also home to Midge’s shopping extravaganzas and her prior jobs as a switchboard operator and perfume sales associate. No, she would not stoop to the level of a secretary, mainly because her ex-husband cheated on her with one. But a sales associate position to maintain her new marriage-less life… Yes! Midge’s bow-adorned uniforms, which were self-styled, serve as formal boss-lady vibes. The classic silhouettes and neutral tones are clear departures from her usual vibrant play clothes.
Oh, the Catskills! For three glorious episodes, audiences were dropped into the mountains, along with hundreds of Jewish families. The Weissmans and Maisles religiously summer here. How upper-class of them. During these episodes, Zakowksa includes a flurry of patterns. Checks, florals, polka dots, and stripes make their long-anticipated debuts. They give all of the Dirty Dancing Americana vibes, and then some. The patterns luckily continue to make appearances throughout Midge’s character development.
Pants! Okay, seeing Midge in pants is just refreshing. While it became widely acceptable for women to wear pants in the 1960s, Midge is seen wearing them in the late-50s segment of the series. Midge’s companion and manager Susie Myerson wears pants regularly, but never without being mistaken for a man. The deliberate choice to have Midge wear pants is a stark contrast to the women surrounding her, especially her mother and her conservative pencil skirts. Our foul-mouthed and quirky comic is the quite opposite of conservative.
Much like in the Catskills, when Midge tours across the United States with Shy Baldwin, her beloved patterns come back with a vengeance. Maybe they are associated with a carefree energy. Particularly, Floridian florals are apparent in season three. Capes, rompers, and gowns, oh my! The florals that bloom from Midge’s outfits compliment the tropical scenery and nostalgic hotel ambiance.
In addition to her saturated pink pieces, Midge’s little black dresses are iconic staples in her wardrobe. However, they are reserved for her particularly high-profile comedy sets. Her black dresses and gloves famously close season one before returning to the stages of season three. They are the only clothing items Midge dares to be seen in more than once. This may refer to the one constant in her life: comedy.
Midge most definitely has one of the most beautiful and iconic curated wardrobes across the small screen. While whether or not the show will be renewed for a fourth season is still unknown, it is likely that we will have another fashionable glimpse into the magical, magnificent, monumental… wait, no, marvelous world of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
But until then, I’m sure Midge herself would tease us with her hallmark sign-off. Unfortunately, Midge was not available for comment. So, on behalf of our favorite leading lady…
My name is Ms. Montalti. Thank you and good night!