There are many reasons to watch The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel such as the phenomenal acting, the hilarious jokes, but one of the best reasons to watch this Amazon Prime original is the fabulous costumes. Donna Zakowska, the costume designer for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, is a costume designing genius.
The series has fans all wishing they lived back in the 1950's so they could wear the colorful fabrics, beautifully tailored jackets, and funky hats while still looking as polished and elegant as Midge. Many fans have fallen in love with the exquisite details of the outfits but there are a few hidden gems in these glamorous costumes. Here are 10 details about the costumes you never noticed:
Harmonious Color Palettes
Nowadays women are lucky if they have time to match their belt to the shoes before racing out the door with their disorganized and probably mismatched purse. But back in the 1950's women were a lot more conscious of matching all of their accessories with their outfits. Zakowska noticed that women of the 50's would strive to have every color in their outfit be in harmony with each other.
Take for instance Midge's pink ensemble in the very first episode. The whole outfit was in perfect color harmony from the magenta dress to the bubble gum pink coat to the burgundy gloves and velvet hat. Insider tip: black yoga pants are easy to color harmonize as well.
The Symbolism of Pink
Speaking of Midges fabulous pink ensemble, there is a reason this color pops up in the show when it does. When Midge is first shown in pink, she believes everything in her life is perfect, they finally got the Rabbi! Zakowska believed pink would be the beginning of Midge's journey and she believed so strongly in this she searched through over 200 swatches before finding the perfect pink.
Sadly though when Joel left, the pink coat left as it no longer represented who Midge was as a woman. The pastel shade of pink of the coat represented Midge's nativity. The pink that pops up in later episodes is a stronger and bolder hue representing the stronger and bolder Mrs. Maisel.
The Contrast of Susie and Midge
Fans adore the two strong female leads in the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel even though the two women could not be more different when it comes to their fashion choices. Susie's outfits consist of muted colors, no fancy accessories, and the only jacket she wears is leather.
While Midge on the other hand is typically in bright colors, with many accessories, and a bold coat. The stark contrast of their clothing was done on purpose as Zakowska believes that clothing can create drama for the characters and helps to set up their relationship. Zakowska wanted each character to have a strong identity so they could play off one another. Mission accomplished.
The Mystery of Susie's Keys
While Midge is constantly swapping out her gorgeous accessories and jewelry, Susie consistently wears one simple chain around her neck with the same keys dangling from it. These keys are no ordinary keys though and no, one of them is not the key to her heart. It is in fact the the key to The Gaslight where Susie works and even sleeps for awhile.
This added detail was actually Alex Borstein's, the actress who plays Susie, idea. Susie's whole life has revolved around The Gaslight up until this point and it will always be a part of her.
Midge's Matching Dress & Coat for Her Court Hearing
Midge stunned everyone in the best way possible when she waltzed into the court room in season 1, episode 3 "Because You Left" in her Jaques Fath outfit. The magenta coat with matching hat and gloves along with the patterned green-and-purple dress were show stoppers, but the little detail of the coat lining took this outfit to a whole other beautiful level. When Midge opened her coat, fans who pay close attention caught a glimpse of the the lining, which perfectly matched her stunning dress. This was not only a best dressed moment, but also a defining moment for Midge as she truly shows who she is through her clothing.
The Representation of the Black Dress
In season 1, episode 8, Midge amazed fans once again by her outfit choice. When she took the stage as Mrs. Maisel, she owned it in her stunning black dress with matching gloves, of course. Most of Midge's acts involve making fun of her own posh and once perfect Upper West Side life. Her persona on stage is housewife turned comedian.
The black dress emphasizes this persona for Midge as it's still glamorous like her but it's not bright or playful like her other outfits such as the pink coat. Fans will notice it has become Midge's staple look when she is on stage. When Midge wore that beautiful black dress, she became a performer. The silhouettes may change but the concept stays the same. You can never go wrong with a little black dress.
Abe's Foreshadowing Outfits
While most fans are use to Abe's drab suits, he did get a little bit of a makeover in season 2 when he travels to Paris. The brown tweed suits are replaced with a leather jacket and a beret. Many fans probably didn't pay too close of attention to Abe with Rose was stealing the show in her fabulous costumes.
But Abe's new clothing choices are worth noticing as they are foreshadowing for his character development. Later in season 2, Abe begins to question his life and career choices. Being in Paris and having a style change is just the beginning for Abe and his rigid life.
The Blue Dance Scene
There is attention paid to every costume choice in the series, including the extras. While Zakowska focus more on the main characters, she does create the color palettes for the scenes. For instance the dance scene in season 2, episode 6 "Let's Face the Music and Dance" had a color palette of blue with splash of glimmer.
The reason for the blue in this particular scene was to give it a melancholy feeling, but with a splash of glimmer since it is The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel after all. This scene was emotional as it showed budding relationships and separations. The hints of blue throughout the characters' costumes were just the right touch to express the "luminous melancholia".
Rose's Color Palette Change
Midge and Abe are not the only ones who have gone through a bit of a style change. Rose experienced a fashion shift when she went to Paris in season 2. In the first season before Rose was mostly in muted tones to represent her being the perfect mother and wife of the Upper West Side.
But in Paris Rose was no longer that person and so her wardrobe changed along with her persona. While in Paris Rose wore deep reds and purples which are not only romantic colors but also power colors. Also in the 1950's the trend in Paris was darker hues than it was in America, so Rose was courageously embracing her new life.
The Power of the Red Dress
Midge could stop traffic in her fabulous red dress she wore in season 1, season 2. Rose suggested Midge wear it as a way to impress Joel and remind him of what he lost. But the real meaning behind the red dress is not about Joel at all but about Midge. The red dress symbolized Midge's newfound strength and independence.
Even though Midge's life had just been turned up side down, this red dress proved she could still stand stall. Zakowska wanted Midge to be strong when Joel came back and this dress was the right choice for the job.