It took me a while to get in the mood to watch season 4 (2022) of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, but once I did, whoo boy strap in! As always, this show DELIGHTS in its excellent characters, smart and witty dialogue, and faaaabulous costumes, designed by Donna Zakowska.
I was particularly excited to see SO MANY great guest actors! Chris Eigeman (so many Whit Stillman movies!) as the Village Voice editor! Reid Scott (Veep) as a talk show host! And:
John Waters (director of a million legendary films including Pink Flamingos) as a gay man who directs Midge to a lesbian bar!
Santino Fontana (My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) as the cranky stripper club manager!
Kelly Bishop (Gilmore Girls) as a matchmaker with an edge!
And I seriously have a crush on Erik Palladino (right), one of the two mobsters who are currently protecting Susie Myerson & Associates.
But let’s talk costumes, shall we? Zakowska continues to knock it out of the park, perfectly capturing the transition into the early 1960s:
“The directive from myself to myself was that I wanted to push into ’60, ’61. This is a very transitional period. It’s a period where you still see the remnants of the late ’50s, but then you begin to see the ’60s leaking in. I was very excited by that. They don’t normally deal with those two-and-a-half years where clothing transitions. So it was trying to transition, but Amy and Dan not wanting it to be so extreme so that you’re suddenly in ’60s pop-art Pierre Cardinclothing. So it was finding that fine and subtle line of slightly shifting out of the ’50s” (The Marvelous Mrs. MaiselCostume Designer Donna Zakowska on Season 4’s Bolder Colors and Circus-Inspired Flair).
Rose looking SUPER Pierre Cardin.
And taking inspiration from Midge’s new gig in a strip club to emphasize circus-type colorings:
“The first work I ever did was with the circus. I have a love of [the] circus. I used to go to Paris and visit the Cirque d’Hiver and was very involved with circus performers. So when we did the strip club (“Billy Jones and The Orgy Lamps”) it really affects that background with clothing that can be removed in a second, rigging. That definitely had a very circus feeling for me. That was great going back to that circus feeling” (The Marvelous Mrs. MaiselCostume Designer Donna Zakowska on Season 4’s Bolder Colors and Circus-Inspired Flair).
GREAT contrasting color collar on Rose!
Check out those contrast trims on Midge!
This show is such a hit that there’s tons of press out there with Zakowska, who’s recently written a book about the show’s costume designs, so get your google on!
Here are some of the looks I loved the most or have the most to say about:
This corset was so pretty! Zakowska says most of the principal’s wardrobe is made, including the lingerie, and color me impressed.
I *big puffy heart* pink and green!
Rose continues to rock the sophisticated look, including this green silk shantung swing suit with matching hat.
A super interesting red silk satin dress with velvet ribbon making a “shrug” effect (or maybe it’s a separate piece?) and very circus-y hem trim.
ALL the burlesque costumes were alternately hilarious and fabulous!
You know I loved me the 18th c.-esque Little Bo Peep ensemble best.
ROSE. PANTS. MIC DROP.
I love Mei’s heavily Chinese influenced wardrobe, and this piece was the standout! I love how it’s a very Western-style cut (that’s SUPER sophisticated) but made in a Chinese silk brocade.
What a cool plaid! Dig the matching belt!
SOPHIE LENNON’S PLAID SUIT. This was my favorite of the season. It’s SO elegant, especially with that bolero-style front.
I thought this pale green was uncharacteristic for Midge, but then it’s not her night, and the interfaced shantung and crystal beading is SO perfectly of the era.
Which were your standout looks from season 4 of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel? Note that links get caught in our spam filter, so we have to manually approve those, so comments with links may take a little bit to post.
I haven’t seen this season yet. Is it worth watching, or should I wait for the costume book?
Definitely! It’s as good as earlier seasons. SO much cantankerous Tony Shalhoub!
Erik Palladino! Just a few hours about I thought of him in ER and wondered what he did after!
Ha! This is the first thing I’ve seen him in.
Prince Hans is in MMM?! That’s great!
Who is Prince Hans??
Santino Fontana voiced the prince in Frozen… but he’ll always be Greg from Crazy Ex Girlfriend to me! :)
There has seldom been a character wore chic and stylish than Rose Maisel.
UGH!
“been a character more* chic and stylish”
Rose is a Weissman, sorry, just letting you know.
Ya know…. I knew that looked wrong when I was typing it, but for the life of me I couldn’t remember that last name! Thank you :)
She’s still a stylish dame, either way. I would kill for her costume jewelry alone.
I somehow lost interest in the series itself, but not the costumes. Those are gorgeous! As for the pale green – really doesn’t suit Midge, but it IS a gorgeous colour and style. My favourite out of these might be Rose’s contrasting collar, or the pink-and-green ensemble (also one of my favourite colour combinations). Also, I love to see Kelly Bishop!
I liked the season……. The costumes, as always, are swoon worthy.