Being a born and raised New Yorker sure has it’s benefits most of the time. Not only is there access to great theater and restaurants and just about anything else you can think of, there’s always something new and fun to do! Recently, I’ve been taking advantage of the multitude of pop up museums that… well, pop up… all over the city. Last Friday, I got to experience the Paley Center’s FREE exhibit, Making Maisel Marvelous which runs through September 6th.

If you are any sort of Mrs. Maisel fan who is close enough to visit the exhibit, you definitely should! It’s small but mighty. Consisting of just three rooms, there is a lot of Maisel fun to be had in that small space. You can immerse yourself in the details of the show, see costumes, and get to participate in numerous photo ops that put you into the world of the show.
When you walk in, the first thing you see is the set up from the telethon episode. You are able to stand on Midge’s mark and stand in front of the big cameras.
When you head into the next room, you are treated to scenes from the show on a big screen, as well as little sets you can take pictures in. You can be a stand at B. Altman’s makeup counter, sit at their switchboard, and even use an armchair from Rose’s Paris apartment.
Downstairs, there is even more to interact with. You can sit at the diner or get your hair done in the Catskills. And if you’re so inclined, you can also run reception for the hair salon in the Catskills.
The attention to detail on everything is astounding. One of my absolute favorite things are the little details that you don’t really pay attention to when you’re watching the show. These include signs on the walls to the items on various tables. Hidden little gems are everywhere, and of course I managed to photograph most of it! I especially enjoyed the costuming details on the wardrobe, showing inspiration pictures, sketches and swatches.
And, speaking of costumes, I’ve saved the best for last. THE COSTUMES. Oh the costumes. They are what had me sold on the show way back when I saw a preview of the pilot. No one had said or done anything yet, but those costumes were enough to keep me riveted to the screen. The exhibit has a number of iconic looks from the show, and you can stand close enough to really see all the beautiful little details you would never notice on the screen.

Don’t these just make you want to start dressing like this? I mean, I kind of already do sometimes but this is a whole new level.
I loved that you could see the attention to detail. Oddly, with all the beautiful gowns and whatnot, one of my favorite things was what I can only assume to be a very deliberate dirty patch on one of the uniforms that Susie wears. It’s also possible that this came from general wear and tear, but as a fellow costume designer, I don’t think so. I think it was a costuming choice.

I’m sure I could go on and on and on about the costumes, talking about each one and how it’s prettier than the last one, but instead I’ll just overload you with pictures of them!
I am so glad that I had the opportunity to attend the exhibit and get to immerse myself a little more into a world I love so much! Definitely run, don’t walk, if you can make it to the Paley Center before it closes!