Marian Brook: Louisa Jacobson
Costume Designer: Kasia Walicka-Maimone
HBO’s third season of the “The Gilded Age” premiered in the summer 2025. It picks up six months after season two, roughly early spring of 1884.
Marian poised to be more than Debutante
The Third Season finds Marian in a blossoming relationship with Larry Russell. In light her past romantic failures of the past two seasons plus the drama with Gladys and the Duke, Marian is overly cautious with advancing her relationship with Larry.
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Marian’s Season Three Costumes
Marian still works as a teacher but instead of teaching nice young ladies watercolor, she teaches at a Normal High School in English competency. She is also pursing the women’s suffrage movement. Thus she dresses for all aspects of her life as a teacher, an advocate for change, and a society young lady who is in love.
Picking up from last season Marian is in a relationship with Larry Russell. She is cautious as she has been previously engaged twice before, once she was jilted and the other time she broke off as he was still in love with wife. However it’s not all smooth sailing for Marian and Larry as they have a lot of growth to go through on their path to the altar. But hopefully in season four we get a happy ending for “Larian.”
Marian keeps to signature colors of yellows and light blue however she does wear other shades and colors such as wearing a little more pink this season.
This page is a ranked list of Marian’s 7 best costumes from season three of The Gilded Age. The costumes were ranked by aesthetics, memorability and how well they reflect Marian. Subjective opinions did influence the ranking but there was an attempt to be somewhat objective.
List Subject to Change
Spoilers through Season Three
7. Light Blue and Yellow Dress
As Marian is trying to keep her relationship with Larry secret as to avoid public scrutiny she meets him on the sly which isn’t hard as he is her neighbor as well in business with her footmen so Larry drops by often.
In a scene where she sneak downstairs to spend a little time with Larry she wears her signature colors of light blue and yellow. The dress is made from blue fabric with a gorgeous drape with yellow trim running down the bodice and at the cuffs. The bustle is soft and adds to the impromptu romantic scene as Larry steals a kiss in a carriage for a private moment with Marian as he declares his love for her.
She styles this outfit with a yellow flowers to add even more yellow to the outfit.
6. Pink Newport Dress
Despite white being the go-to color for Newport, Marian opts for pink over white for her Newport Luncheon Dress.
Her Newport dress is a very light pink with brighter pink diagonal stripes on the bodice, cuffs, and bustle. The shoulders have a ruffle detail. There also some fabric covered buttons also adding to the mix for visual interest to the neck, bodice, and the cuffs.
She wears large white hat with bright pink flowers.
It’s an interesting look that both suits Newport as well standing out from the standard Newport duds.
5. Floral Blouse with Yellow Skirt
The final episode picks off cliffhanger of episode 7 in which George Russell was shot. As chance would have it Dr William Kirkland, Peggy’s love interest, was paying a visit thus could be there to attend to George’s life-threatening injury. Marian also leaps to action to provide comfort to the Russells as well as aiding Dr. Kirkland.
Her costume is more causal for the evening but it’s quite lovely and wearable. It consists of a high necked white floral blouse with a yellow skirt. The skirt has wide matching belt and a modest bustle.
4. Blue and Pink Outfit
Marian visits a recovering George despite the awkwardness with Larry after breaking their engagement due to Larry’s lying about his whereabouts the night they were engaged. Her costume is a combination of dark blue with pink fabrics. Both fabrics have polka dots which results in a charming day suit.
It also features an asymmetrical bodice layered over a lighter weight gathered inset.
The pink cuffs are pleated. The cuff material matches the skirt which has apron bustle. Her hat matches the suit.
This suit adheres to Marian’s sense of style but it’s an evolution of her fashion as it’s a lovely combination Marian’s smart suits with a feminine touch.
3. Aqua and Pink Outfit
While Marian is preceding with caution with Larry it’s clear that the pair is heading to marriage. Marian just wants to wait till after Gladys’ big society wedding. Despite some rushed timing as Larry is forced to attend to business in Arizona he proposes to Marian in the park. While not a grand moment it’s still quite romantic.
Her costume for the proposal scene adds to the romance. It’s consists of a high-necked aqua bodice with large scale pleated lapel and cuffs. The skirt is made from a pink floral pattern. It’s has a narrow silhouette and it gathered with a pleated ruffled hem.
She styles it with a large scale pink hat with matching feathers,
It’s prim yet dreamy which makes it romantic is a not obvious way.
So far it’s the best one of Marian’s proposal which happens once per season.
2. The Bridesmaid Gown
One of the major plot points of season three is state of marriage which circulates around Gladys marriage to The Duke of Buckingham. Gladys tries her best to marry for love but she is no match for her mother and the Gladys tearful marries the Duke at a grand wedding ceremony.
One hitch is that one of the prominent young society ladies Bertha selected as a Bridesmaid fell ill and Marian steps in as a replacement for one the six Bridesmaids.
In Marian’s own words this dress is “very pretty.” It’s a high necked white floral damask dress with lace uses at the collar, long sleeves, and at bustle. It’s embellished with flowers and styled with a matching hat.
It’s is quite pretty.
1. Yellow Opera Gown
It’s very clear by now that one of Marian’s signature colors is yellow. Many of her formal gowns are yellow. And while some of her gowns are hit or miss this yellow gown that she wore to the opera is very much a hit.
This gown is a rewear from season one which she wore to a symphony at Academy of Music in aid of the Red Cross. In season one this gown had white frothy tulle around the collar and wasn’t really showcased as well as in season three where it really shines.
The neckline is asymmetrical and goes down very low on one side. The collar tapers and has wide pleats. Pleating details are also used at the bodice and the train
She styles it with large-scale white and yellow flower in her hair along with diamond jewelry.
It’s a beautiful, stately and just a little playful.
More Marian Brook Costume Rankings
- Marian’s 10 Best Costumes from Season 1 of The Gilded Age
- Marian’s 7 Best Costumes from Season 2 of The Gilded Age
