Style Envy: Mad Men

I’m sure by now you’ve heard of a little show called Mad Men. Well, let me tell you, I am obsessed and not embarrassed to admit that since last week I’ve managed to watch the entire first season and the first episode of the second. (I have one more episode before I’m all caught up, so no spoilers please!)

I’m not only completely engrossed in the dramas, what it says about the early 60s (read these articles about the way women are portrayed on the show—very interesting), and the fact that the Don (one of the main characters and creative director of the fictional Sterling Cooper ad agency) and Betty Draper (his wife and homemaker) reside right here in Ossining, but, of course, their wardrobes.

I’ve always loved the classic sophistication of the styles of the early 60s. I remember seeing photos of my grandmother from that time and she always looked so put together—she would wear scarves wrapped around her hair, pencil skirt and belts, low heels— it was elegant and effortless in a way that I could never seem to get across with my graphic T-s and low-cut jeans.

And it seems everyone is taking notice of the silhouette hugging dresses and the crisp suits. Each week on AMC’s Mad Men blog, there’s a post called “Fashion File” dedicated to the fashion from that week’s episode and the styles are already inspiring runway designers including Michael Kors and Prada—check out the Fall 2008 collection and you’ll see the resemblance. Valet magazine sums it up well by saying, “It is for men, what Sex and The City was for women—smartly written dialogue and extreme characters we secretly wish to be, all wrapped up in a super stylized package.”

Although I really don’t think it’s just for the men.


Check out these styles from the show. Are you watching it? If so, what do you think of the fashions?

The ever-stylish cast.

 

So sophisticated. Here’s my only question though—was train travel faster back then? Somehow Mr. Draper manages to make it from Ossining to Manhattan in 25 minutes.

 

On Mad Men’s weekly Fashion File, writer Faran Krentcil promises “to try and use a photo of Joan in every post.”

 

Living in Westchester seems to be particularly stressful to Betty Draper at times. Not stressful enough that she can’t put together a great outfit, though.