The Fashion of Mad Men Part II
Continuing from last week we delve deeper into the fashion of Mad Men and profile the women of the show, who not only bring the drama, but the style as well. The men may hold power and be the central focus of the working class, but the women during this time period, as perfectly profiled in this show, began their rise as working class women who demanded to be taken seriously.
As previously mentioned, the men of Mad Men know how to work fashion and trends, and the women on this show are no exception, they are always dressed beautiful and to perfection. During the 1960′s, women’s fashion was beginning to change, no more so than with hemlines. Not only were skirts getting tighter at the waist at this time, but they were getting shorter too, resting right below the knee. Mad Men embraces this change, and accurately portrays what women were wearing during this time.
In the show, Betty Draper is the definition of sophistication and perfection. She has an air of elegance and grace about her, mirrored through her style. She wears a lot of white, and light, soft colors, and is more often seen in dresses. She also dons pearls quite often and other jewelry, wears cashmere a lot, gloves, and scarves a lot, which were very popular during that time. She always wears form fitting attire, and is very ladylike. Her look, although on the more expensive and designer side, is still easy to replicate! Simply purchasing a patterned dress, such as one with floral print or even one in a solid color popular in the ’60′s, or donning a sweater dressy, casual, or riding pants is easy enough. Dress the outfit up with pearls, a scarf or other accessories, and you can dress to impress just as Betty does.
To me, it seems Peggy Olson is the underdog of the show. She started off as a secretary at the advertising agency but has slowly made her way up the ladder to become and essential and important part of Don’s team. She has made a name for herself, and paved the way for women in the workforce; as her career has grown and evolved, so has her fashion sense and clothing. Peggy has an almost naive, innocent look to her, as reflected in her wardrobe choices. She is more old fashion in how she dresses, and more simple; she focuses on her work more than her fashion choices. She wears a lot of plain sweaters and longer skirts, sometimes wearing a scarf around her neck with not a lot of jewelry; even her makeup and hair is minimal. She doesn’t seem too sure of herself or her sense of style in the beginning, so she chose pieces that were looser fitting on her, or more on the conservative side. She was always seen buttoned up, wearing suits, one or two pieces with patterns that hid her body; she is the least glamorous on the show. However, now she is making a name for herself and wearing clothes that are more form fitting, professional, and fashionable. She is dressing more modern now, and not afraid to take risks or show off her body; her style has matured as she has. Peggy is no longer boring or the “Plain Jane,” she is stepping out of the shadows, and showing off her feminine side.
Joan Holloway is by far my favorite character. I love seeing what she decides to wear and what trouble or drama she stirs up. She is the bombshell of Mad Men, the fiery, sexy, redhead vixen, and always stands out and aims to make a statement. She is completely unapologetic in both her lifestyle and fashion choices, and I envy and admire her. She embraces her curves, and dresses to emphasize and celebrate them and the results are unanimous: she always looks gorgeous. Joan wears extremely tight, form fitting clothing, and chooses outfits that accentuate her assets. Many times, she wears darker professional suits, I’ve seen a lot of red and blue; they really make her hair pop. She also wears sweaters and skirts quite often, and can usually always be seen wearing her signature necklace. Her hair and presence make her stand out to begin with, but her wardrobe choices really take it to the next level and make it so that you can’t take your eyes off of her. Joan also wears large gold brooches a lot of times, high waisted skirts with a dressy or casual shirt tucked in, suits, jackets, or dresses with ties or belts that come together in the center. She has an hourglass figure and flaunts it, and always looks beautiful; she oozes confidence. To imitate her style, purchase an extremely form fitting dress in a bright color, or aim for a suit or skirt/dress shirt ensemble that accentuates your assets and compliments and shows off your figure.
The women of Mad Men are all graceful and beautiful on their own way, and bring a different style and feel to the show. Whether you love or hate them, they keep things interesting and always keep you guessing; their style is timeless and The authenticity of the clothing, as well as the image of the 1960′s that’s portrayed keeps viewers watching, and is what makes Mad Men work.
Written by: Nicolette Pelbano
Photo Sources:
http://blog.bondno9.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/women-of-mad-men-season-4-promo-e1295467609479.jpg
http://fashioninmotion.wordpress.com/2009/09/24/1960s-fashion-the-women-of-mad-men/
