When “Mad Men” made its debut on television in 2007, the show burst onto the scene. Its story lines were nice and the characters complex; but the show also brought a whole new concern toward mid-century fashion. These highly detailed period costumes went a long way in helping us feel that we were right there in the world of Madison Avenue's bustling advertising executives. From crisply styled suits to alluring dresses, “Mad Men” showcased iconic fashions that helped define an era and even still influence the fashions of today.
The Men of Madison Avenue
The men of the television show “Mad Men” were the very definition of suave in the 60s. Clean lines, tailored fits, and, most importantly—a wardrobe that oozed mid-century chic.
Don Draper: The Epitome of Sophisticated
Arguably, the central figure in that show, and more generally one of the major tenets of classic menswear, is the wardrobing of Jon Hamm's character, Don Draper. Slim-cut suits with a narrow, flat-front trouser, again all perfectly tailored, are the order of the day for the adman. Normally coming in the variation of classics like grays, navies, and charcoals, Don's suits are easily matched with crisp white shirts and understated ties. Little details like tie bars and pocket squares add a touch of flair, making his look polished and refined.
Gray or Navy Slim-Fit Suit: Slim-fit gray or navy suit
White Dress Shirt: White dress shirt, crisp and fitting very well
Skinny Tie: Black skinny tie or dark-colored skinny tie
Tie Bar and Pocket Square: Add a tie bar and pocket square for elegance
Roger Sterling: The Silver Fox
Roger Sterling is another important character that contributes to the styling of the show. He loves to be bold and dapper and loves light-weight fabrics. The pinstripe suit is always his most common attire, and it shows his incredible personality very well. Sterling's wardrobe is quite flashy with perfectly tailored clothes, a lot of old-fashioned elegance in the matter of accessories like cravats, and always a pair of cufflinks. His styling is the perfect indicator of his high-living status.
Pull off of Roger’s dashing look:
- Pinstripe suit: Navy color
- Cufflinks and cravat: These are the finishing touches to bring this look together
- Patterned tie: Sport with a bold, patterned tie
Pete Campbell: The Ambitious Upstart
Vincent Kartheiser plays Pete Campbell, representing the ambitious young man who changes his style completely as he goes up the corporate ladder. In the beginning, Pete's suits are exceptionally conservative and, truth be told, a little off-sized, which just goes to show inexperience. And as his character grows, so does his wardrobe, moving into sleeker, better-fitted suits with a bold use of color. Pete's sartorial transformation is visual evidence of character growth.
Pull off the look of Pete Campbell:
- Fitted Suit: Get a gray-colored suit in a modern cut.
- Light Blue Dress Shirt: Pair it with a white or light blue dress shirt.
- Bold Tie: Finish the look with a bold, patterned tie.
The Women of “Mad Men”
The female characters of “Mad Men” are all iconic, personifications of one aspect of style in that era. From Joan Holloway's sophistication down to Betty Draper's suburban chic, their clothes have a lot to do with the characters' definition.
Joan Holloway: The Stunning Secretary
One icon that stands out in the series is Christina Hendricks' Joan Holloway. For Joan, it's all dresses that show off her hourglass figure. Bold colors like red and purple scream confidence and allure; pencil skirts and fitted tops, as well as all the necessary accessories—brooches and pearls—it's Joan. In fashion and life, she has a strong personality coupled with professional savvy!
Styled Like Joan:
- Pencil Dress: Don a red or purple pencil dress.
- Statement Brooch: Add a brooch to pull out the dress.
- Pearl Necklace: Finish off with a pearl necklace in classic style.
Betty Draper: The Perfect Housewife
January Jones' Betty Draper is the very definition of the 1960s ideal housewife, with her pastel dresses, full skirts, and perfectly coiffed hair all capitulating to the domestic perfection of the age. Betty's style is like classic Hollywood glamor , and even compared to Grace Kelly. Just like the character evolves with everyday dilemmas, so is her style, from sweet and light to a more sophisticated, somber attire fitting the battle that she faces within.
Get Betty's Look:
- Pastel Dress: Go tea-length with a full skirt.
- Pearl Accessories: Add a string of pearls and a vintage-inspired handbag.
- Coiffed Hair: Style your hair in soft, elegant waves.
Peggy Olson: The Career Woman Who Led the Pack
Elisabeth Moss' character of Peggy Olson personifies the transformation of women's roles in the 1960s. Right away, Peggy's outfits are depicted as humble and conservative, showing her lower status and lack of confidence. The more she learns and the more assertive she becomes, the more professional and modern her appearance becomes. Her wardrobe gradually includes fitted suits, structured dresses, and dominant prints that gradually become part of her wardrobe—another step towards empowerment in a predominantly male industry.
Get Peggy's Look:
- Checkered Suit: Opt for the slender-fitting checkered suit with a fitted skirt.
- Solid Prints: Add structured dresses with dominant prints to your wardrobe.
The attention paid to fashion on “Mad Men” is not just superficial; it is a very strong foundation of the narrative and provides many more ways to explore the characters and the cultural setting of the 1960s.
Power Status
Men like Don Draper, the executives, and Roger Sterling wear the best of tailored suits that are both expensive and denote the power these men hold because of their position and money. The ladies dress smart enough, but their clothes are rather conservative and ample, indicating their lower status in comparison to the bosses.
Accordingly, the fashion of the female characters in Mad Men evolved just as the roles of women were developing in the 1960s. The very tight dresses that Joan Holloway wore and the polished homemaker outfits of Betty Draper are examples of the more traditional roles of women, signaling femininity and domesticity. However, as the series itself progresses, characters such as Peggy Olson and, to a much further degree, Joan grew out of these expectations— and their fashion evolved with the connotation of empowerment in professional aspirations. This shift in style underlined an even broader feminist movement of the time.
Cultural and Historical Background
The show “Mad Men” further uses fashion as a contextualizing element in relation to time—a setting for the characters within the general cultural and historical background of the 1960s. The costumes in this show show some of the major events and features that gradually created this decade: the rise of youth culture, the influence of European fashion, the impact of political and social movements. This marks the cultural change of the 1960s from modestly structured clothes to more casual and expressive styles.
The Fashion Legacy of "Mad Men"
“Mad Men” has become a massive hit—that one show that seems to go on and on and influence modern design around the globe, resetting an era that seemed forgotten for many years. So much that "Mad Men" has had the biggest influence this season on young designers.
Many contemporary designers have derived their inspiration from "Mad Men" to include typical 1960s clothing objects in their creations. The focus on tailoring, structure, and classic elegance done by the show must definitely have its effect on the modern-day audiences. It reminded such designers as Tom Ford, Michael Kors, and Prada of how popular the sleek, sophisticated look, sired by the series, was, and how to somehow meld a mid-century aesthetic with today's look.
Vintage and Retro
The popularity of “Mad Men” has added to a general trend in reviving vintage and retro fashion items. Clothing and items from the mid-century show increased demand, both in thrift stores and in vintage boutiques or online marketplaces. Both fashionistas and collectors chase down 1960s originals, and mainstream retailers produce interpretations of retro styles. Its popularity has also added to the craze of vintage pencil skirts, tailored suits, and other retro-inspired accessories.
Enduring Style Icons
The characters in “Mad Men'” are now iconic in terms of style, and their looks are constantly referred to on fashion spreads, advertising campaigns, and popular media. Don Draper's slick suits, Joan Holloway's dresses, and Betty Draper's polished ensembles have all remained presences that continue to exert an influence over fashionable impresarios and characters. The series elevated fashion, particularly immediately following its six-season run, into a potent cultural touchstone: a barometer for period costume design.
Overall, “Mad Men” is not just a television series but a visual feast that has left an indelible impact on what is known as fashion. This television series is so attentive to costume design that bringing the world of the 1960s back to life rippled an effect towards contemporary fashion and mid-century influence in style. “Mad Men” used fashion to perform identity, power, and social change through the wardrobes of its characters. More than just influencing, “Mad Men” fashion reminds us classic elegance never really goes out of style and, yes, style can be a truly powerful thing.
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