Mad Men Costume Ideas from Manhattan Wardrobe Supply

I’m full of Mad Men costume ideas. I can’t believe I have to wait another 11 months for an episode- while I love watching the show (it’s completely appointment television at our house), my favorite thing to do is read the costume recaps from Tom and Lorenzo the next day.  For me, a woman with a Joan figure, I’ve been completely inspired by Janie Bryant’s costuming of curvy women as well as the way costuming really plays a part in the storyline and reflects the characters.  It’s fascinating! Mad Men spans from 1960 to 1969, so the first year or so still has a 50s vibe: think Betty Draper’s big skirts in bright florals, and the later years show the real change in fashion– Megan Draper’s mod clothes are of-the moment.  While it might not be practical to have up-to-there hair and wear girdles, there are ways you can incorporate the style of Mad Men into your life.

Mad Men Costume Basics

• Always look your best.  This is a simple tip, but one that bears repeating. Make sure your clothes are in good order– do you ever see Don Draper mussed at the office, or Peggy Olson in a wrinkly dress at work? No.  And unlike modern-day dramas where everyone wears different designer clothing every episode, Janie Bryant makes sure that costumes are repeated (because that’s what real people do) and that they look like they are worn, not fresh from Bergdorf’s. Thankfully, there are easy ways to make sure your favorites always look ship-shape.  Travel steamers are essential both at home and the office to keep wool, cotton and other fabrics from wrinkling, as well as a bottle of Downy Wrinkle Releaser for when you don’t have time to steam to keep everything fresh-looking.
• Shape is essential. This goes for both men and women.  Men, think about the tailoring of your clothes, and be sure to find a good tailor to help you make your ready-to-wear clothes fit perfectly. Women, tailoring is important for you, too, but don’t forget that you can get help with things like shapewear and bust pads (if you’re not a Joan and want to be).  They were the tricks of the trade for women in the 60s, and can be today, as well.
• Know what looks good on you. Even though trends may change, take a look at the women of Mad Men to see how you can be trendy without being a slave to fashion (and continue to flatter yourself).  Joan’s signature clothing is a sheath dress with short sleeves. Watch the show to see how she interprets that from the “Basket of Kisses” in the first season all the way through the 7th season.  You’ll notice that Janie Bryant takes that silhouette and changes colors and accessories to make it work with the style of the times.  That’s what a real woman would do, and it’s a great thing to do for yourself. Find classic, flattering pieces and then change accessories to make it of-the-moment.

Mad Men Costume Care

• Stay fresh all day long. One thing women in the 60s knew about that we rarely use? Dress shields.  These disposable items keep sweat from staining our clothing, leaving embarrassing marks. Not only that, but if you have clothing that is delicate or could possibly pill, dress shields prevent you from having to wash so often!  There are also sew-in dress shields that are more permanent, but disposable ones work quite nicely, and can be removed when necessary.

Mad Men Hairstyles

• Try out hair pieces. And I don’t mean toupees.  Have you ever noticed that Joan can go from a pile of red tresses on top of her head to sexy, shoulder-length waves in just a few scenes?  Or Megan’s short bob can become Elizabeth Taylor-style dramatic in an instant?  It was fashionable, in the 60s, to wear wigs and hairpieces.  It’s actually more and more acceptable now, too, and the technology is better: clip-in extensions, “permanent” extensions and falls are all easy to find.  Just be sure to take care of them right– use wig stands, wig brushes, and wig cleaner to keep them looking as natural as possible.

Are you a Mad Men fan? What’s your Mad Men costume idea?