The Mad Men Fashion File - Mona Puts a Little Wow in Her Meltdown
Last time, we talked about Betty Draper and her meltdown: the two-day old dress, the crunchy hair, the crusted eye makeup, the perfect look ever. Today, we're going to talk about Mona Sterling: same meltdown, different style. White gloves, jewelry, embroidery, oh my gosh. Of course, when you're planning to confront your husband and his entire office at their place of business, you need a little bit of "wow." I think it's safe to say she brought it, especially in that incredible bustier. Now that's an outfit that demands alimony.
It was especially effective against Jane Siegel's virgin blue sweater, with almost no makeup and no accessories, hardly the garb you'd expect on the Other Woman (and certainly not the way Bobbie Barrett nails it with her corseted flash). In fact, Jane Siegel seemed to be overcompensating for her indiscretions with that outfit, and it's the only ensemble we get to see her in during the whole episode. Will she really remain a "Jackie," as opposed to a "Marilyn," as Roger pegged her during Episode 6, "Maidenform"? Guess we'll have to see what she wears to bed.
We're also still waiting on Peggy Olson, who made a steep switch from schoolgirl to vixen a few episodes ago... then totally reverted back. Come on, Peggy, how are you going to seduce Colin Hanks the Priest unless you vamp it up a little? Oh, never mind... After going nuts over Mrs. Sterling's breakup outfit, I went onto Net-A-Porter, my favorite online shopping site, to find some contemporary fashion that aligns with the show. Although I've been shopping for a lot of vintage lately -- thanks in part to the tips I got from MM costume designer Janie Bryant -- I'm always hoping I'll see something current on Joan or Betty that can pass, seamlessly, as a 40-year-old frock.
It hasn't happened yet, but here's what's close: Michael Kors.He's most famous for his Project Runway proclamations, but he's a huge Mad Men fan, even rhapsodizing about how the season "inspired" his Fall '08 collection. I'll admit I thought the whole thing was a PR stunt until I actually saw the clothes off the models -- no styling, no sex, just fabric. And Mr. Kors was right. The shapes, colors, and fit of the clothes is a textile round of applause to Matt Weiner and his team. I've included some shots of Mr. Kors' current collection, along with some other examples, in this blog. Besides Michael's haute homage to AMC, we've got Celine's pleated wool dress (which any Sterling Cooper wife would wear), two awkwardly awesome day dresses from Marc by Marc Jacobs (for Peggy Olson, obviously), a gingham drop-waist v-neck frock for Trudy Campbell, Lela Rose's tulip evening gown to hug Joan's curves, and a more modern take on a cocktail dress by the British label Erdem, whose classic shapes could work for Sterling Cooper secretaries, if only their quirky patterns didn't beckon the smarter, slyer, and more misanthropic sides of Don's many Other Women. The average price of each dress is about $400, about two month's of a secretary's S.C. salary - unless, of course, you're dating the boss...
The sleeves on Mona's dress should be a fashion trend. Wow. Then there's the fabulous pearls, which are already the latest power accessory for Michelle and Nancy.
I hated Mona's outfit. It look fussy and overdone and I thought that aged her, especially with the pile-on theory of accessories she's using. Jane looked so much better by comparison.
I mean, it's a doily top, for chrissakes! How to Look Like a Grandma.™ I think the costume was designed to show her as last year's model, to show the rejection of her age.
.....Faran.....I really enjoyed this article....you are really getting good at making the clothes come alive and tell the story.... I forgot 2008 for a second!
Yes, Faran, you have hit your stride now.
Deborah Lipp, I agree. Reminds me of the clothes we used to order from the Montgomery Ward catalog.
The tulip contour was popular then - I had a prom dress I designed and made with that shape.It was easy to sew.
And once again, where are the sack, the chemise and the trapeze? They were huge in the early sixties.
Did anyone notice in the intro for the Maidenform episode that Peggy was putting on "pantyhose"??? I definitely remember there wasn't any such thing in the sixties because even when the "mini skirts" were in we still had to wear garter belts!!!! What a pain!!!!
I can't wait until they get to the "flower power" colors (hot pink, chartreuse, yellow, turquoise), paisleys, empire dresses, and wide wale (?) cords.
Just another fan, we talked about that on Basket of Kisses. I researched it. Pantyhose had been introduced by 1962, but they were not in common use. They sagged and weren't attractive, and they were expensive. Some women used them but not many.
But Peggy, who has Playtex as a client, probably gets access to cutting edge stuff. She's the only female "guinea pig" for such products.
It was a very deliberate placement.
I dunno. Although Mona definitely "brought it" with regard to the outfit, it did kind of make her look old - a LOT older than Jane (which maybe was the point). I liked Jane's simple look, definitely a "Jackie" with the pearl stud earrings.
Also, I liked when Peggy vamped it up, but I bet she's toning it down on purpose. She's getting greater and greater responsibility at work, but in her mind she knows the guys won't take her seriously if she's wearing a lot of tight sweaters....
Oh, to be able to afford a $400 dress. Sigh. There's my version of heaven, lol!
But wait!
At the beginning of the episode, Jane was in a fabulous frock that complimented Betty's breakdown gown. A sleek white dress with colored squares all lined up in a row. I thought it was a nice compliment to the previous episode's dress.
I have to disagree with the "WOW" factor of Mona's dress. I think the designer goal was to pose her as an overdone and overbearing old matron. She's practically a walking couch with all those doilies. In sharp contrast to Jane she looks staid-- her freshest and best years behind her with all the armor of a woman of a "certain age"-- The doilies AND the hat AND the gloves AND the pearls etc. Whereas young Jane only needs a sweet blue sweater and her lovely youth. Who would you rather be? Who would the audience rather be?
On the show when she was so indignant, I thought she looked great-like the rich, important wife. Now that I see the still, I can see the doily-effect and it looks sorta dowdy. Maybe, in this case, the woman made the clothes and not the other way around. I didn't notice the individual parts of her look, just her overall persona.
Libby: I have been buying sweet little full skirts and sheath dresses at Target. You can find lots of pencil skirts and retro style sheath and full skirt dresses. Check out the Isaac Mizrahi stuff. I'm also crazy about the 3/4 sweaters and jacket suit separates. I think Peggy would love the plaid.
I just discovered Mad Men. I am in love! I want to know about the bracelet Betty Draper wears in almost every scene. is it a charm bracelet? where can I get it?
www.modcloth.com is a vintage website of all kinds of retro fashion.....these are NEW items, not resale so you know you are getting 'fresh' never worn items. Dresses, accessories, jackets, shoes, purses..... and knick-knacks!
Having remembered, worn the clothing and been raised in the 60's, I think Mona's dress, as opposed to the entire outfit, is rather attractive.
Remove that heavy, 5-strand necklace and quite possibly a more petit hat, then she's got it going on, so to speak. Seeing as gloves were part and parcel of any well-dressed woman's attire, they have to remain part of the entire outfit.
Mona is, after all, not iun her 20's, so her look would have to be a bit more conservative than say any outfit Joan would be inclined to wear.
R504
Actually... we did start wearing pantyhose in the late 60's; the British Invasion of the styles made popular by Twiggy required women to have to wear a line of hosiery that didn't show garters...
Thank God!
~R~
All these types of Womens clothing are returning in some form or fashion. The fortunate exception is that women today do not look as matronly as did the women of the 60's; hair & makeup play a BIG role in the overall, pulled together look. There were few make up lines back then; by example, Black [specifically brown and darker skinned African-American women] women had to depend upon make up designed for Caucasians, thereby giving them a less than "natural"/individual look.
I also think Mona LOOKED rather a mess, because her character IS rather a mess, especially at this point. Had her demeanor been one of more confidence, she could've even pulled off that entire fiasco of an outfit.
At 40 a woman was deemed "old" -- now at 40, we're just hitting our stride. I'd have WORKED that dress the way Joan works hers! ;)
RDee
All these types of Womens clothing are returning in some form or fashion. The fortunate exception is that women today do not look as matronly as did the women of the 60's; hair & makeup play a BIG role in the overall, pulled together look. There were few make up lines back then; by example, Black [specifically brown and darker skinned African-American women] women had to depend upon make up designed for Caucasians, thereby giving them a less than "natural"/individual look.
I also think Mona LOOKED rather a mess, because her character IS rather a mess, especially at this point. Had her demeanor been one of more confidence, she could've even pulled off that entire fiasco of an outfit.
At 40 a woman was deemed "old" -- now at 40, we're just hitting our stride. I'd have WORKED that dress the way Joan works hers! ;)
RDee
just another fan:
Pantyhose were created during WWII, and first marketed in 1959. This season takes place in 1962, therefore young and **practical** Peggy Olson would probably have been the first in line for them.
I don't agree with statement that women looked matronly in the 60's. I think today women try very hard to look too young. It's appalling to see a woman of 40 trying so hard to wear fashions that are more in line with the Gossip Girl crowd. In the 50's and 60's, women were more sophisticated and I don't see that as matronly at all.
Looks to me like Mona is wearing a pillbox hat. Jackie Kennedy had a huge fashion influence during this time. I also remember wearing girdle with garters, and then progressed to garter belt, and then to pantyhose all in the 60s. It was murder trying to change between classes from PE in high school!
I just saw the 10/12 episode. Bathing suits are true to form, but us gals back then were definitely curvier, not so skinny, which I think is healthier for girls now.