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The Mad Men Fashion File - Don't Be Fooled by Plain Packaging

Of course in the Mad Men world, it's the plain brown box that holds all the secrets. It's not fancy. It's not expensive. In fact, what makes it special -- besides its contents -- is that it's been locked up. But from the outside, it looks exactly as it should. Nothing special. Just a box.
The same idea could be applied to the characters and their clothes this episode -- Betty sporting not one, but three cashmere twin sets. Nothing special; just a housewife. Peggy in her muted pussy bow ensembles is equally unassuming. And even when the women dress up, it's something we've seen before... Oh look, there's Mrs. Draper looking like Grace Kelly. Beautiful, yes, but at this point, it's almost easy to gloss over. Even Suzanne Farrell's unique accessory (the foil star on her cheek) is really just an accident. Give it fifteen years and maybe Sally Draper will be wearing one on purpose in a disco.
Still, certain costume pieces also betray their owners at various points in the story. Peggy Olson's scarf during the Aqua Net skit isn't just a prop; it's the Hermes prize from Duck Phillips. That scarf was a bribe to leave her job, and yet she's using it to do her job better. I was laughing pretty hard at that. Paul Kinsey's jacket, and later his tie, have the same going-against-him feel: He wants attention for his work, but the busy checks on his blazer make it impossible to focus on anything except his crazy outfit. Seriously, Paul, I wouldn't have been able to remember anything either if I'd had to keep looking down at that coat...

Betty's dress for the Sterling Cooper anniversary party had a print with a distinctly wallpaper-ish pattern, as did the pillbox hat in an earlier scene on Mrs. "Send Me Back to London!" Pryce. Both women dress, literally, to blend in but don't... or perhaps won't. This is clearly evident in Betty's none-too-happy expression at the gala -- a sea of beautiful and happy-colored clothes: Trudy Campbell's mermaid tones and beaded bodice, Jane's over-the-top hot pink silk. Betty's not just fighting against the urge to hit her husband; she's fighting against a giant sea of beaming sequins! No wonder she looks like she wants to shake someone. She's a lot like the secret box: exactly as it should be on the outside, but potentially explosive within.












Very well put! Thank you so much for saying it so well! The fashions are so fun to see and moreover, to remember when ... even the children are dressed so authentically! Amazing! Betts is so beautiful (I love how her hubby calls her that at times) and of course the others are, too, along with the men!
Oh, those tuxedoes were great! :) Hopefully, we'll be able to see more from the party with more time with each one ... Love it!
January Jones would be gorgeous in a feedsack! Janie Bryant dresses Betty to suit her character-always elegant and oh-so-stylish. Betty Draper is a quiet explosion beneath her cool facade.
Pandora's box indeed! That should have been the name of the episode instead of The Color Blue
The only time I can remeber her making a dressing faux pas was the over done, out of style dresss she wore to the go-see in Shoot.
In a way, Peggy is the same. Not elegant but wearing an exterior that camoflauges her smoldering interior. I'll still never forgive her for bedding Duck Phillips, ugh!
I've seen this floating around on the internet too many times now not to comment: Peggy is NOT wearing the Hermes scarf from Duck. I don't think it's even an Hermes scarf at all, but at the very least, it is not the one from Duck. I was pretty sure it wasn't, then I went back and checked. Nope.
"Peggy's muted pussy bow ensembles" - Not only do I despise that descriptor, but Peggy's blouse does not have a bow at the collar. That appears to be ruffles positioned along the center seam of the bodice into an ascot style.
I really like this piece - you are very insightful and I appreciate your bringing the detail of the artistry forward.
Watching this show is like watching a feature film every Sunday and I am equally charmed by its honesty and intelligence.
Sometimes SNL just isn't funny....but not this time!
Hats off to Jon Hamm....it would be great to see him return to SNL often....so funny!ecommerce
In these wintry and bleak times of furloughs, dwindling salaries, and job markets, the Unit’s MAD WORLD symposium was an eagerly awaited event at the University of Illinois, if we can judge by the enthusiastic participation –and in some cases great outfits—of its attendants. In periods of economic difficulty it is not rare to find that show business (Fred and Ginger can attest to it) can provide eager audiences with glittery surfaces such as Don and Betty Draper’s impeccable façades, Sterling Cooper’s elegant offices, or the bars where the advertising executives on Mad Men enjoy their after-work cocktails.
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It is nice show to watch but watching this show you really feel the beauty and charm of that show . the work they did is so appreciated .
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I have observed this particular flying close to around the web as well numerous occasions right now to not remark: Peggy isn't sporting the actual Hermes headband through Duck. We do not believe it is actually a Coffee maker ratings good Hermes headband in any respect, however on the extremely minimum, this isn't the actual one through Duck. I had been fairly certain this was not, i quickly proceeded to go again as well as examined. No.
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Excellent read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!
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The women of the Sterling Cooper office can have a little more fun with their wardrobe. Even in early episodes Joan’s style never changes and Peggy’s is questioned and critiqued. Joan is so perfect. I love how sassy she is and yet how she is always put together and exactly “Joan”. I love her bridge pencil she uses as a necklace and on most outfits she wears a broach of some kind. Her clothes use more simple lines and are WAY more form fitting than the other gals on the show.
With Jacquard, jewel-tone fabrics, fur accents, sylph silhouettes -- and evening gloves. All the models needed were name tags reading, "Hello, my name is... BETTY."
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The Moot Court Program encourages the development of skills in brief writing and oral advocacy and recognizes those students who excel in developing these skills. Well written.
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