Recently, thanks to the wonderful RTE iplayer I have become utterly obsessed and addicted to Mad Men. I know I am some-what behind this as the series aired back in 2007, though I am catching up. So much so that I flew through two seasons on the player (available til June 2010) and now searching for the next series online.
Mad Men runs on AMCTV network in the US and is a show based around 'Ad men' based in New York city in the 1960's. The show focuses on two main characters Don Draper, and Peggy Olson. Mathew Weiner is one of the producers on the show, some may know him from working on The Sopranos. It's not just the characters, or the storyline that is superb, but also the much talked about style and glam on the show.
The style on the show is awesome, nothing is out of place, and you would almost swear it was recorded over 40 years ago during the period it was set. I guess also it adds to what those in the film/theatre know would describe as the mise-en-scene of the show.
AMCTV have a great blog, a specific blog should I say, for the fashion elements of Mad Men, Fashion File. It's great to follow. Recently Mad Men's costume designer Janie Bryant spoke about the clothes and how modern-day women could take inspiration :
There's a fine line between looking like you've been influenced by the early '60s, and looking like you're going to a theme party for the early '60s!
Byrant has been interviewed by tons of fashion mags already including Vanity Fair, Glamour Mag, New York Magazine, and NYLON. She also worked on costume design for Deadwood, so has plenty of expertise in costume design.
The character of Joan Holloway(played by the brilliant Christina Hendricks) epitomises my entire fashion obsession with the show. Holloway is the head secretary, responsible for all the other secretaries in the offices of Sterling-Cooper ad agency though at times you think she feels her job is as educating these women in 'how to be ladies'....
She is sassy and bold, and the style, the dresses, and the hair-dos in which she is adorned captures her every bit of the by-gone era I adore.
Mad Men yourself here, and follow Janie Byrant on twitter here.
