On the radar: Mad Men fashion

Betty Draper (January Jones), Joan Holloway (Christina Hendricks) and Peggy Olsen (Elisabeth Moss) on the set of Mad Men.

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The '60s stylings of a cult TV show prove a fashion favourite, writes Rachel Wells.

The smoke-filled offices of Sterling Cooper - the fictitious 1960s Madison Avenue ad agency and fastidiously stylised setting for Matthew Weiner's slick drama Mad Men - has been the source of inspiration for dozens of fashion designers in recent months.

And it is little wonder. Sterling Cooper - a place where ad-men in sharp three-button suits sip Scotch, chain smoke and openly ogle their bullet-bra-wearing secretaries - has been painstakingly and beautifully retro-styled to within an inch of its life.

It's beautiful to watch. Not to mention spellbindingly entertaining. So much so that when I first stumbled across a copy of the series earlier this year, I watched the first five episodes in one sitting.

From the burled wood and frosted-glass panel interiors to the slim suits, skinny ties and starched white shirts worn by the Brylcreemed alpha males and the curve-hugging sheaths, matte red lips and pearls sported by the secretaries and steno-pool girls, Mad Men is a showcase of Eisenhower-era gorgeousness.

Only a show set in adland could be so magnificently art directed - right down to the sweat stains on the men's Brooks Brothers shirts.

It is not surprising, then, that dozens of fashion designers are turning to the show, which is set in 1959-60 (season one) and 1962 (season two) - and nominated for 16 Emmys, including outstanding costumes, outstanding hairstyling and outstanding make-up - for inspiration.

For his autumn collection, showcased at New York Fashion Week in February and being racked in stores in the US now, fashion designer Michael Kors borrowed liberally from the first series, which will re-run in Australia on Movie Extra from tonight.

A fan of the show, Kors showed slim-fitting suits, spectacles and fedoras for men, and fitted wiggle dresses, pencil skirts, cashmere sweaters and cardigans, or "buttoned-up sexy" as he liked to call it, for women. Fellow New York-based labels Theory and Peter Som have also name-checked Mad Men as inspiration for recent collections.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/style--grooming/on-the-radar-mad-men-fashion

Our MadMen meets Miss Money Penny Picks

The Floral Frock

Alannah Hill BNWT 'My Guiding Light Frock' 8

Billion Dollar Babes Silk Sequinned Evening Gown 8 -$450.00

Collette Dinnigan Satin Dress -$190.00

Bang Gold Lace Vintage Style Dress 10 -$125.00

The Pencil Skirt

Morrissey Pencil Skirt 1 $50.00

Perri Cutten Pencil Skirt 8 $90.00

River Is Printed Full circular skirt 10 Vera Wang self patterned polka dot skirt 4 -$150.00 $40.00

cacharel Silk Skirt Size 8-10 -$150.00$100.00

Bang BNWT Pencil Skirt 8 -$70.00

Country Road Black Pencil Skirt 12 -$40.00
Marc by Marc Jacobs NWT Ruffle Skirt 10 -$60.00

Tops

Alannah Hill 'The Cheap Trick' Top 8 -$150.00$110.0

BCBG Max Aria Dropped Petal sleeve top M -$120.00

Bebe - NY Silk Blouse M -$70.00

Bebe NWT White Dress Shirt 10 -$90.00


And for a little bit of extra fun - why not madmen yourself!
http://www.amctv.com/originals/madmen/madmenyourself/