Photo: Stylelist

Marketing genius. American classic-style clothing stores – J. Crew, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor and the like – up until now have given the consumer clothes to be the best “you” you can be. But, Banana now seems to be asking, why be you when you could be someone else?

Enter Mad Men, to offer archetypal and glamorous characters from 1960s Madison Avenue where secrets and scandals abound. Read more about the collaboration between BR and Mad Men here at Stylelist.

So, who do you want to be of the female leads?

Betty Draper is a Grace Kelly lookalike and a model-turned-homemaker. Her outwardly perfect life married to Sterling Cooper’s golden boy belies the pain of her daily prison – a tragically loveless marriage and the relinquishing of professional identity. Perhaps you’d like to be her?

Joan Holloway is the cartoonishly voluptuous office manager whose confident femininity gives her power over the executives who want to sleep with her and the secretaries who want to be her. But this powerhouse is powerless over the brute force of a fiancé who marks his territory by raping her in Don Draper’s office one evening after smelling her affair with Roger Sterling. Maybe you’d like to be her?

Peggy Olson’s talent for copywriting and delicate maneuvering through office politics has allowed her to become “one of the guys” and a valued contributor to successful ad campaigns. But despite her precarious success in this man’s world, she is still very much a girl and a very naïve one at that; she mistook labor pains for a stomach ache after 9 months of (unknowingly) being pregnant with the child of married junior ad exec and extraordinary jerk Pete Campbell. Is she your style icon?

Of course BR is not interested in selling the sad conclusion that life is complicated and imperfect, and the truth that being an adult means giving up some dreams. No, BR is smartly cashing in on the seductive style of the show itself and the fact that ‘60s sheath dresses are timeless, practical, and elegant.

I will probably pick up a piece or two from this collection but when I wear them I will not be channeling Betty, Joan, or Peggy. The female characters I prefer are the independent and headstrong women who are Don Draper’s lovers - supporting characters who have come and gone with the whims of his libido. There is Rachel Menken, the Jewish department store head who takes no crap from the execs and Don during work or play. Midge Daniels lives in a self-created Beat/hippy fantasy world because she doesn't dig the modern world around. But my favorite is Bobbie Barrett, for the advice she gives to Peggy in episode 5 of season 2 “The New Girl”:

"You're never gonna get that corner office until you start treating Don as an equal. And no one will tell you this, but you can't be a man. Don't even try. Be a woman. It's powerful business, when done correctly."

Yes, Bobbie is who I’ll have in mind when wearing my ironic Mad Men BR work styles, because the glass ceiling still exists and the only way to transcend it as a woman is to be a woman, fabulously fashionable of course.

T-Shirts, the New Windows to the Soul

I don’t wear t-shirts with words on them partly because there are none in my closest and mostly because they are a tacky way to be provocative.

I think, however, it is safe to say I like them more than Webb City High School in Missouri.

But as Brad knows there are times when it is an imperative to join with the masses (or "minorities") in solidarity – to be seen on the outside for the convictions you hold on the inside – and a t-shirt makes that easy.

I wish I had worn this hoodie to keep me warm on Inauguration Day because man I was feelin’ it.



Available here. Is Erin my muse?

p.s. Rachel I love your "R is for Rad" tee

Ninja Fashion

What outfit is appropriate when engaging in unorthodox arts of war such as assassination, espionage, sabotage and guerilla trickery? Yes indeed, on occasion you may stare into your closet with the desperate sense that you have nothing to wear.

Loosely translated, ninja means “one who is skilled in the art of stealth” or the “skill of going unperceived.”



The split-toe design of these attractive booties is excellent for balance, wall climbing, flying through the air, and gripping the face of your enemy. They are soft and silent, black and unseen. Your ninja tracks resemble the cloven hoof of a large goat or perhaps a pony, so your trail is unlikely to be noticed.

For your next tangle, don’t get caught wearing the same thing as some other ninja byatch. Distinguish yourself forever with a pair of these shoes, also good for skate board, hiking, building construction and other sports.

Discovered

The red carpet is being rolled out again at the Golden Globes tonight! What will they all wear?


Discovered by The Fashion Director

First Violinist

This is what the beautiful first violinist wears when she leaves the symphony hall to meet friends for a cocktail.


First Violinist by The Fashion Director

Operation Denim

Photo: Serfontaine at shopkitson.com

This is a serious post because finding good jeans is serious business.

I am currently smitten with my J Brand Blue Label Scarlett bootlegs in ink. They are made for the body of a woman, not a tween. The dark ink color looks clean and elegant. And the length is just right for my favorite flat boots. Those are my jeans. I can’t tell you what your perfect pair of jeans are, because they’re yours. What I can tell you is how to shop for your perfect pair.

Shopping for jeans is part art, part science, and part endurance athletic event. The first thing you’ll need is to power up with a small amount of some high energy food, naturally a bit of chocolate makes sense here (does it ever not?). Then you will need to staff up your team with two friends – they should love you and be honest people who will tell you if a jean doesn’t make the most of what you got. If said friends have already seen you in various states of undress, even better.

Head for the nearest upscale department store, and bring a simple top that looks great with jeans (such as American Apparel’s cap sleeve tee) and shoes with the heel height you plan to wear with the denim. The advantages of going to a department store are numerous – they’ll have a big selection that’s neatly organized, people to help you, and maybe a sale to boot. They will not care how many pairs you try on. And that’s good because you’re gonna try on like 20-30.

So here’s how it works. You and Team Jean grab several pairs in the size you think you are, plus one size up and one size down. Do this for lots of brands, because you don’t know which one will love your body most. Don’t over-think this, just pile what looks good onto your arm until it feels like it’s going to fall off. Of course, don’t take styles into the dressing room that you know you don’t want…for example pre-ripped/acid wash/zippers everywhere.

Next, just go. Get into the zone. Make quick, gut decisions. Like this pair? Put them in the maybe pile. Don’t like that pair? Put them in the no pile. One friend stays with you in the room to keep piles organized and confirm or advise on decisions. The other friend is the store employee who works just for you and is available every second to get new sizes and styles. Your team will find a rhythm.

At some point during this marathon, when you feel like the underdog lightweight in the 15th round, your despair will turn to hope. You will find jeans that suddenly make you feel like…yes, well, like a rock star. You’ll start doing that thing with your lips you do when you look in the mirror and see H-O-T. You’ll get a quivery feeling in your stomach that says “these are the ones.”

Those go in the yes pile, and hopefully the store hasn’t closed before you’ve found them. Trust me…they are there.

You may need to get them hemmed; any good department store will have a tailor on site to take your measurements. It’ll cost you maybe $10 extra but you must get them the right length.

If after wearing The Ones you know you are meant to be together for a long time, go ahead and buy another pair. Jeans are the foundation of the American wardrobe and the all-purpose uniform. You will reach for them again and again and it’ll be nice to always have a clean pair.

Dreaming of Summer

Remember when it's so hot that you have to go to the movies just for the AC?


Going to the Movies for the AC by The Fashion Director