Seventeen months.
That’s how long we’ve gone without “Mad Men.” Thanks to contract conflicts and television gods who apparently want to punish us, the AMC show about advertising – and so, so much more – in the 1960s has been dark for far too long. Babies have been born. Marathons have been trained for and run. Lesser TV shows have run full seasons of laugh track-filled mediocrity (I’m looking at you, “Two and a Half Men”), all waiting for Don Draper and crew to return. That’s a long time. And I, for one, can’t wait to greet the dysfunctional gang Sunday night at 9.
Neither, apparently, can Banana Republic. The brand collaborated once again with Janie Bryant, the show’s costume designer, creating a spring capsule collection inspired by “Mad Men.” But even before you could buy Don Draper’s dapper, manly style in stores, the look had been gaining steam with guys.
So how can you dress like a “Mad” man?
Keep it trim
A close fit is a flattering fit. Don Draper wouldn’t be caught dead in skinny jeans, or worse, baggy ones. Some call it “body-conscious” clothing; I just call it clothes that fit. Look for shirts and jackets that emphasize (or create the illusion of) broad shoulders and a nipped-in waist. Shirts that fit more snugly across the shoulders and are long enough in the back to tuck in will help give you that “My exercise routine consists of mowing the lawn while smoking a pack of cigarettes” body that Don Draper has down cold.
Suit up
This one’s easy. A well-tailored suit is the go-to for Don, Roger, Pete and the rest of the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce crowd. Ace your next interview or client meeting in a suit that fits like a glove (a speech that sounds like this can’t hurt, either).
Go for color
A pocket square that pops. A tie that does the talking so you can play the strong, silent (or like Don – repressed) type. Even a brightly colored polo following the slim sensibility noted above can serve as all the color you need for one outfit.
Keep it simple
Clothes shouldn’t be complicated. The best-dressed guys are the ones, like Don Draper, who make it look effortless. Not that we make it easy on ourselves. In the1960s, men like Draper could look to style icons like JFK for sartorial inspiration – today, we’re stuck with The Situation. So I’ll forgive the style missteps here and there, but the point remains that getting dressed (and more importantly, getting dressed well) is easier when you have a closet full of clothes that fit and that you feel great wearing.
