As Mad Men inches closer to the ‘70s, the clothes on the successful drama have evolved just like the characters. The cardigans and pencil skirts of the earlier seasons have been replaced with ponchos, crochet dresses and guys wearing beads. But even as the less polished trends of the ‘70s seep into the show, Mad Men’s seventh season has been full of great tips for dressing well.
Check out our top 10 style tips inspired by season 7 before the mid-season finale this Sunday.
1. Long sleeves make a mini dress work-friendly.
Just like the fashionistas of the ‘60s, the female employees at Sterling Cooper & Partners love super short mini dresses. While some people in today’s world might think mini dresses are inappropriate for the office, there’s one secret the Mad Men ladies use to make the hemline work for the office: long sleeves. Since a dress with long sleeves covers a lot of skin, sleeves balance out the short hemline. To make it work now, pair a long sleeve blouse with a mini skirt and flats and you’re set for the office.
2. Never throw away your Lacoste polo.
Pete Campbell is living the preppy lifestyle out in California, so it makes sense we see him in a Lacoste polo in the season’s first episode. The iconic polo has been around for 80 years, and it will probably be around for 80 more. If you’re a fan of polo shirts, make sure you have the Lacoste staple in your closet. It will last you a long time.
3. Invest in a nice watch.
When looking at the fashions of yesteryear, one huge difference between then and now is the amount of people wearing watches. On Mad Men, almost everyone wears a watch. The accessory adds a hint of sophistication to any outfit. While you most likely check the time on your phone, it’s worth investing in a watch; it’s a chic accessory, but it’s also office-friendly because it’s easier to glance at your watch than whip out your phone in a meeting.
4. Find a signature color and wear it all the time.
Joan Harris wears a lot of red in Season 7, whether it’s the burgundy she wears in Episode 2 or the fire engine red she wears in Episode 6. Joan also wears a lot of blue throughout the series, including cobalt and light blue. Once you find a color that looks good on you, fill your closet with it.
5. Guys can accessorize, too.
The guys at Sterling Cooper & Partners have been experimenting a lot more with fashion in Season 7 than they did in the earlier episodes, thanks to the changing styles of the time. One guy who stands out in the office is Stan Rizzo. In Season 7 he’s all about the accessories, like his scarves and necklaces. In one of AMC’s fashion videos about the show, Costume Designer Janie Bryant points out that in Episode 3 Stan wears a STAN belt buckle, which randomly turned up in a collection of vintage belt buckles.
6. Add a jumpsuit to your closet.
In Episode 1, Bonnie Whiteside wears an amazing red and white jumpsuit. A jumpsuit is still a favorite of fashion fans because it’s an unexpected look that not everyone is brave enough to pull it off.
Jumpsuits be dressed up or down, and they’re all over the place right now, whether you want to save at H&M or spend a bit more at Diane Von Furstenberg.
7. Mix up your tie and pocket square.
Take a lesson from Roger Sterling: When it comes to choosing a tie and a pocket square, choose prints in the same color scheme, but different patterns. As long as there’s a dominant color, the prints will still work together.
8. Experiment with different textures.
In Season 7 we see the women of Mad Men wearing lots of different textures, such as crochet. In Episode 3, Megan Draper wears a yellow mini skirt, which appears to be crochet, with a flowy blouse. The combination of the skirt’s chunky texture paired with the loose-fitting blouse adds a dynamic to her look, which happens when you mesh contrasting fabrics.
9. Rethink your headband.
One accessory that’s easy to steal from Season 7’s trends is the “hippie headband,” the kind that goes across the forehead. It screams ‘70s fashion. On the show we see it on Roger’s hippie girlfriend and Don’s niece, Stephanie. It’s a trend that continues to pop up in today’s fashion world, as it’s been a favorite of Nicole Richie’s for a while and it’s a hit with the Coachella set.
10. You don’t have to follow every trend.
While some of the Mad Men characters embrace the trends of 1969, Don Draper still looks the most handsome in his classic suits. While this may be thanks to the genes of Jon Hamm, his good looks are helped out by the impeccable suits he keeps wearing. While his style hasn’t changed throughout the show—and we know he’s not good with change—his suits show that he knows what works for him and there’s no need to change. This is true with any trend: just because it looks good on your friend, doesn’t mean you have to wear it. Wear what you like.