The characters on Mad Men sure know how to dress—or at least costume designer Janie Bryant does. Thanks to her work, AMC’s hit is just as known for its fashion sense as it is for its plotlines. But even though this season is set in the late 1960s, there are lots of tips that can still help how we all dress now.
1. Let your T-shirt make a statement.
Probably the most talked-about item of clothing from Season 6 has been Megan’s “Sharon Tate” T-shirt. It has earned lots of internet chatter, leading people to believe Megan might be headed for an unhappy ending. Her wardrobe choice shows a T-shirt can be more than just a top, especially in highly political times like the late ‘60s.
2. There’s nothing like a perfectly tailored suit.
Mad Men should be required viewing for men these days simply because of the way the men wear their suits. Would Don ever be caught in an ill-fitting suit? Definitely not. Tailoring makes a suit look more sophisticated and therefore makes the man wearing it look like a stud.
3. Protect your skin from UV rays with a hat.
When Don and Megan go to Hawaii in the season premiere, Megan wears a floppy hat, which completes her beach look, but it also protects her skin from the sun. It’s a much more stylish choice than an old baseball cap if you’re a woman looking for a way to shade your face.
4. Don’t dress like a slob at the beach.
In addition to her hat, Megan’s whole beach look in the premiere is adorable. Joan’s nautical ensemble in Episode 9 as she gets ready for the beach is another solid choice. A cover-up is an easy way to look polished even if it’s just for the walk from the car to the sand.
5. Color-on-color works.
Can you wear one color together? Of course you can. Joan Harris does it perfectly with her purple-on-purple ensemble in the premiere.
6. A blue suit is a must-have.
Blue is a popular wardrobe choice on Mad Men, but one stand-out was Tim Jablonski’s suit in Episode 3. A tailored blue suit is a wardrobe staple.
7. Color and patterns are fun to experiment with, even if you’re a guy.
The men have been wearing many more colorful and patterned jackets in Season 6, such as Ted’s green jacket in Episode 8. It’s a riskier choice (Matt Lauer recently got a lot of attention for his plaid jacket on the Today Show) but it’s a nice change from gray, black and other neutrals.
8. Buy a piece in cobalt blue.
Joan wears a lot of blues and greens, but that cobalt blue suit she wore in Episode 7 was stunning. Cobalt blue has been a hot color over the last few years, and it remains a favorite for fashionistas like Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.
9. Sunglasses make everyone look cooler.
Sunglasses add an air of cool to Don, Roger and Harry when they go to Los Angeles. Ted’s aviators were perfect for when he was flying with Don.
10. A shift dress is one of the easiest outfits.
Roger’s daughter, Margaret, isn’t in every episode, but when she turns up, she always looks chic and classic. Case in point: her bright shift dress in Episode 9. She’s wearing simple accessories with it, which works because the dress is an outfit on its own.
