Costume Ideas: Straight from Mad Men

Welcome to the Costume Ideas blog series! This series is intended to inspire your inner fashion designer so you can look like you stepped out of the 1950/60s when you walk into Mad Masquerade.


This week, we're taking a look at AMC Mad Men's Season 4 Fashion Gallery! The gallery showcases many fantastic outfits, but these are our top three.

1. Joan's "Wave" Dress: We love it! Much like Janie Bryant, costume designer for Mad Men, we're attracted to the ruffles at the collar and sleeve. We also love the high contrast between the darker blue and the white, creating a cleaner look. Accessories weren't emphasized in the 60s, and she does a very good job of keeping using the gold accents to enhance her look without dominating it.

2. Stan Rizzo's Suit: Even though it wasn't particularly characteristic of the early 60s, Stan did a pretty good job of being trendy with this green plaid suit. "He's one of our more modern characters who takes a casual approach to being at work," says Bryant. The late sixties was a movement away from the fifties - so while the gray flannel suit is the standard, Stan shows us that we're able to be more creative!

3. Faye Miller's Black and White: Her look is eye catching with the bold black and white print; her bold lipstick only helps to emphasize the overall look's strength. Her gray skirt is houndstooth, shown below and to the left.


For more ideas straight from Mad Men, please visit their Season 4 Fashion Gallery! (Of course, we own none of these images; they were taken directly out of the Season 4 Fashion Gallery. Many thanks to Janie Bryan for her inspirational vintage fashion!)

Mad Masquerade Costume Ideas

Welcome to the Costume Ideas blog series! This series is intended to inspire your inner fashion designer so you can look like you stepped out of the 1950/60s when you walk into Mad Masquerade.


Men in the 1950s and early 60s were very traditional; this was the era of the man in a gray suit. Coats were unwaisted with one or three buttons, typically worn with a white shirt, tie, and cufflinks. Other common suit colors were tan or navy. Pennyloafer shoes and a hat (usually a fedora) rounded out the look.


The mid-to-late 60s saw more diversity in men's fashion than ever - brighter colored dress shirts like plaid were more accepted. Ties were changing sizes (both to skinny ties and wide ties) with stripes and patterns - unheard of just a decade earlier. Suits became more tailored, thanks to Italian designer influence.


Where to find this vintage menswear? Try Banana Republic's Mad Men Collection, geared specifically toward the Mad Men look! (A promo shot from the collection can be seen to the bottom right.) They also have a pretty nice Mad Men collection for women, too! Other suitable options can be found at J Crew. (Picture top right.)


Are you excited about Mad Masquerade yet? Purchase tickets your tickets now - prices go up in just a few weeks!

Costume Ideas: The Cold War Woman - Grande Masquerade

Welcome to the Costume Ideas blog series! This series is intended to inspire your inner fashion designer so you can look like you stepped out of the 1950/60s when you walk into Mad Masquerade.

During WWII, society saw many men leave the country to fight, and many women stepped up and took traditionally male jobs. When WWII ended in 1945, the United States saw an influx of men returning to the workforce, pushing many women back into more traditional roles.

Because of this push, we see women's fashion in the 50s accentuate traditional femininity through tighter waists, wider busts, and curvy hips - in other words, an hourglass silhouette. Pencil skirts became popular in the workplace.

The early 60s followed First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy; feminine elegance was the mantra. The First Lady popularized the pillbox hat, and dresses were simple and geometric. The sixties saw a distance from the more conservative colors of the 50s, enjoying brighter colors and bolder patterns.

But where can you find these clothes? Take a look at this magenta "Work to Wow" dress from ModCloth.com. Notice the hourglass shape; this dress could have been popular in the workplace. In fact, take a look at all of the 1950s/60s dresses from Modcloth - it's a great place for vintage-inspired clothing.

Also consider this black "Five to Nine" dress from Shabby Apple, another online retailer specializing in vintage-inspired clothing; taking a cue from Jackie Kennedy, this black dress features a thin collar, has soft shoulders, and a loose, feminine bow near the neck.