Tag: Janie Bryant

Dress Like Mad Men

k150_19heel iconWith just a few days to go before the premiere of Season 6 of Mad Men,  I figured it was time to let you in on some secrets I know in how to live the Mad Men lifestyle – mainly how to dress and drink like our favorite characters. Today’s blog post will let you in on how to shop for the looks seen on the show.

While I have always love ‘60s fashions for their fun silhouettes and bold colors, Mad Men has brought those styles back with a distinction all their own. Now when I go out in my best ‘60s era vintage I’m told,  “you dress so Mad Men,” which I of course take as a compliment because I love the show so much.

k_jbryant1Part of the reason I love it is the care they’ve taken to get every detail right to recreate the decade of so many cultural shifts. Part of that credit goes to costume designer Janie Bryant, who I had the pleasure of meeting during a book signing at my favorite vintage store in Burbank:

Vintage Playclothes

 The store not only has supplied some of the amazing vintage seen on the show but it is such a joy to shop in. It’s in a gorgeous space with frescoed ceilings, the clothes are tagged by era, everything piece is in nearly perfect condition, they have a HUGE inventory of women’s and men’s wear at fantastic prices and the staff is super friendly and helpful.

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vintagePlayclothes2

Clever Vintage Clothing

Another vintage source that has amazing owners is Clever Vintage who I’ve frequently featured in this blog because not only are co-owners Dave and Sabino so knowledgeable about their fashion history and doing custom styling, the are also fabulous party pals! Dave and Sabino travel all across the country to curate their vintage treasures. You can purchase their fine pieces at one of the many shows they participate in, including Helm’s Design District Vintage Boutique and Burbank Pickwick. Check the events page on their website for upcoming dates or make an appointment at their downtown showroom.  They did wardrobe for Peggy and Betty in two separate episodes. Remember these outfits?

 

It was a genius move of marketing to get a major department store to work with Janie Bryant to design a line of contemporary clothing with a retro feel and make it accessible to everyone.  Banana Republic has been launching a new Mad Men collection at  the start of each season for the past few years and this one is no exception. Bold patterns and rich colors are featured here.  And these are great pieces for me to wear to work and still have a mod feel since I don’t dare subject my delicate vintage to long office hours.

 

Check out their inspiration and behind the scenes of the collection here.

And get 25% off through April 30 with this coupon.

What Katie Did Lingerie

Now, even your best vintage won’t look authentic unless you have the right undergarments.  Want to look and walk like Joan? Put yourself into one of these corsets and not only will you have an hourglass figure like you’ve never seen, but you’ll just WALK in a different way, a SEXY way!

What Katie Did specializes in designs influences by the glamour of the ‘40s and ‘50s film stars but with contemporary fabric and structure. Plus, were else can you find a gorgeous bullet bra these days?

 

     

And if you can’t get your hand on any of these clothes, you can always dress up virtually and “Mad Men Yourself” through the AMC website:

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So if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go get dressed up and mix a cocktail. Can’t wait for Season 6, starting on April 7th!

Stay tuned for Part II of Mad Men series next week where I show you more of how you can live the Mad Men lifestyle!

Now go shop!
Kastle

Photos of Vintage Playclothes by Kastle
Photos of Clever Vintage, Banana Republic Mad Men Collection, What Katie Did via Pinterest

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Tag: Janie Bryant

Mad Men Style

Take one look at today’s fashion and it’s easy to spot the influence the hit show Mad Men has had on it – more ladylike silhouettes in voluminous full skirts, curve-flashing wiggle dresses and pencil skirts. Women in the ’60s really knew how to express the power of their femininity, even if they didn’t quite have their equal rights yet. All I can say is thank goodness – I only wear vintage when I go out and the main reason is I don’t find modern clothes to be attractive in the way they were in past eras. But some of that is changing, thanks to Mad Men Costume Designer Janie Bryant, whose eye for fashion is transforming the way contemporary designers are creating their new lines.

And what better place to meet this taste-maker than my favorite store in town, Playclothes Vintage? Bryant stopped by to sign copies of her recently released book, The Fashion File. I have to say, I got this book for Christmas and I read it in little bites like sweet Bon Bons. It’s the ultimate fashion tell-all treat where Bryant reflects on how she built the style of the characters on Mad Men and how you can find your signature style with a just a few mindful tweaks to your wardrobe.

During the book signing Bryant was surrounded by admiring fashionistas who came dressed in their best vintage looks to show off for her. My pal Sandra D. turned up in a pink, candy-striped, strapless dress she found at a costume store clearout sale. It was the very dress that Bryant herself created for Betty Draper in Mad Men’s Season 2. Bryant took one look at it and said, “That’s Betty’s dress, where did you find that!” Then proceeded to tell us how she had added the pink stripes and bow to give a pop of “Betty color” to the vintage gown.

We had a great time hanging out with this superstar stylist, who is so down to earth you just want to invite her out with the girls for cocktails. And I personally want to say THANK YOU Janie for bringing back the idea of fabulous personal style!

And in this edition of the Stiletto Style Spotlight, I couldn’t help but notice Allyson Rowen Taylor, who stood out in the crowd in a hot pink sheath dress, artistic-looking brushed gold glasses and an ultra-chunky necklace of her own design made of found bits including washers, safety pins and various trinkets. Plus, she was great fun to hang out with! Now that’s some great style!

From the fashion files,
K.

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