For anyone who was wondering about the authenticity of the clothing in AMC's Mad Men set in the early 1960s, here is a young George Peppard in his role in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Peppard's not headed for an office in his black and white tweed jacket, tan sweater vest, white shirt with buttondown collar and brown grenadine necktie, but the tie and lapel width authenticate Don Draper's garb. And the tan, white and black tones combine with the fabric textures to give Peppard's clothes plenty of visual interest even though the colors are conservative.
Breakfast at Tiffany's also stars Audrey Hepburn, in my opinion one of the best dressed actresses of all time. Couturier Hubert de Givenchy designed most of her on-camera clothes for decades and she wore them beautifully.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
A Mad Men Contemporary
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9 comments:
I was transported back to that era the moment I began watching. Not just the look, but even more, the attitudes and feeling. I admire the verisimilitude not just of the costumes, but also the décor and even the landscaping of a typical suburban home.
Attire among the characters is varied by their age and evident background. Don Draper is youngest and least seasoned. His costume is most austere and strictly current business fashion of the day. Bert Cooper's suits are well tailored and much more relaxed to fit his somewhat portly figure as he strolls his office in tasteful socks without shoes.
But the most interesting dress is that of partner Roger Sterling. Roger is a ladies man and WWII vet contrasted to Don’s Korean War. He’s fond of more elaborate attire, and while his suits are as slim as Don’s, they’re better cut and often sport pleats and a vest with a lapel to go with his pinned collar. While crude in many ways, he has the veneer of worldly sophistication sought by professional men of his era.
All three characters both sartorially and attitudinally are archetypes of what could be seen among the business professionals of Manhattan of that era.
"Audrey Hepburn, in my opinion one of the best dressed actresses of all time."
SO true!
Love the blog - and thank you for reminding men everywhere that in fact, clothes CAN make the man!
Although both are consistent with early 60s attire, I have to vigorously disagree about lapel width in the two photographs you show; Peppard's lapel extends almost halfway across the front of the jacket, whereas Don Draper's covers no more than 1/4 of the width, much more in keeping with the very narrow necktie. The wider lapel harkens back to the 50s, whereas Draper's very BB look is, IIRC, rather fashion forward for the early 60s.
The top picture is fantastic, and having all of the pieces in my closet, I cannot wait for winter to wear them together. What are the pants? Gray flannels?
OH we have crossed a threshold here and opened the door to a vigorous debate. Audrey or Katherine? I am firmly in the camp of Katherine over Audrey.
Of course gray flannels. :-)
Audrey Hepburn is one of the classiest, most beautiful actresses in film history. Here in Japan she is revered and her image is used by my bank for their advertising. Even though Japan has very little interest in what is not cutting edge or trendy or new, especially movies, nearly all women and girls here, no matter what age, have seen "Roman Holiday" and love it.
Roger is the white-haired man who wears a more double-breasted style, right? And let's not forget about Pete Campbell, who still dresses as though he's not yet finished his senior year of college prep. As for the rest of the office.. well, they seem a little bit NASA to me. Peppard's character is ostensibly a writer (for a moment I'll overlook the atrocious adaptation from what is perhaps an example of a novel, perfectly executed), and the wider lapels of his jacket seem more collegiate, less professional. Were such distinctions important back in the day? (Speaking as someone who did not witness that decade firsthand.)
Just bought the first season.
I remember the first time I realized that the man I had idolized on the A-Team was this man in Breakfast at Tiffany's. You've inspired me to watch both again.
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