Are you obsessed with the TV series Mad Men? I have to admit I have never seen the show, but I cannot escape the reality of TV shows infiltrating my psyche in this day and age. In short, I have indeed swooned over the Emmy Award winning, madly cool costume design from Mad Men and want to highlight the celebrated style this week.
If you search “Mad Men” on BurdaStyle alone, you will find 354 Mad Men sewing-related projects created by our users. There are far too many to list, but here are some inspiring projects for back to school mode (even if you’re out of school, Fall is always a great time to update your wardrobe).
I am Mad For Plaid over this vintage dress pattern. BurdaStyle created a free headband pattern for 60s up-dos. Elegant Impressions offers a free rockabilly dress pattern with a giant skirt, and this little black dress is super chic. Love to upcycle? This hot little number was made from a striped men’s shirt.
BurdaStyle? You rock. What are you making that is Mad?
Photos: ABC, Brunette on a Budget, Elle magazine, lookbook.nu, BurdaStyle.com
Feb 16, 2011, 05.51 AMby luxihere
oh i love those plaid ones!
Oct 31, 2010, 02.06 PMby amn-1
Wooooow That’s soooooooo nice I love it
Sep 9, 2010, 12.11 PMby aggelicat .)
I’ m gonna start watching the show right now!!!
Sep 9, 2010, 03.23 AMby mcloughlinsarah
want all these outfits! theyre awesome!
1 Reply
Oct 31, 2010, 02.08 PMby amn-1
Me too
Sep 9, 2010, 02.50 AMby mollykatherine
I’m a complete mad men addict! Like grosgrain I recently went to a Mad Men Party and had the pleasure of making the birthday girl her betty inspired frock ( http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/the-cherry-on-top-frock ). I wish I had had the time to make one for myself also, but wore an origional early 60’s cocktail dress which was just as much fun. I wish everyday was a mad men day :)
Sep 8, 2010, 05.35 PMby spanningtime
Where can I find the pattern for the white dress in the collage of pics above? (The one the brunette with the martini is wearing). It’s adorable!
Sep 8, 2010, 03.37 PMby carolinam
I’ve just uploaded a finished project and i see now that the second pictures reminds me a bit of my uploaded jacket.
http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/own-design-jacket-with-belt
don’t know the series, maybe i can find them on the web somewhere.
Sep 8, 2010, 02.19 PMby heidilea
I’ve only seen parts of Mad Men (I don’t have cable), but shortly before it came on, I wondered why we don’t “dress” anymore. The decline seems to have started in the late sixties, with the removal of hats and gloves and finally came to an end in the late 90s, when it became socially acceptable to go out without pantyhose or a slip. Then came the slovenliness, people appearing in public wearing their bedclothes and house slippers. It even went so far as people appearing at work in these items. I think we all just grew so tired of the dirtiness and lazy dressing. If we look poorly, then who are we? Then Mad Men came out, showing, no—reminding—everyone how it used to be and how we used to look.
All of the mid-century, from the 40s to the 60s, is en vogue right now, and probably for it’s dressing. The 40s and 50s culminated a look of cultivated beauty and elegance, and the 60s was the apex of that. There’s something very special about the 60s, the first half specifically. No matter what year it is, a dress or an outfit from that time period never seems out of place or unfashionable. Some of the details may be outdated, but the siloutte is so perfectly classic. I had the fortune to find a photo of my grandmother after she died, wearing a beautiful black sheath dress, her lips red and her dark hair piled high. When cleaning out the house, we found the beautiful dress hidden in a garment bag of old lady polyester shirts. It had a row of beading around the waist. I was able to wear it for my junior prom the following year, and it didn’t look one bit out of place. That was in 1998. I wore it again in 2000. I’m too large to wear it now, but if I could, it would probably look just as fresh and lovely. I’m also lucky enough to have a green and blue brocade sheath my other grandmother made in 1966. It’s too large for me, but I keep it for posterity.
Fashion is a pendulum, and I think the Era of Undress is coming to an end. Jeans and T-shirts are too much a part of the American persona to go away entirely, but I think we will start to see a lot more care in people’s dress, and that is a good thing. I am still very young, but even I can see that Mod never goes out of style. Right now my favorite pattern is Folkwear’s Blonde Bombshell, but I’m on the lookout for a favorite sheath.
To complete one’s look, I think proper undies are in order. Some vintage styles just don’t look right without a gasp girdle. Also hair—I found that Lauren Rennells “Vintage Hairstyling, Retro Styles with Step by Step Techniques” is very helpful.
Sep 8, 2010, 10.59 AMby crockett315
Anyone know if there’s a Burda-style pattern for the great trousers above? That’s what I’d like!
1 Reply
Sep 13, 2010, 01.49 PMby alisondahl
In fact we designed some last Fall that are very similar and stunning! Check out the pattern.
Sep 8, 2010, 09.47 AMby cinnamon-girl
I haven’t watched Mad Men yet, but I really want to just because of the clothes! (And the show looks interesting too haha). I love shows originally from the 60s as well as shows recreating that style now. American Dreams/Our Generation was another one a few years ago.
I just purchased this 60s pattern recently, which I’ll be sewing soon: http://vintagepatterns.wikia.com/wiki/Simplicity_4343 I think it’s a bit Mad Men style, going by the photos I’ve seen.
I’m in love with this pink coat from the show!: http://www.fancast.com/blogs/files/2009/06/donbetty645.jpg
2 Replies
Sep 8, 2010, 09.54 AMby apfelbluete
I have (Simplicity 4343) already made!
see my previous posting (My vintage dress)…
Sep 8, 2010, 10.15 AMby cinnamon-girl
Ohh, your dress is actually the reason I bought the pattern! I saw it awhile back and loved it, so I found the pattern on ebay :)
Sep 8, 2010, 09.20 AMby apfelbluete
I am one of the lucky women who can wear both styles, Betty-style and Joan-style … and I love to wear. The people on the street turn around, which delights me uneasy.
For Betty:
http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/my-vintage-dress; http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/vintage-50-s-t-shirt. http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/katjusha
For Joan:
http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/nadja-1 http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/parisian-chic-retro
Sep 8, 2010, 01.52 AMby vintagegrace90
I love Mad Men! The looks are gorgeous and the show is entertaining. Here’s my bit:http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/a-bit-of-joan-a-bit-of-betty-dress?image=131333 It’s my “Bit of Betty, Bit of Joan” dress. I would love to have Joan’s wardrobe from the show.
Sep 7, 2010, 10.35 PMby grosgrain
In January I was nine months pregnant and a friend of mine was having a ‘Mad Men’ themed new year’s party. I was so inspired by Betty’s recent maternity wardrobe that I tried to make a replica of one of her maternity evening dresses. I posted about it here:
http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/betty-draper-evening-gala-maternity-frock
Oh and just watched the new ep last night. LOVE, Peggy’s storyline….and her new hairdos:)
Sep 7, 2010, 10.33 PMby popbabe7
Same for me, never watched the show but have looked at a lot of pics on the net. The late 50s/ early 60s seems to have been re-created with a lot of care and attention to detail in Mad Men.
Thanks for the tips, will definitely have a look on BurdaStyle for some inspiration!
Sep 7, 2010, 08.58 PMby reneebies
I just added one this weekend! I think the madison dress is prefect for mad men ish style. http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/mad-men-mod-madison
Sep 7, 2010, 08.42 PMby phyllis26
I really like these looks it take me back when i was young.
Sep 7, 2010, 08.39 PMby beccaa
What is the plaid dress in the spread above? I love it, but can’t find it on the BurdaStyle site. Thanks.
1 Reply
Sep 7, 2010, 09.17 PMby alisondahl
It’s a Mad Men costume I found on this blog. Gorgeous!!
Sep 7, 2010, 07.08 PMby bijouxbetty
OOh ohh! I can add to this, though not as chique as the one’s in the collage!
Here’s my flagrant self-promotion: http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/60-s-office-wear?image=52256I drafted my own version of a Joan Holloway dress from season 2 & just in the process of finishing up another one.
Sep 7, 2010, 06.13 PMby juebejue
ahh! i just finished a mad men inspired dress and was going to upload it today! :) its a dress that I think a young betty would wear :)
update: i just uploaded! : http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/take-me-back-to-the-50s-dress :)
2 Replies
Sep 7, 2010, 06.32 PMby alisondahl
Please share when you do!!
Sep 8, 2010, 08.43 PMby digitalgeisha
Gorgeous! Love love love…