Mad (wo)Men come back to life from the 1960s

Some of you might be familiar with the show "Mad Men".

If you're not, let me fill you in...

Its a show about CEOs and their secretaries/ wives/ mistresses working in an advertising agency during 1960s.

Its not really the show that sparked my fashion philosophy interest, but when watching an episode one day, something clicked in my brain...

Fit and flare dresses, button up shirts, dress pants, blazers

The fashion norms of 1960s for men and women has flared back up this August!

In fact the trends of 1960s that you see on this show became so popular that Banana Republic launched a Mad Men inspired fashion line this season!

1960s gone Bananas!

this was a fair line to put on the market because of how popular that areas clothing style has become. 

At first I thought that the fall fashion line was just a play off business wear in general, however its not just that.

For men, the office scene fashion hasn't changed too much. Suite and tie. However now you see girls walking around not only in what men wore in the 1960s, but what women wore.

Real Housewives of 2011

Fit and flare dresses and knee length tight dresses have been very popular. However the similarities between what a typical housewife in the 1960s wore and what we wear today may be shocking.

1960s Housewife

one of Forever 21's New Arrival dresses

Notice several of the minor details that make this dresses basically from the same era.

Fit and flare

Belt

Button up the middle above where the flare is

the collar

A very simple design built strictly to show a thin waist with an hourglass figure, which is exactly what men want to see on their women when they get home.

This exact shape makes sense as to why this fashion has been and is once again a popular style for women. It makes your chest and hips look big while making your waist look thin. 

It was perfect for housewives back in the 1960s because their main purpose was to be domestic and maternal for the family household.

Also, the hourglass figure became popular right after the age of Marilyn Monroe the Sex figure of the 19050s, who flaunted the hourglass figure and promoted it upon women. After her, the fashion was made to accentuate the chest and hips. 

Women today like this dress style because it makes you look feminine + all of the characteristics I mentioned before with the hour glass shape. 

Yet something I can't figure out is why now and why has this house mom look come back to grab interest in young women today?

Business Attire 

The one trend that I have been drawn to and most interested in this season is the male business look. Many different business garment pieces have been remade into clothing articles to complement the womanly figure.

For example:

The blazer.

If you have followed up on my blogs you know how i feel about blazers.

They're professional, complementing, and built perfectly to go with any outfit to make you look casual, put together, and trendy. I love blazers. 

However, the blazer craze is not some magical jacket that got put on the market for women this year.

In fact as most of America knows, the blazer is a uniform over jacket for business men.

A blazer is what to be expected when a man dresses up to look professional or put together.

The blazer is just one clothing article that has been stolen from the typical male fashion line. 

Button up shirts are another biggie.

Whether is lace, sheer, crop top or bright pink; everyone is doing it.

The button up long sleeved work shirt has hit girls closets like a bomb! A lot of my friends have been wearing them, and when you see someone in one, you think "Oh wow that looks so trendy!"

All of those shirts above are on the the Forever 21 new arrivals page as of October 31st, 2011.

They are in different shapes sizes and colors and they are everywhere young women have been shopping.

What I don't get is, why?

I mean don't get me wrong!

Even I am doing it! I love the look on me and anyone else wearing it.

Just what I dont understand is why!?

My philosophy has always been feminine looks are what become and stay most popular, but this piece of article in particular has no redeeming qualities when it comes to flattering a body.

They're baggy and not even reshaped to show girly curves.

Its the same reason that baffles me as to why girls like a risky business themed party!

Maybe its that whole "I am wearing boys clothes because someone found me attractive so he let me wear his shirt" look is what girls are going for.

Or maybe its the whole "if you can look food in this, you can look good in anything" look.

Or maybe its the fact that someone finally redid the old fashion women's button up shirt and finally decided to make it look trendy, professional, and slightly sexy.

My bet is on that one.

And old school women's button up blouse made women look old and boring.

Now there is a trendy twist, so we can look business casual, and still feel feminine and stylish without feeling boring.

So you can take whatever stance you want, I just call them as I see them.

And I see everyone wearing them.

Either with a tight black skirt or colored jeans.

The shirts themselves are already pretty wacky, you probably can't tack it out too much more than they already are. 

Also don't forget, color blocking is from the 60s too...

Then...

Now...

I don't think I need to say too much more than that... Everyone knows about color blocking by now.

So as you can see the 1960s culture has hit the run way in a way that was truly unpredictable. The business world such as portrayed in the show "Mad Men" with the CEOs and secretaries, to the closet of a typical woman in the 60s has all come back for a repeat of style. 

My Interpersonal Communication's teacher always says "The 80s are back"

I think tomorrow when he says that I will say "Excuse me professor, you're wrong. I have proof to show otherwise"

I don't know exactly what has drawn us back to the 60s out of all time periods, but it is here I am predicting until spring.

Everything from the typical housewife to a partying color blocking teenager to a working husband, majority of the style trends from this era are acceptable to mimicking in todays attire. Just look around, you will be shocked.

And in case you're interested, Mad Men is on Netflix instant demands if you want more stylish inspiration.

Oh the weather outside is frightful... but your outfit doesn't have to match!

I can't move my arms!

There is a lot of things that straight up stink about winter.

Good bye; bathing suite, shorts, tank tops, skirts, sundresses, sandals, swimming, pool side mimosas and warmth.

When its warm, its easy to be hot.

Literally and figuratively.

There is nothing hard about throwing on a sundress during the day with a bright flower in your hair and wedges.

And at night putting a black skirt on with a cute top and heels.

Thats simple. Its college girl attire 101, they basically teach it to you at orientation.

The tricky part is finding a way to look still attractive and fashionable when its snowing outside.

In this blog we are going to give you tips to make sure that the stride from your apartment to Pigskin is anything but a cozy yet ugly set up.

So lets go over head to toe; the basics with a little bit "trendy steroids" pumped in.

Head

On a night of going out, hats are never okay.

Ever.

Ever.

Ever.

Part of me even wonders why I am going over that.

Im just making sure nobody is thinking about wearing a beanie to a bar.

Your hair can have goose bumps for five minutes.

Neck

Scarves are a good idea, if you know how to wear them.

Much like what I said with the sweaters, scarves are good in solid colors and simple print. I think its safe to say that a thin black scarf goes a long way when putting an outfit together.

There are some rules though....

Rule one: Do not every put pattern on pattern.

Solid shirt = fancy scarf

Fancy shirt = very subtle scarf /no scarf

All solid colored shirts underneath 

Rule two: it should not be a hassle or in the way.

Keep scarves looped around your neck and short enough that they won't be getting in the way or being tripped over or anything crazy.

If your scarf is so wild and out there and hard to deal with, it will not only take away from your outfit but it will take away from you.

Just keep it simple.

Rule three: no thick knit scarves with crazy doo-das dangling off of them

Once your scarf starts looking less like an accessory and more like a big Dr. Suess character draping from your neck, you did it wrong.

We are trying to stray away from the fact you are trying to keep warm.

If its simple and subtle, you will keep warm and still look god.

KEEP AWAY FROM KNIT!

They are good for going to class in or running to Krogers, but other than that they are just like wearing sweats.

They are frumpy looking.

There is a difference between a going out scarf 

And a thick scarf you wear between classes when you are sick.

Coat

Ballistic for blazers.

Trade in your peacoat, and throw out your leather jacket.

Blazers are what you want to be seen in.

As you can read from my previous blog "Getting Blazed", blazers are the popular going out coat for this year.

They make girls of all types look thin, professional, and classy.

The best part about blazers is, they never look tacky. It would take a lot of work for a blazer to look tacky on someone if you are wearing solid colors.

Even light blue and orange look good as blazers. In fact, typical men's business wear as a whole is actually popular amongst women this season, blazers are just part of the trend. They truly are the coat of the year and I am not directing anyone reading my blogs to any type of coat for this season.

For more info on blazers and why they are so popular and where you can get yours, read my previous blog "Getting Blazed".

Bottoms.

There are a few options for women in the winter, and they haven't really changed over the years.

Option one: Suck it up. 

You go from warm building to warm building. I wouldn't be too concerned about frost bite in a 4 minute time span. Bare legs are usually the best option for winning "sexy points". However if you are going to go through this option, use lotion. The cold weather will dry your skin up. You will be scalier than a fish if you don't use lotion on your legs in the winter

Option two: Jeans

Now its very important you figure out what type of jeans look best on you.

Typically skinny jeans look good on anybody (if you wear the right size)

Dark blue or navy blue skinny jeans are usually a safe bet. Make sure you wear a bright top with dark jeans, and a dark top with light jeans though. The contrast looks good.

If you have long thin legs, you should try the flare jeans look. They are truly an optical illusion. They will make you look taller and your legs thinner. They will also make you look edgy. However, in my opinion, not everyone can pull off flare jeans.

Option three: Leggings.

In my rule book, if your shirt covers 3/4ths of your booty when wearing leggings, you an wear leggings as pants.

They're tight and comfy. Guys love them. And they look adorable and simple underneath a big baggy crazy top and tucked into some uggs or boots. 

Black leggings. Always fine by me.

Option four: Tights! (my favorite)

DONT PACK YOUR LITTLE DRESSES UP YET!

I LOVE patterned tights! Tights look good under shorts (sometimes) and under dresses.

Patterned tights should be worn with simple solid colored dresses. They are the perfect leg accessory to keep you warm and looking good

Tights come in many different shapes and colors. In my opinion, your best bet is to stay with dark calm colors.

Black, brown, dark purple, dark red. 

None of that crazy neon yellow or metallic. 

As for patterns, there are a ton of options but the flower pattern or small diamonds or any other type of small subtle designs looks good. i feel like there is a fine line between what looks cute and what look tacky/trashy.

Yes

No

Shoes

When it comes to shoes, it doesn't change too much. However walking in the snow with pumps on is VERY hard. I would recommend packing pumps and stilettos away until the ice thaws. But the heel has not vanished completely! 

Booties are still a classy option when going out. They were in last winter and according to all the website and fashion run ways, they aren't gong anywhere.

They truly are the winter time heel. They are more covering for that wintery snow boot look and they look adorable when paired with tights. These are probably your best going out option

(number 4 and 9 and my favorite)

Another option you have are tall, leg hugging, boots. With or without the heel, they make your legs look long and thin. The best part is they keep you warm while still looking put together. 

Personally, my favorite are suede and colored leather 3/4th claf covering boots. Here are some examples...

I usually try to avoid black leather boots or any that go beyond 3/4th of the calf because those have a negative connotation (try googling "thigh high leather boots" and you will see what I am talking about"

Other nice options for going out boots are rider heels and fancy cow boy boots. They give the same sexy  look but spice it up with something a little bit out of the ordinary. In fact I am currently on the hunt for some cute cowboy boots. I think those are trendy and out there enough to stand out, but not look too tacky.

Well there you go. From top to bottom, we covered it all. Hopefully you found something here that will help you when it gets colder. Just being the weather is terrible, doesn't mean you have to look just as bad. Winter time fashion looks completely different from any other seasons fashion, but it in fact has the same basics as every other season's fashion. Yes you need to cover up more to keep warm, but you can do it in style if you get creative enough.
Stay trendy!