The new season of Mad Men is soon to hit Australian screens – and fashion is having itself a 1960s moment.
The show itself has never been more popular, and fashion has embraced Mad Men like a long-lost cousin.
The proof? The show has inspired two new collections from different big name fashion empires – Estee Lauder and Banana Republic – released within two weeks of one another.
It seems we just can’t get enough of the Drapers and Sterling Cooper.
The Banana Republic line is an extension of an earlier Mad Men collection, and features male model of the moment David Gandy (if you’ve never seen him before, pay attention – he’s becoming the most-hyped model of the year) frolicking with 80s favourite Shalom Harlow in sixties-style prints and separates.
We particularly have our eyes on the big floral print dresses on Harlow – vintage with a sweet modern flair.
If dressing like one of the cast isn’t your thing, Estee Lauder is now putting out two products purely from love of the show. Their Mad Men collection comprises a vivid red lipstick – very 1950s Richard Avedon – and a rose-cream blusher.
Apparently the line was inspired by a “personal connection” between Estee Lauder herself and Mad Men; “the sixties were her heyday as well,” president Jane Hezmark Hudis told the press.
And they haven’t neglected the packaging; the two products come in divine golden compacts which wouldn’t look out of place on Elizabeth Taylor’s dressing table on the set of Cleopatra.
Will you be buying some Mad Men magic?
Image: Banana Republic’s Mad Men line.
You can tell a lot about a woman from her watch – and they need as much attention as any other part of the accessories wardrobe, though they can be replaced a lot less frequently.
When buying watches, always try on, take your wardrobe into consideration, buy a warranty and don’t be seduced by deals which sacrifice quality – if you’re an adult woman, you need a proper watch.
Chunky man’s watches in elegant gold, silver and leather have seen an amazing resurgence, thanks in part to the efforts of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who wear men’s watches exclusively.
For the fashionista who treads outside gender lines and wants a bit of heft on her wrist, men’s watches are a good way to spell chic without excess bling. Look for models with nautical elements or several dials if you want something intricate, or a clean classic face if you’re more into pared-back chic, but always look for the right size – enough to make you look delicate without overwhelming you.
If you’re into making statements, pocket-watches and miniature watches worn as pendants have gained popularity recently, though it takes considerable styling to make them look chic without overtones of an Etsy seller.
Always buy good quality, and don’t wear them as gimmicks; make sure they tone into the general feel of an outfit.
If you’re the kind who regularly wears clean-cut neutrals and very little else, a delicate diamond or cubic zirconia watch can be an unexpected way to add sparkle.
So-called ‘dress watches’ are designed for evening and are often miniature, more resembling bracelets than watches. It can be easy to be overcome by the jewel factor, but keep it restrained – you do still have to read the clock face – and pair it with long blouses and otherwise bare wrists.
Dress watches for evening are a little outmoded now, so beware looking like your grandmother.
And, of course, if none of this suits you, there’s the Hublot Boa Bang, which is snakeskin in python green or brown. It’s only for those of you who really want to make things pop, so make sure you’re not going to tire of it after a season…
Image: Hublot’s Boa Bang watch.
They were everywhere on the Oscar red carpet – somewhat to the disappointment of fashion commentators, who wanted a bit more bang.
Neutrals are having a moment, and Rescu. is here to show you how to wear them with aplomb.
First, beiges, nudes and other pale tones are particularly prone to washing you out. When you buy, look at them in harsh light from all angles. Do they make you look sickly? Do they bring out a yellowness or redness in the skin?
Neutrals can expose all sorts of sins, so beware the pitfalls of a poorly-chosen colour.
Secondly, balance out the coolness of the colour with a pop elsewhere. Neutrals paired with neon was a very popular choice on catwalks recently.
If you’re young enough to get away with it, go with coral lipsticks, bright blue eyeliner or green nail polish. Otherwise stick to jewel or sky-blue tones: neutral pants with a bright red top, a nude blouse with vibrant yellow shoes.
If you’re blessed with dark skin, you can wear neutrals with aplomb, but it’s still a base look rather than an overall colour palette, so make sure you don’t get complacent.
And if you get a tan, make sure things still match; pale skin is wonderful, but sometimes neutrals can simply make it fade into the background.
Neutrals can send the message that you’re hiding something, so make sure you pick the right fit, as they can be more attention-grabbing than you think. Billowing nudes are often a poor idea, unless balanced with some seriously structured jewellery or shoes.
Pile on the necklaces and bracelets – use it as a blank canvas. Neutrals with some kind of detailing are also very in at the moment – embellished with bright lace or vibrant studs. It’s an excellent way to dress up the colour, but don’t get carried away with the detailing and forget to check whether the underlay matches your tones.
The good news? This is an excuse for you to really pop with your make-up, so bring out the blushes, the lipstick, the eyeliner. Defining your face against a neutral is a very good way to make it stand out.
Image: Kristen Wiig wears her much-pilloried neutral dress on the Oscars red carpet.
Yes, the Oscars were this weekend, but the REAL gossip-inducing event happened very quietly last week – and set off a million rumours.
Raf Simons, the head designer of Jil Sander, stepped down, and every fashionista worth her salt immediately grabbed her pearls: does this mean he’s in at Dior?
The Belgian designer’s departure was Tweeted by the queen of all fashion gossip at New York Fashion Week, Cathy Horyn, and nobody’s denied it.
His name has been in the running for creative designer of Dior ever since John Galliano swan-dived out of his post and into the headlines.
So will he fit? He certainly has the credentials. You may not have heard of him, but Simons has years of design experience under his belt, and has produced his own lines as well as helming Jil Sander.
However, Dior under Galliano became famous for flamboyance, spectacle, couture design and femininity – none of which Simons is really known for.
Jil Sander is a very clean-cut line, with elegant lines and simple accessories – though it can be daring, as Miranda Kerr showed when she stepped out in Simon’s dress made almost entirely of fringing and nothing else.
It’s also not a first-tier fashion line alongside Dior, Chanel, Gucci or YSL, and fashion is notoriously snobbish to designers who seem to be aspiring above their station.
If it’s true, Simons has just achieved the coup of a lifetime, but Rescu. will believe it when we see it.
Image: Raf Simons.
