This weekend I raided some local vintage stores to put together a 1960s-themed costume that channels the show Mad Men. Although Halloween is coming up, I actually have a different reason for getting all dolled up…
On Sunday, October 9, the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau is hosting the OC Blogger Bash for all Orange County bloggers. To add a little fun, they’ve decided to make it Mad Men/1960s themed (it’s also a nod to 1961, the year the Bureau got its start). Admission is free (with an RSVP), and there are going to be some amazing prizes handed out from local hotspots including House of Blues, Knott’s Berry Farm, Disneyland Resort, and The Outlets at Orange.
If you’re a local blogger, please join in the fun! It’s a great opportunity to network with other OC/LA bloggers and get to know the awesome staff at the Bureau. Hopefully you and I will brush elbows (as long as our huge retro hair doesn’t get in the way).
Anywhoooo, even if you aren’t attending the OC Blogger Bash, a Mad Men themed costume is perfect for Halloween! It’s such a fun decade to channel; I love the feminine silhouettes from pencil skirts to natural waistlines and full-skirted dresses. Here’s what I found to put together my retro ’60s look (the Mr. says I look ready to take dictation, so I guess that means I did a good job?):
- Suit: Vintage ’60s suit (found at local vintage shop, Stray Cat Vintage)
- Stockings with back seam: From Stray Cat Vintage
- Pearl earrings: My own
- Brooch: My own
- Shoes: Payless (I think they do a pretty good job of channeling the ’60s considering they’re from Payless)
I’m still working on getting my hair to have the proper amount of height… that may take a while.
Mad Men Costume: Do It Yourself!
If you’re feeling the vibe and are in need of a Halloween costume anyway, the best way to pull off the Mad Men theme is to stick with some of the following:
- Full-skirted dresses, most likely belted
- Low heels or kitten heels
- Pearls
- Skirts never go above the knee
- Pencil skirts and dresses
- Lots of high buttoned collars
Here are some great options I found online that would make for a fabulous Mad Men costume:
1. Lisbon navy floral dress $51.99
2. 1960’s Red and White Polka Dot Ascot Dress on Etsy.com $48
3. Willoughby hills floral dress $51.99
4. Nine to Five Dress by Shabby Apple $62
5. Madison Ave Dress by Shabby Apple $76
Sure, at about $50-70 for each of these, these dresses are an investment. However, I can see myself wearing each one of them again (save for the red and white polka dot; dots just are my thang). Check out the snapshots on their respective sites to see how the retailers styled them – they can be completely modernized! The Madison Avenue dress is my favorite… drool. I would wear that everywhere… the grocery store, the park, to bed…
So, would you go Mad Men style to a Halloween party? Or do you have other plans?