Although I realize I am embarrassingly late to the party, I never managed to watch the Emmy winning show Mad Men when it was on (I know! don’t judge). While we lived in Australia, we were very much out of the loop with regards to when new shows were airing, because most things were many months behind, and got into a general habit of streaming old favorites and not really paying a lot of attention to shows that were au courant.
Fast forward about a decade from it’s original air date, and thanks to the magic of Netflix, Mad Men came on our radar. From the chain smoking to the rampant sexism, we’ve been binge watching all 7 seasons. As you probably guessed, in addition to being fascinated with the characters, I’ve got my hungry vintage-loving eye on the fashion – particularly the first few seasons which took place in the early 60’s and had the New Look silhouettes that get my little heart racing. There were more than a few drool-worthy pieces coming across the screen that I recall setting off quite a frenzy in the vintage community, and the skyrocketing prices of some of the more iconic dresses now make a lot more sense.
Imagine my surprise in Season 1 when Betty Draper herself is perched on a sofa, awaiting an audition for a commercial for Coca-Cola. There she sat, resplendent in a silk, strapless dress of dreams that I find myself exclaiming – “Hey, wait…I own that!” In single tone blush pink and minus the fuchsia bow at the bust, but so unmistakably a dress currently hanging in my closet, bought years ago from favorite Mill Street Vintage.
In an article in the NY Times, I learned that famed costume designer Janie Bryant actually added the pink panels to the original, which was likely the identical twin to my piece. It was also apparently January Jones’ favorite garment she wore on the show – and I can certainly see why. So iconically 1950’s, this dress speaks to glamour and decadence and a gal who has no issue with getting more than a few sideways glances…
There was only one event that was befitting my very own Betty Draper dress – Mr. Dressed-Draper and I are celebrating our 8 year wedding anniversary today! It’s impossible to describe how quickly 8 years has flown by, and how grateful I am every day to have my partner in crime by my side. Decked out in his own vintage deep green 1960’s suit, he and I are going to be clinking glasses at local favorite Manna – no matter how crazy life gets, I always appreciate that we take a night out each year to celebrate us.
I have no doubt we’ll spend the evening casting an eye over the past. Over the aquarium wedding with our families dancing the night away. Over the oceans and moving boxes. The big nights where we celebrated new jobs and new adventures. And the quiet nights in where we snuggled on the sofa, my hand tucked neatly in his. And we’ll surely be talking about the future. A future filled with still more moving boxes, this time moving only a few miles down the road to what we hope will be our forever home. Where we can pick paint colors and choose the perfect chandelier. Looking forward to boarding more planes in the coming year, but this time for fun instead of a huge life change. Where we’ll tackle each next thing life throws at us together.
Because he is not my Don Draper. Or my Heathcliff or Romeo. He is something better than a character or fantasy. He is simply my person. And I am his.
Mad about you Mr D., today and every day.
xoxo
Outfit Details:
Dress: Mill Street Vintage (similar modern and vintage here, here & here)
Necklace: vintage (similar)
Handbag: vintage (similar here & here)
Shoes: Valentino, thrifted (similar here & here)
Lip Color: Nars, discontinued (similar)
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