Welcome to The Ivy League Look

This blog presents a historical view through articles, photographs, reminiscences, and advertisements, of an American style of men's fashion of the mid-20th century known as "The Ivy League Look" or "The Ivy Look."

This blog will not present modern-day iterations of this "look"; it will be shown in its original context as an American style worn during this specific era. Author commentary will be kept to a minimum.

This is not a commercial site and links to commercial sites will not be posted.

August 6, 2009

Mad Men, Season 3

(click to enlarge)

I'm breaking from the norm with this post to present a few images from the website for AMC's Mad Men. These are promo shots for Season 3, which takes place during the mid-1960s (1964 to 1965, from what I understand).

Try to ignore Christina Hendricks (it's tough, I know) and take a look at the suit worn by Jon Hamm (as Don Draper). A 3/2 roll to the three-button, or a "three-button with button-on-center" in J. Press terminology. He's wearing something akin to a Brooks Brothers No. 1 stripe repp tie. Narrow lapels. Some padding to the shoulder but nothing excessive. Forward point white shirt, TV fold pocket square. I think it's a good representation of what a man in Don Draper's position on Madison Ave. would wear during this period (not Ivy, but still somewhat conservative). Two buttons on the sleeve would have been appropriate, but I'm sure that three was also common then. I'm also wondering whether Vincent Kartheiser's tie is almost too narrow.

This promo shot features four supporting characters. The costumers really do wonderful work on this show.

Back to our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow.

4 comments:

Richard M said...

There were certainly ties as narrow as that in the early 60's.

Anonymous said...

I'll be watching. Already have seen Seasons 1 and 2. I think the clothing is to be emulated, but their actions not.

tintin said...

A story in yesterdays NY Times has Weiner putting '63 as the year for season III with the hope of eventually carrying the show through the early 70's.

Anonymous said...

Read in the Wall Street Journal that Brooks makes the clothes for Don Draper.