How to Dress for a "Mad Men" Party

If you've been invited to a Mad Men themed party, you'll probably want to dress in a style based upon the show's first season or two, which were set in 1960 and 1962.  Clothes from those years were so glamorous, and are lots of fun.  Sorry guys, but this post is just for the gals!

What should you wear? A glamourous full skirted dress in an evening fabric will do. Here are pictures of several styles in brocade, chiffon, satin, and taffeta. Colors are clear and bright, black, white, or metallic brocades.


A skirt with a bit less flair, or a fitted sheath also works. A fitted dress should be jazzed up with lots of jewelry.


Beaded sweaters or cropped jackets, sometimes with fur trim, can be worn over the dress if it is a cool evening. Swing coats and fur stoles are also appropriate.

Lots of sparkly rhinestone jewelry is appropriate, in necklaces, bracelets, brooches and earrings.


Shoes should be spike or kitten heels with pointed toes.


In makeup, go for a strong defined brow line, black eyeliner and heavy mascara, and a strong lip color. Hair is either pulled back tight to the head with a chignon, or teased high with a flip at the ends.

Most of all, have fun, and have a martini!

New Ways to Wear a Scarf - 1951

One of the most versatile and dramatic accessories in your wardrobe is a pretty scarf.  Scarves add a pop of color to any outfit.  Fill your closet with high quality basics and dress them up in a myriad of ways with a collection of scarves.  Here are some different and fun ways to wear a scarf from 1951.  Need more?  Blogger Une Femme has put together some fabulous videos showing various techniques for tying scarves.  I find myself referring to these over and over.

Loop an 18" square over your belt and hold it in place with a vintage brooch.

Twist that same small square scarf through a string of pearls and knot at the side.

For a 36" square scarf, pull it through your belt and tuck a corner into the neckline of your dress.  Let the rest of the square hang loose in an apron effect.  This works best with a fabric that has stiffness or body, like taffeta.

For a blouse effect under a suit jacket, take a 36" square scarf, fold it in half diagonally and wrap around your neck with the point to the back of your neck.  Tuck the ends into your belt or skirt waistband.

Take a dress with simple lines and jazz it up with a long rectangular stole draped over your neck and belted.  This works best with a light and floaty scarf.

Use a large rectangular scarf in a bold pattern as a stole with a simple cocktail dress.

Or tie that same stole around your waist looping the ends over each other for a dramatic accent to your skirt.

Did you know that we offer a wonderful selection of vintage and designer scarves at Couture Allure?  Check them out!

Clare Potter - American Sportswear Designer

 Clare Potter, shown above, was one of America's leading fashion designers of the 1930s and 40s.  She is perhaps best known for her sportswear and her inventive use of color combinations.

1939

 Potter was born in New Jersey in 1903.  She studied costume design at the Pratt Institute, but left before graduating to work for Edward L. Mayer, a wholesale dress manufacturer in New York.  She worked for Mayer from about 1926-29.

1945

 In 1930, Potter went to work for Charles E. Nudelman, Inc., a maker of affordable ready-to-wear garments.  It was here that she was given name recognition, using the elided name Clarepotter in advertisements and the press.  She was one of the first American designers to achieve name recognition.

1948

 Potter received the Lord & Taylor Award for distinguished designing in 1937, a Neiman Marcus Award in 1939, and a Coty Award in 1946.

1949

 Potter wore the kind of clothes she made, simple and unfussy sportswear with no trimmings or decoration aside from their distinctive color combinations.  Even her evening wear was derived from sportswear, often made as separates.  She was the first to introduce an evening sweater as a layering option.

1951

 In 1948, Potter formed her own company, Timbertop, in partnership with magazine editor Martha Stout.  The company name came from the turkey farm that Potter owned with her husband in W. Nyack, NY.  By the 1950s, Potter was the sole owner of her own label Clare Potter.  She worked from a converted horse barn on her farm.  She would go to New York City twice a year to show her new line and between times, store buyers would travel out to the farm to place orders.

1951

Clare Potter continued designing into the early 60s.  She and her husband retired to a new Japanese style home in Fort Ann, New York.  She lived there until her death in January, 1999.

Please note: This biography about Clare Potter is copyright of Couture Allure and may not be copied without permission.

New at Couture Allure - Vintage Dresses and Handbags

New at Couture Allure this week are vintage dresses for the summer heat and some wonderful accessories including two huge tapestry handbags.  Be sure to check our What's New page to see all the latest listings!

1960s silk print dress sized for a tall figure.

1940s cotton voile full skirt dress perfect for those hot days!

1960s floral print cotton dress.  Plus Sized!

1960s striped silk wiggle dress.

1960s huge beaded tapestry basket purse by Midas of Miami.

1960s Stylecraft tapestry handbag, new old stock with original tag!

Weekend Eye Candy - Bette Davis

My all-time favorite actress, Bette Davis, as Mildred Rogers in Of Human Bondage.  The film was released in 1934 when Davis was just 26 years old.  This was her 23rd film role in a career that had begun only 3 years earlier.

Vintage Couture Dresses - 1971

1971 was a schizophrenic year in fashion.  From minis to maxis and kooky to sophisticated, it seemed every designer had their own idea of what women should be wearing.  Here, looks from the haute couture for Spring 1971.  Would you wear any of these today?  Which one is your favorite?

Guy Laroche orange silk evening gown with kimono sleeves and tassels.

Philippe Venet zebra print jumpsuit.

Pierre Cardin leather zodiac dresses.  There was one for every sign.  Shown here are Cancer and Aries.

Lanvin midi dress in a wild print.

Givency sequined top and sheer maxi skirt over hot pants.

What's in a Size? 1950s Petites and Half Sizes

Sizing standards have changed so much over the years, it's hard to know what size one wears any more.  Add to that the fact that in the 1950s, garment manufacturers made clothes in many more sizes than their counterparts today, and the choices can be dizzying.  This week we're looking at the various size ranges manufactured in the 1950s and what that means for you when you're shopping for a vintage dress.

Petite or Diminutive sizes are made for a woman is 5 feet 5 or under.  This woman will find that a misses size fits at the shoulders, waistline and hips, but is much too long-waisted and long in length.   Petite sizes are even numbers, usually 10 - 18 and will be shorter in overall length and from shoulder to waist (usually 14" - 15").  Here are two examples from 1951.

 This Martha Manning Petites suit of beige sharkskin is sized proportionately for the shorter woman and looks great with the poodle cloth stole.

This woman is in her 40s, but her figure is sleek enough for this dress and jacket set by Hannah Troy in petite sizing.

Half sizes are for women who are high waisted (usually 15" - 16" shoulder to waist) but a bit wider and heavier than the petite woman.  Half sizes run from 10 1/2 to 24 1/2.  Here are two examples from 1951.

For the woman who is a bit heavier and shorter but still trim, this half size suit by Forever Young in rayon ottoman with velvet trim is a wonderful option.

For the fuller but shapely and shorter figure, a half size is the perfect choice.  This black dress by Young Viewpoint has an easy skirt and points at the neckline to give a look of length.

What's in a Size? 1950s Misses Sizes

Sizing standards have changed so much over the years, it's hard to know what size one wears any more.  Add to that the fact that in the 1950s, garment manufacturers made clothes in many more sizes than their counterparts today, and the choices can be dizzying.  This week we're looking at the various size ranges manufactured in the 1950s and what that means for you when you're shopping for a vintage dress.

If you're tall and slim, you probably wear a misses size.  Misses sizes are perfect for the slender woman with wide shoulders, a long waist (at least 16" shoulder to waist) and long legs.  The size numbers are even and in the 1950s started at 8 and ran up to a 20.  The clothes shown here are all from 1951.  All four women are different ages, but all wore a size 12.

 Every woman should have a black crepe dress in her wardrobe.  This one by Herbert Sondheim has that touch of sophistication with it's soft skirt and flashes of yellow at the throat and cuffs.

This young looking grandmother wears a gray wool suit by Anna Miller.  The stiffened swirled peplum is a feature that she has the height to wear successfully.

If you're a young woman who likes to experiment, try a coat and dress ensemble instead of a suit.  This one by Pat Warren for Nantucket Naturals is in three tones of yarn dyed gray wool jersey.

A teenager tall enough to wear a misses' size will find that most vintage dresses that fit look too mature.  Try separates instead!  A plaid cotton shirt and pleated gray flannel skirt by Toni Owen are simple and smart.

What's in a Size? 1950s Junior Sizes

Sizing standards have changed so much over the years, it's hard to know what size one wears any more.  Add to that the fact that in the 1950s, garment manufacturers made clothes in many more sizes than their counterparts today, and the choices can be dizzying.  This week we're looking at the various size ranges manufactured in the 1950s and what that means for you when you're shopping for a vintage dress.

Today we'll analyze junior sizes.  Please be assured, a junior size does not mean the dress was made for a teenager!  Junior-miss garments were made for a woman who is high-busted, slender-waisted and a slight touch shorter from shoulder to waist (usually 15" - 15 1/2").  Many women have this figure at seventeen and work hard to keep it all their lives.  Junior sizes are odd numbers, often starting as low as a 3 and running up to 17.  All the clothing shown here is from 1951.

When you're over forty and still a junior size, look for a dress like this.  There's easy fullness in the skirt, pretty but not teenage details in the pockets. Ira Rentner dress in a two-tone amethyst wool check trimmed with amethyst colored pins. 

For the career woman who wears a junior size, this gray flannel dress by Carlye has long lapels that button over like a bolero to flatter a high and small waist.  Slim lines make it an "all day long" and "all occasion" dress for all but the very young.

This dress by Youth Guild is perfect for the young woman for whom junior sizes were originally designed.  Scoop neck dress in lilac wool trimmed with braid.

The sophisticated woman in her thirties with a junior figure will find this long sleeved dress with high round neckline has a slim elegance not usually associated with junior dresses.  Dress by Anne Fogarty in dark gray flannel is accented with an ermine collar.

Vote for Me and I'll Set You Free! (Not Really)

For the past three years, I have been very proud to have Couture Allure voted as one of the Top 10 Vintage Websites at Lulu's Vintage Blog. Lulu has two categories - her own favorites and the People's Choice award. My friends, Couture Allure needs your help! If you love this blog and my website, please pop on over to Lulu's Blog and vote by leaving a comment on this post naming Couture Allure as your favorite vintage website!

OK, so I can't set you free, but as a thank you, I will do two things for you.

1. I'll continue to bring you the best selection of vintage clothing on the web and daily posts on my blog.

2. I'll share this video of the Temptations performing "Ball of Confusion" so you can stop wondering, "What song was it that had that line, 'Vote for me and I'll set you free'?". If you're like me, that was going to bother you all day until you figured it out, right? By the way, "Ball of Confusion" was released in June of 1970 and hit #3 on the Billboard charts. Rock on. Now go...vote!

New at Couture Allure - Vintage Suits and Dresses

New at Couture Allure this week are vintage and designer suits and vintage dress/jacket ensembles as well as some great vintage dresses.  I've also added some oversized vintage brooches and vintage belts.  Be sure to check our What's New page to see all the latest listings!

1960s Abe Schrader silk dress and jacket set.

1950s cream faille beaded dress and jacket set.

1950s rayon draped top and skirt set in a larger size!

1990s Genny stretch wool suit.

2005 Bill Blass runway wool suit.

1960s Kasper sequined party dress.