This week has brought me great joy.  For starters it’s already Wednesday, which means the week is already half over and then I find out I may get to have a little work stop-over in NYC next month (excited to see my ladies!),I finally found a network tv show that I like (Parenthood), then Season 3 of Mad Men was released on DVD and I finally saw the photos of the Mad Men Barbie dolls.

I am sure that I must sound completely lame, but quite frankly it takes a lot to get me excited about anything, especially the release of doll photos and the launch of a DVD.  So, I refuse to fight it.  I mean just look at this mini Joan and her cute little outfit.  (Although it really seems that could have made her proportions a little more Joan-esque, no?)

So I must say it is a little bitter sweet to see the end of this Mad Men season.  In the course of this season I have seen the popularity soar.  The Etsy stores labeling Mad Men garb went from less than a hundred to a few thousand–it is absolutely insane!

I fluctuate between Joan and Peggy being my favorite characters.  Both are smart, savvy and forward thinking.  I decided to end with a Joan post though because for what she may lack in book smarts she compensates with street smarts.  She is a fighter!

To complete the season 3 Joan look–this wiggle dress (I wish it were on a model) has great texture and color and would highlight curves beautifully.  This is actually the length I like, not too short, not too long and the brocade is stunning.  And as we visualize Joan taking it up a notch in her career I thought a retro typewriter would be the perfect accessory.  This one is in beautiful condition and even has a decent ribbon.  Both of these items are around $50, so you can get a little Joan for $100 to keep you going until the next season.  Enjoy.

Happy Monday!  So I just re-read through some old posts and was completely and utterly mortified (again) by my spelling and grammar.  If I were a professional blogger, I would have deadlines and an editor and that would never happen, but I am not… I am just a girl with an intense full-time job and a hubby who likes home cooked meals, so I can only offer that I will try harder to not be an idiot when I am typing my posts at 5:30 a.m. I mean I spelled babies as “babys” really? Ugh!  I have decided that this Mad Men Monday will just be visual.

With no further ado, I give you the illustrations of Dyna Moe!

Men’s clothing is not normally my thing, but this morning I thought….”Hey, why not?”  I like Don, I like the way he dresses (well for work anyway…his casual apparel sometime bothers me), I should dedicate a day to him. I think my wedding was the only opportunity I will ever have to see my husband in a suit, so I must live vicariously through a fictional characters’ wardrobe.

I found the three key Don Draper items on Etsy.  While I was on the search for post inclusions, I also found the Manly Vintage blog–how stinkin’ cute is this?  Fella’s that like vintage and love Chicago…they get two thumbs up from this gal!  This blog appears to have reviewed some Chicago area thrift stores which may come in handy for me, too!  This city has all sorts of nuggets and I have been slowly finding them, but a little help never hurt.  Hooray!

I hate to admit this, but when it comes to online shops…I am usually the last to know.  I mean it is a little embarrassing considering that I work online all day and I have a blog focused on style, but I haven’t found one of those cush jobs yet where you get paid a ton of money to do no work. Until that happens I will continue to actually work during the day and offer you “slightly delayed” finds at night.

This week’s Mad Men Monday is featuring one of those “how did I just find you” kind of stores called Shabby Apple.  The shop is amazing, they have clothes for all ages and sizes, they have super cute photography and they work with a charity–”Shabby Apple donates 5% of its net dress sales to support work in India.”  How many shops can you feel good about purchasing more than you budgeted for?

With no further ado, I give you the Madison Avenue and the Upper East Side dresses.  These two were just screaming to be included in a Mad Men post (and with how slow I am lately…they probably already have been. ha!)  I love, love, love houndstooth and half sleeves and the offset buttons. The pretty blue (this is my favorite shade) with the flattering waist and perfect length.  These dresses just prove that you don’t need to show off all of your goods to look stunning and gorgeous!

Sidebar: Would either of these be a good 1st anniversary dinner dress? I have one month to prepare.

Oh Hello again, Monday–It has been too long.

So next month is chocked full of big milestones for me; it is my 30th birthday and my 1st wedding anniversary and both fall on the same week as Thanksgiving!  (My favorite holiday.  I think because it always meant presents for me and not everyone else. ha!)  With all these big events coming up…the question is whatever will I wear to commemorate such events?  I mean the death of my 20’s does not happen everyday and celebrating the passing of one year of marriage (Matt and I are lucky to come out alive.)  It is time to get our party faces on!

In order to get inspiration I obviously decided to look into my Mad Men vault.  I mean fancy dinners and big celebrations call for a little retro decadence, right?  I really want something unique so my usual go-to’s of Forever, Target and the Maxx just won’t do.  I want something where a girdle is required and I need a team to strap me in.  I remembered some lovely patterns on @ampersandwich’s Etsy store.  Ahh, perfect!  Now if you have read my bio, you know this level of sewing, especially with a vintage pattern (they are not meant for doh doh’s like me), would not be an easy task, but hmmm…an occasion such as this could warrant sourcing fabric and taking it to a seamstress, no?  I think so.

I can’t decide if I want a little Betty style, all frilly and poufy and pretty or a little Joan (remember I will have a girdle on) all tight and sexy?  I think my favorite, Peggy, will need to stay home—even though she is upping her game now.  Below are a couple of initial picks.  I am thinking bright royal blue fabric and red lips. Thoughts?

I did promise that I would muster up a post today, so here it is.

I seem to be really drawn to season 1 type outfits, possibly because I just love late 50′s fashion.  And for as dowdy and childish as they tried to make Peggy look, I just loved her little collared blouses and dresses. I found this little paisley gal via @joulesstar on twitter today. Again the dainty collar and cute, petite lines. This one has a great fall appeal.  I would probably throw on some chocolate brown tights and tan suede saddle shoes for the commute and chestnut Mary Jane’s for the work day.

I also recently found this dress at a vintage co-op in Chicago (I have no idea what the place is called, but it is near Reckless Records on the second floor).  It fit me absolutely perfectly, which rarely happens so I had to buy it immediately.  The collar was stained and it needed a mini repair, so I think I talked the gal down to $21.  I wore a fancy, black, lace slip as a reminder that I am actually an adult woman.  This dress was super fun and I enjoyed rockin’ it.  Now, would I wear it for a client meeting, probably not…but for any other day it suites me just fine!

*Sidebar: If you can read any of the book titles on my book shelf, please don’t judge.  I would say I have eclectic taste, but I would also be lying.

**Additional Sidebar: This is my signature pose.  I am actually incapable of posing any other way for a photo with only myself.

Hello my lovely readers,  It is Monday morning and I have had very little sleep.  I had full intentions of getting up super early and sourcing my latest Mad Men post, but my body would not cooperate.  A too fun weekend is resulting in a no fun Monday.  Please have patience with me. I know you already tolerate my poor grammar and short posts, but just this one last favor is all I ask.  I will post tonight, but if you think of anything you want to see in the meantime–send me an email and it will most-likely make it in.

Kendra

Now you know that I just love a well-made dress, but do you know what I love more than that?  A well-made dress, sewn by hand with vintage reclaimed fabric at an affordable price.  Doesn’t that just get you so excited?  I love to think of who owned the fabric before and what it’s original intent was meant to be.  An apron, a tablecloth, curtains?

I found Call Me Captain on Etsy over the weekend and I just fell in love with her vintage inspired designs.  I also love that vintage fabric is being used to form the looks, it makes it feel more authentic.  Although the slight update of shorter hemlines and a more modern waistline can’t hurt either.  This gal also does custom orders, so you can skip that trip to the tailor altogether and have one of these gems made just for your beautiful curves.  I have a huge box full of old fabric that I basically call my wishful thinking box.  I know how to sew, I know what I like and what looks good on my body, but actually sewing an entire dress would take me years.  I currently have a lined wool skirt that I made for my friend Annie 2 years ago for her birthday and um…I never finished the hem.  Seriously?  Yup…that skirt has moved 4 times with me.  I am so ridiculous, which is why I need to stop pretending that I “could” make a dress like this an just pay a talented, professional person like Rachel of Call me Captain and call it a day!

Ahhh…beautiful Monday, here again.  I must admit that I am pretty excited for tights, sweaters and boots.  Fall is my favorite time of year and to tie my two favorite things together I am giving you some fall “Mad Men” style ideas.  As promised, I looked for some Betty-ish dresses.  Now these may be a little more season 1-2, but I think they are her nonetheless.

The shoes are the most amazing rich chocolate brown with a petite, kitten heel.  I presume these could be worn to walk to work, kept on all day and then they could carry you right into a little wine bar.  They would be adorable and appropriate at all avenues of a working gals’ day! (Sidebar: I actually was going to purchase these, but my insole is too high?  Have you ever heard of such a thing? My small block, flintstone feet stick again!?!)

Now, I could not decide between these two dresses so I chose to include them both.  The floral patterned fabrics, form fitted waists, sleeve lengths and amazing condition of both of these  numbers completed drew me in. The belted gal feels a little more work or Sunday entertaining, while the 3/4 sleeve could be dressed up for dinner or  a casual fall wedding.

I found all of these on the Etsy site for DearGolden Vintage.

Click the images to find the sale or follow her on twitter @deargolden.