Mad Style

With the fifth season of Mad Men in full-effect, Talk Magazine’s style editor decides to deconstruct the mode that currently has the fashion world smitten. Aiming for everyday practicality, Melissa K Trias takes the three-piece suit, the white-collar shirt and the mundane accessories of the 1960s and reinterprets them into three snazzy looks made especially for the fly streets of Shanghai. Men, take note; women, gird your loins. The summer is looking dapper.

If you’ve ever watched an episode of Mad Men, you’ll be familiar with the unquestionable sex appeal that surrounds its leading man, Donald Draper (played by Jon Hamm). The pensive stare, the charmingly flirtatious smile and the James-Bond-esque magnetism, Draper is the iconic symbol of a ladies’ man for the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Two words to describe him would be ‘conservatively alluring’; if he were food, he’d be ‘strawberries and cream’. Hence, it is of no surprise that the sartorial elegance of the Mad Men “look” has become all the rage in menswear this season.

Deager Kao, Co-Founder of Project Aegis | Shanghai, a concept-shop-turned-boutique that stocks over fifty luxury brands from around the world, attributes the success of his own tailored men’s clothing line to the vogue of  the hit television series.

“Mad Men has very sophisticated and well-presented looks; in addition to Don Draper’s outfits, the costumes of the male cast also reveal a willingness to dabble with colour and checkered prints. There is an aura about the male characters that is tied in with wearing the latest fashion,” says Kao. “In regards to what you see people wearing on the street, people are wearing more fitted suits and venturing out with non-traditional patterns (like plaid) to emulate that.”

And with so many affordable menswear collections bringing a greater focus of this into their details (think H&M, Zara and Uniqlo), looking Mad Men sharp has become more accessible for the gentlemen of Shanghai. “It’s the confidence factor that exudes from the character,” says Kao, explaining the popularity of the look.

Mad Men outfits consistently strip away superfluous material in order to reveal the man in his truest form. Collars are narrower (kept at an inch and a half), shirts are trimmer (most are slim cuts) and ties are skinnier (less than two inches wide) to draw more attention to body shape. If you want the look, live by the mantra: less is more. Bringing out a more polished ‘you’ will make you more confident in your skin, whether you are an advertisement maven or an English teacher.

However, channeling the Don Draper within you without being too literal can be a tricky task— that’s where Talk Magazine comes in. Follow the advice below for tips on using the 1960s couture to get the look for 2012.

The Three-Piece: Keep one, lose the rest.

A look with a clear concept can make an outfit boss; three-piece suits need not be used everyday. Instead, you can deconstruct the look and keep only the bare essentials, by wearing just the vest (see the white collar shirt look) or just the blazer. A vest communicates just the right amount of style—not too pretty-boy, but not sloppy either. It shows that you’ve got an eye for style and you’re not even trying. A blazer on the other hand is gentlemanly and bold. You give off the proper businessman vibe that shows females that, like Jay-Z, “you be making the paper”. That’s hot.

Shirt: Tradesman shirt, Marshall Artist. RMB 1,150.
Jeans: Weird guy raspberry scratch n sniff jeans, Naked & Famous. RMB 1,380.
Shoes: Celeste denim shoes, Opening Ceremony. RMB 2,380.
Blazer: Raphael denim blazer, ThreeSociety. RMB 1,445.
Bowtie: Leather bowtie, Campaign. RMB 248.

The White Collar Shirt: Untucked and disheveled.

Avoid the prudish connotation of the white-collar staple by roughing it up a bit. Worn with a pair of fitted jeans and fly kicks (such as this pair of red-hot sneakers by Common Project), a white-collar shirt will make you look street smart and fresh. Adding a striped tie to the mix and pushing up those sleeves will make girls around you wonder what naughty business you’ve been up to. Always keep them guessing, it adds to your allure.

Shirt: Colour block button down shirt, Tim Coppens. RMB 2,580.
Jeans: Weird Guy raspberry scratch ‘n’ sniff jeans, Naked and Famous. RMB 1,380.
Shoes: Vintage high shoes, Common Projects. RMB 3,380.
Tie: Classic stripe tie, Native Son. RMB 980.
Waistcoat: Grosvenor waistcoat, Rag & Bone. RMB 2,180.

The Accessories: A balancing act.

If there is one thing you need to learn from the Mad Men style, it’s how to accessorize. The decadence of the 1960s is a prime example of how small details make a strong impression. With the recent rise of bold, block colours, it’s become easier to experiment with eye-popping bits and pieces such as rainbow-mirrored sunnies, pastel ties and bowties and floral pocket squares. Experiment with retro, or basic shapes for sunglasses that sit on your cheekbones without making your head look too big. For ties, pick a bold, one colour tie (you really can’t fail when colour-blocking) if incorporating patterns confuses you. Never wear a bow tie that is too big, and when it comes to watches, a slightly oversized one in a neutral colour (such as brown) is key to completing the look. Be careful not to over-do it because it may end up working against you. If in doubt, a friend’s perspective can steer you in the right direction.

Shirt: Cincinnati combo pattern shirt, Gilbert & Lewis. RMB 1,550.
Shorts: Pink-dyed rigid linen denim shorts, THVM. RMB 780.
Sunglasses: Basic shape crystal sunglasses, SUPER. RMB 1,880.
Blazer: Ben shirt linen blazer, ThreeSociety. RMB 695.
Tie: Purple skinny tie, Steven Alan. RMB 550.
Watch: 300 Series watch, Uniform Wares RMB 5,150.

Model: Kevin Zhang.

All outfits provided by Project Aegis | Shanghai. 777 Julu Lu, near Fumin Lu. Tel: 5403 9869, Web: www.projectaegis.com