A show about advertising executives
set at the dawn of the sixties hardly seems the likeliest candidate for
ruler-of-the-zeitgeist status. Why do you think "Mad Men" has struck
such a nerve?
Well, I know why it's struck a nerve with me. I mean, I love television, but
most of the shows I get into register at the level of guilty pleasure.
"Ugly Betty," "American Idol," stuff like that is fun, but
it's airy, there's nothing to it. And real style on TV, that's almost
impossible to find, and in general, wherever you do find it, the content itself
just isn't that smart. "Mad Men" is undeniably stylish—those super
graphic titles, the Bernard Herrmann-esque score, the lighting…and then,
obviously, I mean, the clothes. The show is like your terribly chic friend who
was valedictorian. It gets you on every level.
I'm with you on all that, but it's
like—there are shows everyone watches, and then there are shows that resonate
with the culture in a very profound way. Right now, "Mad Men" is that
show. Do you think there's something about that era of America that
speaks to our present moment?
Absolutely. Look at what's happening in politics. Everyone's heard the
Obama/JFK comparisons, but they're out there for a reason. And it's not just
because Barack Obama is a fit young guy with a gorgeous, accomplished wife. In
1960, America
was coming out of a deeply conservative period, at a time when it felt
threatened, and that's the case again now. Our culture is schizophrenic in a
way that wasn't true back then, but there are lots of echoes. We need a new
Camelot. We need our optimism back.
On the other hand, if there's one
thing "Mad Men" makes very clear, it's how different a world this was
before feminism. I watch that show and thank God for Betty Friedan and Bella
Abzug.
And Hillary Clinton came this close to being president, and on the other side
of the coin, we've got the Pussycat Dolls. We live in strange times. But look
at how much hasn't changed—everyone talks about the retro-ness of the show,
because people smoked all day and drank three scotches at lunch, but you go to
any country club in the United States, and believe me, the wives of the CEOs,
they still look super-polished, super-put-together. That's the job. Only now,
they have to keep that up at 50. Botox, yoga. Those women aren't allowed to age
into graceful matrons anymore.
Speaking of age: One of the
fascinating things about the fashion on "Mad Men" is how adult
everyone looks. The youngest characters all dress to seem older; no one wants
to be the kid.
Aren't we ready for that again? For some maturity? I have to tell you, I am
sick and tired of hair down to there and crotch-high hemlines. It's so obvious.
For Fall I was really trying to bring back buttoned-up sexy—think Grace Kelly.
So cool, so poised. She never reveals a thing and you can't take your eyes off
of her. I mean, watch "Rear Window." That's smart sexy; it's
interesting sexy. And it's grown-up sexy. You want a tip on looking hot? Wear
reading glasses and a fitted dress. Simple.
Do you think that tailored dressing
will ever really work for a generation of women used to throwing on their
clothes?
I do, because I've seen with my own eyes the transformation that happens when
you take a girl out of her baby doll and her flip-flops and dress her in a
beautifully tailored suit. It's revolutionary. It's like, suddenly she gets
it—clothes are supposed to FIT. And the bonus is, if you start dressing that
way when you're young, in 20 years, everyone will say you haven't aged a day.
By Maya Singer
Photo: Courtesy of AMC
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