The Look for Less: Mad Men's Peggy Olson

by Melissa Massello, Shoestring Magazine

September 1, 2009 - 4:13pm

Maybe it's because I also paid my dues as a corporate copywriter, or maybe it's because I admire her verve and versatility when putting the men of Mad Men in their place, but of all the mid-century femme fatales on AMC's hit show, it's the evolving fashion choices of Peggy Olson (played perfectly by Elisabeth Moss) that have me going va-va-voom for vintage all over again.

Fall fashionistas and retailers are similarly mad for plaid this season, which is why we love this frugal and eco-chic "Madison Ave" frock in black and white houndstooth from Shabby Apple, a new line of "couture with a conscience." It rings in at just $76 (plus shipping), leaving you plenty of money left over in your paycheck to play Betty Draper or Joan Holloway another day.

For more inspiration, check out our favorite Mad Men lookbooks:

AMC's "Mad Men Fashion File"
The "official" blog of Mad Men features an episode-by-episode style evaluation, along with poignant cinematic and cultural commentary, plus "behind the scenes" extras like a tour of the Mad Men costume department with costume designer Janie Bryant. (Warning: it's a vintage lovers' and craftsters' wet dream.)

ModCloth's "A Mod Affair" Lookbook
The popular indie and vintage clothier did well by us with their whimsical and wearable slideshow, which transcended costume into truly streetwise looks inspired by our favorite characters (even if the model does look more like Ginnifer Goodwin on Big Love than any of the females from Mad Men). Pieces from the collection start at just $15, and of the items remaining, our favorite is the very Joan "Fresh Picked Time Clock Necklace", um, clocking in at just $25.

Banana Republic's "Mad About Style" Guide
Michelle Obama's favorite "everyman" retail catalog partnered with AMC's Emmy-award winning series to create this slideshow of four shoppable looks, inspired by everyone's favorite lead characters: Don Draper's man in the gray flannel suit; Pete Campbell's slick, social-climbing sales guy; Joan Holloway's curvacious head secretary in charge (or cat on a hot tin roof); and, last but certainly not least, Peggy Olson's upwardly mobile femme fatale in the making. With pieces ranging from $39.50 to $325, there literally is something here for every budget, be they guy or gal.

About The Author

Melissa Massello

Melissa Massello was born to helm a publication devoted to resourcefulness, the look for less, and attainable, affordable luxuries. As the oldest of three kids, daughter of divorcees, former competitive figure skater (who designed and sewed her own costumes — one of many crafts with mom), and frugal New Englander to the core, Melissa learned early on that smart spending, bag lunches, and bargain basements are the keys to unlocking The Good Life — regardless of your station, salary, creed, or credit score. Her earliest and fondest memories are of yard-saling with her grandma, organic farming on her grandpa's Washington apple orchard, and all-around sponging up the plentiful Depression-era wisdom from her gregarious Greatest (and first-) Generation Italian-American family. After studying journalism and working at five start-ups in seven years, Melissa decided it was time to take a walk in her dad's tech-obsessed shoes and share the bargain karma online.

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$76 dress is 'the look for less'?

By Shoestring Gumshoe (not verified), September 2, 2009 - 4:54pm

A $76 dress is 'the look for less' and supposed to leave me money to play around? Get real!
"pieces ranging from $39.50 to $325" isn't my idea of a bargain either!

Value, not price point

By Melissa Massello, September 3, 2009 - 1:39pm

Dear Anonymous Mama,

We feel we're keeping it very real at Shoestring, and consider a $76 dress that's eco-friendly, handmade in the USA, and also gives back to charitable causes to be a great value. (And at Shoestring, we're focused on value, not price point!) Sure, we could have highlighted a $2 vintage seamstress-made dress we found at Goodwill or on eBay that would have made the same point and told the same story about value and mid-century appeal -- similar ones are found all over our own wardrobes -- but then only one of our readers would have been able to purchase it, and where's the fun in that?

Cheers,
Melissa
Shoestring Founder, Editor in Chief

The Look for Less: Mad Men's Peggy Olson

$76 dress is 'the look for less'?

Value, not price point

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