Retro Style Dresses - How to Dress Like Mad Women

Many people think that wearing retro style dresses requires courage, and that dressing in a vintage style is a bit "out there". But that couldn't be further from the truth. Just look around you: retro style dresses are everywhere, and how could you resist them, when they flatter the figure, come in a wide range of colors and patterns, and are perfect for accessorizing?

The mod clothing look is in right now: it's hip, it's original, and it's stylish. And for inspiration, look no further than to the mysterious women of Mad Men. Betty Francis (formerly Draper), Joan Holloway, and Peggy Olsen all look gorgeous in well cut, well accessorized retro style dresses from the 1950s and 1960s, and the good news is, these styles are easy to reproduce.

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And if you're worried about looking "too retro," don't. Wearing vintage style dresses is an art form, and the key is not to go overboard and adopt complete vintage costume - you don't want to look like you're stepping out of a time machine! The trick is to team retro style dresses and clothing with more contemporary elements. For example, you could pair your dark skinny jeans with a vintage loose white blouse with a bow at the neck.

Here are some tips for incorporating Mad Men fashions into your daily wardrobe:

1. Betty Francis - She may feel sad and frustrated on the inside, but Betty always looks gorgeous on the outside. Betty may be a conservative middle-class woman, but her outfits are fun, playful and feminine. To look like Betty, go for high-waist retro style dresses and full skirts, frilly sleeves, and floral prints. Ensure that you incorporate accessories into every outfit, but don't go overboard: choose simple headbands, pearl necklaces, and plain handbags. If you're stepping out in a plain dress, jazz it up with a pretty brooch.

2. Joan Holloway - Joan Holloway is a red-headed Marilyn Monroe. She's a smart, fiery bombshell who's not afraid to flaunt her curvaceous figure. Around the office, Joan sticks to figure-hugging dresses, skirts and tops, plenty of bright red lipstick, and simple jewelry to draw attention to her curves. To dress like Joan, go for solid colored sweater dresses in deep plum or red, platform shoes, and have plenty of dazzling diamond pins to wear on your retro style dresses. As for earrings, go for weighty, circular gold or silver earrings - nothing dangly.

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3. Peggy Olsen - Yes, Peggy Olsen started out as not the most attractive woman in the Sterling Cooper office, but her wardrobe has developed as quickly as her career. She still has that innocent library look about her, complete with heavy retro bangs, but her clothes are nonetheless pretty, girly, and functional. Peggy's vintage style is perfect for fall. To dress like Peggy, go for patterned and solid colored retro style dresses in heavier fabrics that fall at the knee, or go for A-line skirts with belts and loose blouses with bows at the neck.