Looking to make summer 2018 the summer of love? Well then let Megan Calvet from Mad Men be your guide.
If Jon Hamm wasn’t reason enough to watch Mad Men, that set wardrobe definitely was. And while there’s been plenty of hoopla over the outfits worn by Betty, Peggy and Joan, I don’t think enough has been said about Megan’s stunning ensembles. Entering the show as a receptionist before becoming wife number two for Don Draper, she doesn’t dress at all like his ex.
Betty, after all, is all about classic, debutante sophistication, while Megan’s wardrobe strikes a more modern tone with printed mini dresses, chunky jewellery, and breezy, floaty fits. For anybody with an inner flower child, looking at her is like looking at a mood board.
And that style is especially relevant now, because boho is back. Dubious? Well, cast your mind back to Paris Fashion Week, where Céline’s Spring line showcased a loose-fitting halter neck dress dripping in fringe, and Loewe tangoed with tassels and embroidery.
Further back still, at the end of 2017, Selena Gomez was papped wearing a sweeping, sheer black shirtdress paired with Elton John-style sunglasses, and Kate Moss layered up in denim and paisley with a black Panama hat on top. Love it or hate it, the hippies are in.
But for us normies, it isn’t always easy to work this trend without looking like a rejected member of Fleetwood Mac. So let’s turn to Mad Men’s Megan for some insight on how to give your bohemian rhapsody a nice, non-costumey feel.
One of Ms Draper’s most arresting looks was The One With The Bucket Hat in Season 6. Sitting lazily on top of her head, that hat was the perfect compliment to a button down dress featuring a vibrant orange and green print; a pair of round sunglasses casually pinned to the front.
What makes this outfit work is how easy it is. Boho chic is all about freeness; of pure, unadulterated comfort - it’s about looking like you’ve rolled out of bed without wondering whether your clothes are too loud or if they don’t ‘go’ together.
Still, Megan always manages to give this free-spiritedness a stylish edge with the small details - here, the matching white of the hat and the sunnies, which subtly pulls the outfit together.
Moving onto the evening wear (oh man, Megan’s evening wardrobe), take a look at the floaty violet dress she wears to dinner with Don. To be fair, you can’t really help it - that geometric print is pretty shouty. But rather than tone the rest of her appearance down with minimalist makeup and jewellery, Megan (Jon) hams it up with chunky gold jewellery, pinning a braid across her head in a fabulously dramatic updo.
Her makeup, meanwhile, is in the classic 1960s fashion - blue eyeshadow with pale nude lips. Which, coincidentally, is how you might have first done your makeup when you stumbled through the aisles of Boots for the first time, just enough pocket money in your purse to make a statement at the school disco. Or maybe that was just me?
Another evening highlight for Megan was that short and sweet number she wears in Season 6. A high-neck, purple dress with a ditzy pattern, the garment is made glamorous but casual by its length and boxy cut.
Again, she commits to the ultra-glam look by fixing her hair in a beehive, and by piling on more statement gold jewellery. The white fishnets are an edgy touch, and one you could definitely take into 2018. But as wonderful as Megan’s glad rags are, her daytime outfits are often just as jaw-dropping.
Take that chiffon frock she wore twice in Season 7, with its voluminous, sheer sleeves and oversized bow. It looks like a sort of glorified nightie, but one you can unashamedly wear in the blazing daylight of Los Angeles (with drop earrings and rectangular sunglasses, of course).
The dress had particular significance to the show’s costume designer, Janie Bryant, who explained, “Megan Draper is a very modern character. I love the whole idea of her costume being light, airy, fresh, and new." Well, our panama hats off to you, Ms Bryant - you damn visionary, you.
As we’ve seen, Megan’s boho style clearly stems from a freedom of movement. So to emulate her breezy allure, make sure that your clothes hang freely, and don’t be afraid to experiment with pattern. The dichotomy of a casual fit and a loud print is absolutely key - it’s playful and irreverent.
Megan also shows us that flashy jewellery and accessories are essential in giving your flowerchild appearance an edgy, modern vibe. So pick up some funky frames and wear that floaty blue nightie to your midday seminar - if anyone shoots you a funny look, just bat your blue eyelids and blame it on Mad Men.
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If boho style is your thing, meet your girl. Think cool round sunglasses, flowing fits, and brilliant bursts of colour.
Listen: I Got You Babe - Sonny & Cher
For some bohospiration (hippienspiration?) You’ll be transported to a sun-drenched patch of Woodstock in the blink of an eye.
Watch: Mad Men behind the scenes
If you just can’t get enough of Mad Men and its lust-worthy wardrobe, here’s a more in-depth look from the creators.
