Who doesn’t love the Mad Men television series? Stylistically, it is in a class by itself. When I saw Banana Republic’s new ad campaign, I went wild over it. It features 2013’s color of the year, emerald green, in very wearable ways. The collection is full of fresh graphic prints and bold colors. So put on your cat eye-liner and let’s get the look…
Isn’t she just the most darling tidbit? Note the scarf around her page-boy long hair. Black and white is not only Mad Men but it is very Spring 2013! Shop Banana Republic
The shift , the shoes, the ring, the whole thing! Bangs really rock the Mad Men era style…
A pale clutch foils this bold print shirt shift perfectly. Add small black ball earrings and a huge cocktail ring (another big trend from fashion week) and you have the look…
Shop women’s new arrivals at Banana Republic
Graphic on graphic striped shift with the black and white clutch. Now add some statement sunglasses and the obligatory cocktail ring and prepare for a following…Shop women’s new arrivals at Banana Republic.
The whole collection was done in collaboration with mad Men costume designer, Janie Bryant. This super stylish knit shift in bright emerald and black makes any figure type look so pretty…Banana Republic.
Emerald green never looked so good as when paired with these Hampton-fit cropped trousers. She has tripled the necklaces, trimmed the waist in a thin black belt, and, of course, garnished the whole outfit with a cocktail ring…don’t forget your shades! All by Banana Republic
Oh, go on and dress up in your new Mad Men collection pieces and have some friends over for the two-hour premier on Sunday April 7 at 9/8c.
Just to help you launch your Mad Men Cocktail Party, Chicandcharming.com has mapped it all out for you:
How To Throw a Mad Men Cocktail Party
Well, my lovelies, I have been up to my eyeballs in party planning. Saturday I’m hosting a Roller Derby Bachelorette Party and Sunday I’m hosting a Mad Men Season Premiere Cocktail Party. I’m planning to feature the bachelorette over on Boudoir Betty sometime next week…but I wanted to tell you all about the cocktail party now…in case you wanted to plan your own!
Time is limited, so an evite is probably the best plan! I recommend either the blue, turquoise orpink retro cocktail party evite. Ask your guests to arrive about an hour before the main event so that you can get all of the conjecture out of the way and so that you can get a few cocktails in your belly.
Tell your husband you just decided to have a party…in two days. Clean the house! Make sure you have cable! Set the DVR to ensure instant playback of the rumored to be shocking episode during the postmortem discussion. Don’t forget to add an extra five-minutes to the end, as Mad Men will now be slightly extended to accommodate commercials. You might also consider stocking your bathroom with cute little guest towels and guest soaps..VERY retro chic.
Chances are that you are not currently kitted out for a full on 1960s cocktail party, building such a bar requires a serious commitment of money and space. Therefore, I advise you to choose a few key cocktails to serve at your party and to print up a cute little menu to circulate amongst your guests. Perhaps you could include a brief history of each cocktail? Also, please, please, please do not buy pre-made drink mixes! Homemade is pretty easy, especially if you have time to prepare and tastes a million times better. Here are a few suggestions for drinks to serve:
- Old-Fashioned (allegedly fruit did not appear in this drink until the 1970s)
- Tom Collins
- Vodka Gimlet
- Vodka Martini (made with “Soviet-made Stolichnaya,” which will make an appearance in Season 3)
- Manhattan
- Mai Tai
- Sidecar
- Brandy Alexander
- Champagne Cocktail
- Moscow Mule
Flips
A word on flips…if you are thoroughly investigating your 1960s drink options online you are sure to come across mixed drinks involving egg whites, in the world of bartending these drinks are known as flips (if they don’t include creme) or eggnog (if they include creme). A word to the wise…if you plan to serve a flip practice making it before you have guests. The mixing is a multi-step process…first you add all of the liquid ingredients (including egg) and do an ice-free shake to emulsify, and then you add ice and do a second shake. I almost always see bartenders pour my flip through a fine mesh strainer before serving. The main purpose of the egg in these drinks is to add body/frothiness. Flips to consider for your party include theWhite Spider and the Pink Lady. Depending on your reputation, serving a flip at your party will either impress your friends or make them fear for their lives.
Step 4: Finger Foods
Given that this party will probably last at least two and half hours (surely more), you really need to serve some food unless you want your guests totally trashed, and quite possibly sick. Retro cocktails are serious stuff and deserve to be accompanied by suitably retro snacks. Here are a few suggestions:
- Deviled Eggs
- Pigs in a Blanket (from frozen)
- Cheese Puffs
- Oysters Rockefeller
- Shrimp Cocktail
- Southern Cheese Log
- Meatballs (from frozen)
- Fondue with crudites
- Dip with Chips and Pretzels
- Or something off this list
Step 5: Optional Flair
You could wear a hostess apron (like one from anthropologie). You could go on a vintage glassware bender at your local thrift store. You could institute a retro dress code for your guests. You could use cloth cocktail napkins, bonus points for monogram. You could put together a nice little retro play list for the pre-party.
Have fun Sunday night, I know I will!
Isn’t she a genius? Go see her at Chicandcharming.com
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