Last tine I left you we had just had a look at the styles of three of Mad Men's leading ladies of season 5.  While Joan, Betty and Sally are pivotal to the show, the two most talked about women this season were indubitably Peggy Olson and Megan Draper.


Peggy Olson:


This season we saw Peggy going further up in the corporate ladder, however not fast enough for her.  She is smart enough to  know that in her male dominated workplace, she has gone as far up as she can. This marked a huge change for Peggy style-wise.  Her demure looks, have given way to more modern and male influenced clothes, and her accessories and jewelry have all but vanished.



At the beginning of season five, we do see her wear pearls often, but only on special occasions, or during times where she has thinks she has to feel feminine.  The most notable are the scene where she thinks she's getting proposed to, and then when her mother visits the apartment she shares with her boyfriend, and she feels she has to act the part of homemaker.  


In both these scenes Peggy wears different variations of traditional strands of pearls, as if she won't even give more than one thought to her jewels.  And this season this is true for Peggy, who's main focus is to advance her career, even if it means crossing the gender barrier.  Another reason I think Peggy did not wear much jewels or accessories, other than her un-feminine watch, is because the writers used her as the counterpoint to the ultra-sexy and feminine Megan Draper.


Both women are the same age and have the same job, yet they live completely different lives.  While Peggy is so excited to have earned her a job as copywriter, Megan, also a copywriter, is ungrateful for it since she got the position for basically sleeping (and marrying the boss).  If I wanted to capture Peggy's stark look I would go for a piece in pearls, since that was her trademark this season and probably I would keep it as clean and as simple as possible.

Unique Baroque pearls are adorned by sapphire flowers and diamonds, set in 18kt gold.

Three of a kind: Precious pearls in yellow, white and black, surrounded by yellow and white gold ribbons with diamond detail.

Megan Draper


Don Draper's old secretary is now his new wife.  As far as the wardrobe and jewelry, most of the action this season went to Megan.  And why not, she's a rich young wife, who is into everything that the 60's had to offer.  Her style varies from episode to episode, as she is trying (very much like Peggy) to fit into her new roles through her clothes.




Megan is all of a sudden a society wife, a mother of three, and a working girl.  And she dresses the part every time.  But as the weeks went by, I saw her character struggle to get out of being just jewels and clothes, or even another Betty. When she decides to be "independent" and pursue her acting career, Megan still does not stop her shopping and dressing up, even though she tells her husband she wants to be self sufficient. 


But thank God for Megan.  Without her this season would have been very boring style-wise.  I guess a lot of the swinging 60's is represented by her, the youth culture, the sexual liberty, the openness, and her character really had to shine and express all the changes that were going on in this era.  And shine she did.  Here are some of her more memorable looks, and how to accomplish them with jewels from my collection.

This could easily be part of Betty's jewelry collection. Art deco style chandelier earrings dripping in diamonds, and handmade in white 18kt gold.

This piece is fabulous! Lovely chocker style necklace in diamonds and 18kt gold.

Another 60's trend to borrow is the cocktail ring. My version is in white agate, pink sapphires set in black gold, white diamonds, and handmade in pink 18kt gold.

Summer's hottest trend! Lovely white agate is surrounded by pink sapphires and accented by white diamonds in these fantastic earrings from my Wanderlust collection.

This beautiful pendant can be easily to be made  into a brooch like Megan's. My version is in 18kt pink gold, beautiful coral, and accented by shiny diamonds.

Groovy baby! This 60's inspired pendant is made of cornaline, rose and yellow gold, and diamonds. The chain is made of black gold and black diamonds.

Now Megan did leave a little bit of the spotlight to the other wives.  Here are some of them at Don's 40th birthday party, on episode one, where the mood is set for the entire season.





The best jewels at this party were Trudy's earrings.  Simply divine...



They remind me of these earrings I designed a few seasons ago...

Rubies and diamonds make these spectacular earrings quite covetable. Set in 18kt yellow gold and accented by tiny diamonds, there drop style beauties are quite stunning.

Hope you enjoyed my take on the jewels of Mad Men this season.  I'm already worried about what's going to happen to me for an entire year until the next season comes about.  I guess I could spend the time designing some very 60's inspired pieces.  


Love Always
Dani K

One of the most successful posts we've had since I stater the blog was a post I did last year on the style of the women of Mad Men. 




This past Sunday was the season finale of the show, so I wanted to go into it a little bit and put you up to speed of what's been going on with my favorite characters, Joan, Peggy, Betty, Sally and now Megan. I love this show, and I love the costuming and treatment given to the jewels.  


Joan Holloway:


Joan is a new mom this season, and is having a hard time figuring out her role in society.  Like a lot of new moms she is trying to reconcile working and staying at home with her (love child with Roger Sterling) son.  Times are changing and Joan realizes, after dumping her jerk of a husband, that it's O.K. to feel validation not just from motherhood but from her place in the office. 




A big theme this season was woman's body issues. After a few episodes where we she feels sorry for herself and her post-baby body, Joan is again empowered after she goes back to being useful at work.  She regains her power and even ends the season being partner at the agency.  Without revealing too much I will say that even though she has the brains to be in that position, she had to use her body to get there.  




Joan went thru a lot of changes this season, both physical and emotional.  Her wardrobe and jewelry really reflected that.  While she began the season in dumpy robes, at the end, she was back to wearing her signature gold pen necklace, and her clothes were a mix of her sexy looks and more demure pieces.  Since she is now overweight after having the baby, they are emphasizing the jewelry more than ever before.  This is a trick women use in real life, so its not surprising to me that they would use it in Mad Men, a show known for it's attention to detail and reality. 


As you can see Joan's look was a bit more simplified this season.  Probably because she is now a single mom and has had to simplify her beauty routine.  Ye Joan does not let being a mom crap her style.  She still wears her sexy clothes and jewelry.  My favorite look for her this season was this outfit above in turquoise, which looks great on red heads.  To get the look you could try any of these pieces from my collection.

Sexy 60's: These bold earrings in turqoise and diamonds are sure to mae a statement. handmade and set in 18kt rose gold.

The swinging sixties continue: Glamourous red coral "Fleur" earrings with diamond detail, handmade in 18kt yellow gold.

So very Joan: This cocktail ring does double duty, since it can be made into a brooch. Amethyst, quartz and citrine come together with diamonds and 18k yellow gold.

Betty:


They say you ca tell a lot about a woman by her choice in jewelry.  This is very true with Betty, who has reduced her glamour quotient by 75% on season five.  Her story-line is very deep, yet her screen time is very short.  Because January Jones was pregnant in real life and her filming schedule was considerably reduced, the costume designers had to tell the story through her wardrobe as well as her character. 


The theme of women's body image carried on to Betty, who is shockingly overweight and unhappy, even after having wed her perfect Senator husband.  Throughout the season Betty maintains contact with Don because this is the only thing in her life that hasn't changed.  Even though her ex husband was a jerk, he is the only constant in her life where she is now finding herself to be nothing but a discarded beauty queen. 


This season you really feel for Betty because her role also shifts to that of  mother, even though she has already been a mom for the last 12 years.  Now that she is raising her kids alone, and her own tween daughter is coming of age in the 60's she has had to acquire some maturity and it's shown through her less than youthful facade.


Don't get me wrong she is still beautiful, but Betty, who has always been positively judged by the way she looks, is now faced with the opposite reaction by her female peers. In contrast, the only one that still  doesn't see her fatness is the Senator, her adoring husband who is so busy with his life, or perhaps sees her inner beauty, to care about how she looks.



This season we saw Betty more in a human context, and not as glamorous as usual, yet she is still adorned and accessorized.  Because she wore matronly clothes, she stuck to classic pearls and gold jewelry, and there is nothing wrong with that. Here are some of the pieces in my collection that might be useful in achieving the Betty Draper Francis look of season five.  

Stunning micropave diamond cocktail ring in 18 kt rose gold.

Classic and elegant: Fabulous pear earrings with a twist, in diamonds and 18kt white gold

Betty would be jealous: pearl and diamond ring in 18kt white gold

Gorgeous drop style earrings in rubies and diamonds, handmade in 18kt white gold.

Sally Draper:


Becoming a teenager is not easy, and doing so with selfish divorced parents, new step parents is probably even harder.  This season, Sally did just that, and came out as one of the more reasonable women on the show.




Since she is becoming a woman this season, they gave her character a little more of a story and seriousness than previous seasons.  This year we see her expressing herself through her clothes and wanting to emulate her very young step mother Megan, who is very stylish and hip, and dresses all the time in the height of fashion.




Yes, Sally is growing up, but in many ways she is still a child.  To convey this visually, much attention is placed on her jewels, even though she does not wear many accessories.  In most of her scenes, Sally wears a childish locket, and other times, when she's curious about grown ups, she's shown with more mature clothes and jewels.  If I hd to pick something from my collection for Sally I would choose any of these beautiful charms.  They are a great piece for a 12 year old that transitions elegantly into adulthood. 


Mad Men is a great example of how jewelry can tell a story.  when I design my pieces I'm always conscious of what kind of a message they are sending and how they will help the woman who wears them ultimately tell her story.  This is only three of the gals on Mad Men, so that means I'll be back with more. Stay tuned.


Love Always
Dani K

With 19 Emmy nominations combined, Mad Men has to be the hottest show on the planet. I love this show, and not just for the hot men or for it's amazing story-line, but also for its elegant and true to period costumes and jewelry.  One of my favorite periods of jewelry design is the 1950's and 60's and this show does a great job at showing these glamorous trends with absolute fidelity.

Although the men are handsome and debonaire, it's the ladies of Mad Men that have that special style that everyone wants.  Now you don't have to have access to costume designers to look like the ladies of Mad Men.  Here are my recommendations on how to copy the looks of the ladies of Mad Men.


Betty Draper:  This ice princess is always classic, always elegant.  Her signature is the chic 50's spoiled housewife look.  Only the classics (pearls, diamonds) for her.

Fabulous diamond chandelier earrings, hand made in 18kt white gold.

Stunning cuff style bracelet of pear shaped aquamarine, with diamond details hand made in 18kt white gold.

Haute jewelry! South sea pearls never had it so good next to morganite, rose cut diamonds, and more diamonds!  All hand made in Italy in rose and white 18kt gold. Thanks Don!

Joan's classic:  floral themed pink tourmaline earrings, with champagne diamonds and white diamonds.  All handmade in rose 18kt gold. To die for.

Fun and flirty, makes real flower jealous. Ring in rose gold 18kt, diamonds and black Tahitian pearl.

Dare to be different in this hand carved natural lemon amber. Complemented by South Sea pearls and yellow diamonds, all handmade in 18kt yellow gold.

Naughty but nice.  Look chic and lovely in this white and golden South Sea pearl necklace, with diamond ribbons hugging each pearl.  Peggy would approve!

Dress them up or dress them down; every wardrobe should include these beauties. White, yellow and rose gold bangles, with baguette shaped diamonds and celestial carvings.

For the little girl inside you. Quartz trifecta from left to right: Black quartz, diamond and rose gold heart shaped earrings. Indigo quartz, diamonds and rose gold butterfly shaped earrings. Last but not least, mint quartz, diamonds and yellow gold, heart shaped earrings.