'Mad Men' Style: Then and Now

”My approach for every season is that I like to use a little bit of the old from past seasons but also incorporate new pieces as well. That’s what I think makes the show so rich and textured,” says costume designer Janie Bryant, of helping to bring the characters of Mad Men into season 6. ”[The idea of] decay will also factor in…. We’ve seen New York city decaying, there’s trash and garbage and filth everywhere. Everything is broken down and the shininess has worn off.”

Jon Hamm: [Don?s style] changes glacially. He’s an older man and he’s set in his ways?The interesting thing about that is that as time moves forward, when you stay stuck you just become more and more displaced from your current time.
Janie Bryant: [Don] is always mysterious and secretive, and I think that’s reflected in his costume design. His uniform is his suit and it’s used as protection against the world. In a sense, it’s his armor.

Christina Hendricks: ”In one scene, I am wearing my Scooby-Doo outfit,” Hendricks says of this purple ensemble, which she says reminds her of Scooby?s pal Daphne?s signature look. ”Listen, the times are a-changing, and not always for the best. Let?s just say you?ll see [Joan wearing] more ruffles.”
Janie Bryant: I wanted Joan to have a little bit of an update. She has become a partner now and has a bigger income and the means to buy new things.

Jessica Pare: Megan’s fashion has evolved from…more practical office type looks, but they were still bright and playful. Last year we saw her becoming a little bit less practical, especially once she left the office. You won’t be disappointed if you want more fashion [this season]!
Janie Bryant: I always envisioned Megan as being a representation of Don’s new and modern relationship, so that is reflected in her costume design. And she’s so completely opposite of Betty too. It’s all about that contrast between those two women.

Janie Bryant: Roger is a character that had a few changes last season with his acid trip and his divorce from Jane. It was interesting for him to make a little bit of a shift [in] season 6. And of course, Roger Sterling would have his clothes custom made, so he could have them made in a more modern way. I can only imagine the conversations that he has with his tailor.

January Jones: [Betty?s style hasn?t changed] too much. Matt [Weiner] has always said that Betty found her look in 1955 and doesn’t really evolve from that. She must read through Vogue, I mean she does stay in time with the hemlines. Even with or without the weight gain I think she’s trying more to look like a politician’s wife.
Janie Bryant: I’ve always kept Betty?s color palate in the very cool tones or pastels, or a lot of whites and winter whites. I always thought that was such a great reflection of her character and her personality. But with her hair color changing, a whole new world of color was opened up to me. It was interesting to play with that.

Janie Bryant: Harry Crane has had a lot of character changes, and his costume design has really progressed through each and every season. Now he’s Mr. Hollywood and a little bit more of a wannabe. I always saw him as now being able to be a little more fashion forward.

Elisabeth Moss: [Peggy is] kind of settling into a style that she will have for the rest of her life. I think that she will continue to wear the suits and the dresses [but] she?s no longer trying to be fashionable.
Janie Bryant: Peggy is not a fashion plate, I don’t think that’s ever been the character’s priority. She’s more about getting down to business. She’s ambitious, she’s a hard worker, she is there to be a professional woman, so I always saw those as her priorities.