Dear readers,
Did you miss the Ghoulwill Ball on Saturday? I’m sorry you couldn’t make it! You can relive it vicariously through our photos, but you can also learn how one of our guest bloggers assembled her couples outfit and showed up as the perfect Betty and Don Draper of Mad Men. Last week, Ashley of Sweet William gave us a sneak preview of her approach to finding 1960s era-appropriate costume wear. Today, she reveals her secrets and how it all came together.
Mad Men Success
If you missed out on the Ghouwill Ball on Saturday, you really missed out! It was a great time with food, dancing, music, drinks, and a really awesome photo booth. You also missed out on my costume, Betty Draper, accompanied by no other than Don Draper.
Joan also made an appearance, but opted not to bring Roger.
For my costume, I went with the everyday Betty Draper, polished and ladylike. Here is the breakdown of my costume:
The Three Main Pieces –
The Dress: what better way to rewear someone else’s bridesmaid dress. To get the right look, I needed a full skirt. This meant pinning lots of tulle to the skirt. And by lots, I mean 5 yards of tulle! I chose this one because of the hourglass shape it gave, with a fitted top and full bottom.
The Jacket: Short, boxy, and collar-less. The right size and shape to not take away from the skirt.
The Scarf: Needed to top off the look and pull everything together. This gives her a polished look and adds a bit of color.
Yes, these are the major pieces in a Betty Draper costume, but it would not be complete without a few other accessories. A modest pair of heels, clip on earrings, pearls, and simple jewelry will make you look upper class enough for everyone to be aware. And you can’t skimp on the hair. It takes a full set of pin curls combed out to the perfect shape around your face. Don’t go over the top with your make up. It is red lips or a smoky eye, but never both at the same time.
Dressing as Betty is easy to pull together. But to do it right, it does take some effort. She doesn’t just wake up looking that good. With the help of Goodwill it is much more inexpensive to look expensive.
And as for Don, he is much easier. Find a slim suit, dress shoes, a skinny tie, and a guy who doesn’t get to wear suits often and collects ties and you are set. For a little added effort, use some gellac and part that hair for that ever dapper comb over!
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