The award-winning AMC television series returned last night with a double episode to launch its highly-anticipated fifth season.
As its characters left the early Sixties behind them, mini-skirts, psychedelic prints, monochrome ensembles and boxy shapes took the show’s leading ladies into 1966.
Don Draper's new wife Megan showcased a range of 1966 trends including monochrome ensembles, mini dresses and relaxed hair styles.
Although Betty Francis, the show’s fashion superstar played by January Jones, did not feature in the episode, her co-stars showcased accurate elements of a more daring style era which was right in the thick of the Civil Rights movement.
Megan Draper showcased one of the era’s most significant style statements with her slinky black mini dress.
A nod to the trend's mid-Sixties arrival, Yves Saint Laurent began showing thigh-skimming hemlines in 1965, such as the famous multi-coloured dress which was inspired by artist Piet Mondrian.
Vampy black eye make-up and false eyelashes, which also became popular in the mid-Sixties, completed a new sexually empowered look that was reminiscent of a go-go dancer.
The go-go concept, which involved women twisting their bodies as a dance move, was considered so popular in the mid-Sixties that club promoters began hiring go-go dancers to perform for patrons.
The entire look was a fitting wardrobe choice for Megan given that she later serenaded her new husband with a seductive song performance.
Megan was also seen in the episode representing other significant developments in Sixties fashion. Women at the time were beginning to express themselves through unique and often more revealing fashion choices.
The new Mrs Draper wore a monochrome sherbet orange ensemble as she walked through the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce office with Don. A long cardigan, emblazoned with a zigzag print, was paired perfectly with a short figure-hugging dress.
She also wore a fabulous blue knee-length pencil skirt that featured racing stripes down the sides. It was paired with a low-cut polka dot blouse which was also true of the times, as women in the mid-Sixties had become more comfortable with contrasting prints and fabrics.
Peggy Olson, a consistently conservative dresser, wore a bright orange and yellow floral print dress to Don Draper's 40th birthday party. She also showed a racing stripe of her own that ran down the entire length of a long black dress she wore during an office presentation.
New mother Joan Harris was seen wearing mostly casual clothes at home with her new baby but her arrival at the office towards the end of the episode offered another significant fashion moment.
Dressed in one of her trademark body-snug dresses, a bright fuchsia watercolour print added a contemporary twist. It was also an unusually low-cut dress for Joan's typical office picks.
Mad Men's ladies, Megan Draper, Trudy Campbell and Jane Sterling, show off popular mid-60s styles
The ladies hair and make-up also demonstrated how much had changed in the U.S. between the early and mid-Sixties.
The iconic beehive up-do made an appearance on Trudy Campbell’s head at a birthday party Megan threw for Don. The hairstyle was originally made famous through Sixties singer Dusty Springfield and Audrey Hepburn in 1961's Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Retro headbands and hairstyles with added volume and flicked up hair ends were spotted throughout the party.
Roger Sterling's wife Jane sported an era-friendly high side ponytail with statement earrings to match. She also wore a full-length psychedelic orange and white print dress.
Roger's office at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce showed mid-60s decorating of the high-cost variety
Cosy living: Don's new apartment has retro furnishings, like Pop colour sofas and other minimalistic furniture
Mad Men's interiors have also embraced mid-Sixties' trends. Mod furnishings, such as the minimalist white furniture in Roger Sterling's office, represent the cutting edge design which gathered steam in the Sixties. Low-rise stools and op art also featured.
Don's apartment also represented the era's growing obsession with minimalistic design. Warm pops of reds and oranges have been included.
Fashion-wise, the men also showed some wardrobe headway. Pete Campbell was seen in a bright plaid suit and red tie. More subtle plaid was also spotted on another suit in the room.
