Mad Men aired its pilot episode 10 years ago Wednesday, so to celebrate this week’s Rabbit Hole is diving into other ways to get your stylish 1960s drama fix.
I miss Don Draper. Yes, I know he’s fictional and kind of a jerk. But Mad Men created a world you couldn’t help but immerse yourself in. The super stylish AMC drama’s first episode aired 10 years ago today and to celebrate, today’s Rabbit Hole is all about ways we Mad Men fans can feel like we’re going back in time—to the swinging 1960s, obviously, but also to 2014 when our favorite show was still on TV.
Here are three suggestions:
Call the Midwife‘s historic drama
Remember how when Mad Men became a thing every other network tried to do a prestige show set in the 1960s? There was The Astronaut’s Wives Club. There was Pan-Am. We’ve pretty much worked past our brief obsession with that decade—judging by GLOW and Stranger Things, we’ve moved on to the 80s—but there are a few shows still around you should watch if you’re looking for a ’60s spirit. We’d suggest Call the Midwife on PBS. It’s about a group of nurses and midwives in 1960s London so maybe not quite as sexy as Mad Men, but there’s plenty of retro fun to be had.
The Real Men of Advertising‘s ad-man appeal
If you’re looking for a more spot-on spin-off, Smithsonian channel has put together an impressive documentary, which you can watch this weekend, The Real Mad Men of Advertising. It explores the history of the era and industry Mad Men was all about, complete with expert interviews and a lot of awesome real ad campaigns. Some episodes are also available on YouTube.
Janie Bryant’s ’60s style
And, if you’re like me, and were a sucker for Mad Men’s tailored suits and pencil skirts, check out what the show’s costume designer, Janie Bryant is up to now. Aside from being a super fun person to follow on social media, Bryant’s been busy launching new collections and writing her own book, The Fashion File, which offers readers a peek into the Mad Men costume design process. You can order it on Amazon.
Maybe this stuff won’t bring back Joan or Roger Sterling’s one-liners but it might help.
Related Story: 10 most feminist moments in Mad Men’s 1950s sea of misogyny
For other ways to fuel your fandom, check back next week.