Signal 30 - Part 2 of 3 - Sting Like a Bee

The next day, we find Pete in Drivers Ed class. He's about as bored as his equally boring gold tie.

A student nicknamed "Handsome" approaches Pete, and apologizes for being late. Pete informs Handsome that even though he's dressed like one, he's not the intructor. Whoops. Pete just felt 142 years old.

I'm loving Handsome's shirt. He looks like some sort of super hero, and you can best believe the fellow Drivers Ed classmate wants to be rescued by him. Surrounded by innocent looking teenagers, Pete now feels like 143 years old.

Across town, Lane is having a very English night out with his wife and her friends. The friends work for Jaguar, they're watching a soccer match, and Lane is decked out in the colors of the English flag. Seriously, Lane should wear that scarf ALL THE TIME. It makes him look a cool Harry Potter professor, and he already has the English accent!

Poor Mrs. Lane. In her ho-hum peach and pearls ensemble, she just can't compete aginst that scarf!

The next morning at the office, it's dueling dark rimmed glasses as Roger gives Lane some pointers about securing the potential Jaguar client. Good move, guys. Whenever I want people to think I'm smart, I ALWAYS wear my glasses.

After Lane's failed attempts to woo the client, Pete, Roger and Don take said client out for a night of lobsters. Where can I get one of those vintage lobster bibs? I want one to wear out and about. I'll even embrace the odd looks.

The Jaguar client, however, isn't as enthusiastic about lobster bibs as I am - he wants to have "fun." Which means...

Enter the upscale whore house! The Jaguar client looks a little creepy to begin with, but here he just looks plain "creepy uncle." His lady-friend looks like she's wearing a slutty Mrs. Claus Halloween costume.

As for Roger's lady friend - is she wearing her old wedding dress? Roger could care less. He's on top of the fashion world in his James Bond inspired grey suit to match his grey hair. Double fashion points!

Pete gets some alone time with his leopard lingerie lady friend, who clearly knows the in and outs of what the client wants. Does that mean they can keep her on staff as a consultant? Hello loophole!

At the end of the night, Don gives the infidelity-laced Pete guilty looks, which Pete finds hypocritical. Notice the two mens ties - Don's in control and Pete's a mess. Symbolism. I guess my degree in English wasn't a waste of time after all...

Signal 30 - Part 3 of 3 - Sucker Punch

The next day, it's back to business as usual with...Joanie! She's back! With her hair in a bun, we know it's all business as she leads the partners' meeting. But all the proper business etiquette goes out the window when it's revealed the Jaguar client isn't signing and Pete tells lane, "You have no idea what you're doing!... In fact, as far as I can tell, our need for you disappeared the day after you fired us!"

And with that, DING-DING-DING. It was on!

Lane rips off his jacket to reveal a slick vest and Wonder-Bread tie. He also calls Pete a "Grimy little pimp", which just became my new favorite insult.

Pete follows suit, but doesn't have the fun tie or the vest. See, Lane's already winning!

Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, children of all ages!

In one corner, we have Lane "The Books" Price... and in the other corner we have Pete "The Whiney WASP" Campbell.

As "Duck and Dive" Don, "Right Hand" Roger and "Bowtie" Bert place their bets, the fight begins!

Outside the board room, a Mary Tyler Moore looking Peggy asks aqua marine'd Joan what's going on.

Sssshush. It's nothing you pretty women folks need to worry about.

Back inside, "The Books" delivers a knockout punch.

This reminds me of when I was a kid and something like this happened:

In the elevator on the way home, an embarresed Pete asks Don, "Why were we even having a fight at work? This is an office. We're supposed to be friends." Similiar to their cab situation in the beginning of the episode, we have a clean cut Don next to the rumpled and befuddled Pete.

As Joan helps Lane ice his hand, he asks her what he really does at SCDP, as she replies, "If they've tried to make you feel different than them, you are." She then tells the champ, "That's a good way to be." And with those kind words and his newfound status as the Cassius Clay of SCDP, Lane plants one on Joan. To the victor go the spoils.

Alright all you Joans, Trudys, Megans and Peggys...go outside, live a little and add to that expanding closet of yours. You deserve it after putting up with these shenanigans!

Mystery Date - Part 1 of 3 - Career Gals

Under the shadow of the Richard Speck murders, some of the ladies on Mad Men have issues with men. Joan's husband returns from Vietnam and is pretty much the exact same dbag he was when he left. He tells Joan to deal with his choice to return 'Nam, and Joan in turn gives him marching orders to never come home. Peggy covers for Roger and takes his cash to work on the weekend. And then, in spite of all her liberal feelings, has some regretable feelings of racism. Megan is annoyed that Don's slept with three quarters of midtown Manhattan. She should maybe be more than annoyed since he dreams about killing them. And Sally starts to learn that dudes can be kind of awful.

Hey ladies! It's time for our Mystery Dates!

Which of our dates will work out? There might be some creepy dudes out and about in the world, but the world you're in is full of them and you just don't know it.

Oh Joannie! I need you to explain something to me. Why do you ladies in the 1960s wear lingerie to do household chores?

Is this the 1966 version of wearing leggings as pants at home? I just can't wrap my head around it.

Especially since this is what your mom wears to do housework.

While I don't understand your choice in around the house wear, I do appreciate your ability to accessorize.

We're going to revisit this 1960 trend of coordinating and right now, you are doing it all right. I dig it. Although, I think I like your mom's dress better than yours.

Your actual sexytimes negligee, while all boobs, doesn't strike me as sexy as your cleaning and baking negligee. It's kind of trying too hard.

Actually, trying too hard is a place Joan's going a lot these days. It's like Amanda was saying, as the 60s begin to wane and the ladies start to loosen up in their style, Joan is still steadfastly looking like her early 60s self.

I appreciate the accessorizing and the tailoring, but it's starting to look as dated as her mom's full skirted dresses. She's going to stick out like carefully tailored and well-accessorized sore thumb when she returns to work from mat leave.

So, I know Joan's husband is a dbag on shore leave (I fear it's this actor will be typecast. He was similarly douchey on Gossip Girl), but can we take a minute to appreciate Joan's choice in coffee cups and carafe?

Sorry. I know we're a fashion blog. But I kind of lose it for vintage Pyrex.

Moving on!

What do you wear when you give your husband the boot? Not the sexy, boob baring nightgowns, that's for sure. No, you wear the full coverage housecoat that matches your breakfast dishes.

Peggy's sort of getting the transition to late '60s career girl, buuuut not quite.

Girlfriend is having trouble with finding clothes that fit her figure even a little bit. And she's still got that itch to match. Like her shoes to her dress.

And worse still, her purse to her shoes.

Aww, Pegs, you've got to tone that down a little. There's coordinating and then there's over the top. And no one is going to take you seriously at the office if you're dressed like a wee copywriting leprachaun. At least you were smart enough to take advantage of Roger when he tried to take advantage of your mad copywriting skills.

The dame who we all agree is getting the late '60s career gal right? It's totally our favourite French Canadian (apologies to Celine Dion, but Megan is our girl).

Incroyable, kiddo. I'd totally wear that dress now. And I like that your bags don't necessarily match your outfit. They coordinate, but they aren't matchy matchy. Unlike one of Don's ex-lovers who is showing her age by matching everything to the colours of the sun.

I mean, I totally dig that outfit now, but back in 1966? I'd probably think she was a wee bit square. But since this isn't 1966, let's admire what Andrea has on!

Love the tailored yellow dress and I love the coraly-orange accessories. And while this may seem like a less than classy picture to use to admire her accesories, I'd like to point out that it was a just a dream and she's totally still alive to sport her fantastic heels.

Although, seriously Don? That is your fever dream? Having sex and killing a former ladyfriend? Not cool, dude. Not cool. You've got to check that weird brain of yours out.

And poor sunshiney Megan is bringing you juice and looking all casual in her sweater tank top, with no idea that you were looking for a dead woman under the bed.

Megan, I know you think he's a dreamy dude (and you're not alone. Lots of ladies and gents agree), but ma chere? Don is one Mystery Date you do not want to tap too deeply into.

The 1966 career gal I'm most likely to dress like these days is Peggy's friend Joyce from Time.

Well, maybe not the blue slacks (I use "slacks" on purpose. I feel like they were actually slacks back then), but totally that plaid jacket. She wears a plaid blazer so much better than Ginsburg. And I dig that her necklace coordinates, but in a way that none of our gals have coordinated. I also kind of like the floral number on the dim bulb secretary. It's totally got an Anthropologie look to it.

Other Dawn is looking a little earlier season Peggy (before the surprise pregnancy).

I know she's quite happy being the secretary, but that's no reason she can't start to dress a little kickier.

Mystery Date - Part 2 of 3 - The beginnings of casual Fridays

The ladies aren't the only ones seeing changes in their office wear. Oh sure, dudes like Ken Cosgrove and the clients and even Don are still dressing like my grandad did.

I know Ken is dressing to be like the client, but we're starting to see things shake up in the creative side of SCDP. The days of the gay Italian art director in his Don Draperish suits are long gone and this is what we've got in his place.

Okay, I kid (sort of. I mean, I've never seen the creatives I know wear pantyhose on their heads, but I haven't worked in advertising that long). But for reals, take a look at the new kid, Ginsburg.

He's not even trying to match his tie to his shirt! And he's not much better when it comes to the jackets (although, at least he has more than the plaid to go with the paisley tie).

Look at Don. Jacket is on, it's tailored and there isn't a wrinkle in sight. Now look at Ginsburg, whose jacket is a few sizes too big. Or Stan, who despite being polo shirt free, isn't even bothering with the jacket during the meeting. And when he does put the jacket on?

At least he matches it to his tie. Actually, I dig on the mustard coloured jacket. It's a bold choice. Which is part of Stan being on the creative side and not on the Pete and Roger accounts side of things.

Great chair Roger, but y'all are still looking super buttoned up and no-nonsense for the clients - no matter how kicky and mod your office furniture may be.

I'm okay with the buttoned up look. I don't love it. But I get it. They meet with dudes who wear suits and try to convince them to trust them and their agency, despite the shlubby look of Ginsburg (the business world isn't quite ready for the five day casual Friday look just yet). But what I don't like? The hemlines on those pants.

Hells bells, Pete. Cover your ankles.

While he maybe overdoes it for the everyday at the office, certainly compared to his co-workers, I do have a soft spot for Roger's three pieces and a pocket square.

Now there's a business look that's quickly on it's way to squaresville.

Mystery Date - Part 3 of 3 - Home Alone

Okay, not exactly home alone. But Sally Draper didn't fit in with the career gal theme. And let's face it, Grandma Pauline as your guardian? Well, you'll see. First Sally's summer wear.

Straight up, I dig the cotton blouse, capris and keds. Mostly because that's kind of one of my favourite looks. For me. And I love how the absence of Fat Betty means that Sally isn't going to touch a comb for at least a few more days.

Sally's style really does works on grown ups. See what Joan wore after she got rid of Greg?

If Joan would ever stoop to wearing keds, I'd bet that would be a super awesome outfit. And probably more practical for baking a cake.

Come to think of it, Sally Draper is kind of becoming a style icon for other ladies on the show. I mean, check out Sally's Valley of the Dolls style PJs...

...and now check out Peggy's hangover-wear.

Does anyone remember Peggy's old nightgowns? Well, in case you dont', let me remind you.

Not exactly cute or stylish by anyone's standards.Particularly not when it's the 1960s instead of the 1860s.

Although, I worry for Sally Draper. Not only does she have a profoundly sad and slightly unstable mom and a dad who dreams about sexing and killing the ladies, but she's now got herself a Grandma Pauline. A grandma who encourages ugly bathrobes, carrying knives and taking barbituates to get some shut eye.

They may as well leave Sally Draper to be raised by wolves. Can we give her a mid-1970s spin off where we see her grow up to be moderately messed up and rebelling by not wearing a bra to various feminist rallies and possibly kissing both boys and girls? That's how I see the trajectory of teenage/early 20s Sally Draper. Because if this is what your Saturday morning at age 12 looks like? Then honestly? Things are going to get messy before they get better.

Similar to leaving Sally with wolves is leaving her with Fat Betty. Who is still fat (I feel like that won't last all season. There must be a clause in January Jones' contract that she has to be back to fabulous before the end of the season).

Like some of the career ladies, Betty is still clinging to a time when you don't go without gloves, a time that's on it's way out. Unfortunately for Fat Betty, it's going to be some time before they make even a couple of decent plus sized pieces. The fashion industry clearly wasn't kind to former beauty queens in the 60s.