Mad Men, AMC’s iconic look at advertising and culture in the 1960s, finally returns to TV this Sunday after a 15-month hiatus following the end of its fourth season back on October 17, 2010. As an admitted TV junkie, I am on the edge of my seat with anticipation, not just for the way the show’s numerous secrets are plotted out, or for Jon Hamm’s boozy, heartbreaking portrayal of a man adrift, but for the pitch-perfect fashion and tone that captures the essence of a bygone era so well. If you’ve found yourself like me, trying to soak up as much style as the show exudes, you might also enjoy checking out these apps that fit comfortably in the same company as the folks at Sterling Cooper Draper Price.
Mad Men Cocktail Culture ($0.99)
You might have the moves like Jagger, but there’s very little chance you’ve got the drinks like Draper. He may be an advertising executive but he might as well have a second career in liver destruction. Mad Men Cocktail Culture offers not only a cocktail guide with instructions for concocting 32 different cocktails, but also a quiz of sorts for 14 different drinks in the app. You’ll have to know things like how much vodka goes into a gimlet, and what sort of glass you use for certain drinks. Once you’ve passed your bartending quiz you can post the results on Facebook for all your friends to see.
Oldies Music Radio ($0.99)
Mad Men has done a good job incorporating the music of the era into plot-lines, most notably when Don grabbed tickets to The Beatles’ Shea Stadium show for his daughter, Sally. With Oldies Music Radio you can enjoy the classic sounds of the oldies on your own time. OMR has stations for all sorts of classic music, from the British Invasion to more sensitive singer-songwriter style tunes. Stations are always being added, as well, so if you’re missing a particular style of retro music, chances are it could be added any day.
GQ Style Guide (Free)
There are entire style blogs dedicated to the fashion of Mad Men, but that doesn’t mean you should go buying a bunch of suits and dresses that would’ve looked hot in 1964. Instead, use the GQ Style Guide to be tasteful in a more modern way. This app offers up a men’s fashion manual. It tells you the best things to wear from suits to shirts and even shoes. If you find an outfit you really like in the app, you can save it for quick reference the next time you’re out shopping.
StyleTag – Fashion SNS (Free)
If the GQ app isn’t cutting it and you’d rather take your fashion advice from the hive-mind, try StyleTag on for size. The fashion-forward social networking app has over 300,000 users sharing their favorite photos and style tips. Users can stay up-to-date on specific brands, designers and fashionistas by following them like you might follow someone on Twitter. You can also browse and upload photos of outfits to either get ideas for things you’d like to wear, or show off your own sexy style.
4A’s | American Association of Advertising Agencies (Free)
While Mad Men does a stellar job of immersing viewers in the advertising world of the ’60s, a lot has changed since then. If you want the real scoop on the advertising industry, check out 4A’s. You can learn the latest advertising news and read up on insights from various agencies. The app also has a video archive of 4A’s webinars and presentations. It may not be as glamorous and booze-filled as the meetings you’d see on Mad Men, but 4A’s provides an interesting inside look at the advertising industry of today.
