And I note with some bemusement that in the intervening period Mad Men has become no longer simply a show that I take an almost obessive interest in, but also something of a cultural and fashion-wide phenomenon.
It started off as a little watched, slow-moving, period piece hidden away on BBC4, lovingly re-creating the era of the late 50s onwards- the fashion, the decor, the heavy smoking and daytime drinking...
And then Prada and Louis Vuitton started channelling a Betty Draper vibe... And Christina Hendricks' pneumatic figure (playing the fabulously fearsome office manager Joan Holloway) was embraced by the public as the refreshing antithesis of the tired skinny celebrity stereotype...
And now you can't sneeze without falling over another of the abundant of Mad Men references out there currently (hmm... overkill anyone?)... nonetheless...an observation or two...
I note with interest that the impact of this TV show on the clothing landscape seems to dovetail somewhat appropriately with the current consumer attitude to spending- namely that fashion trends have seen a definite move away from the 'gimmicky' fast fashion trends styles that have dominated the landscape in recent years, towards classic, timeless, enduring (and dare I say more sensible) choices..
We are currently paying a little more for items such as this seasons camel coat, shift dress, midi heels, cocktail rings, blouses and so on... that we expect to make us happy a lot longer.
In these straitened times we are looking for more certainty, and more security- beautiful clothes that will last, styles that will hold their relevance- 'investment pieces'... we haven't the money or time, whilst we worry about mortgages and jobs, to waste money on clothes we don't like, won't wear, or can't last.
And as Christina Hendricks' embraces her curves, so we now want to enjoy wearing clothes that actually make us look and feel attractive (that means a goodbye to the dastardly hareem pants)- with a wardrobe we will continue to love long after Mad Men has finished its current season.
'Looking sharp' is a key theme on the show. There is no such thing as business casual at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce- Guys sup their mid-morning whisky in a natty suit, the ladies sashay in impeccable shift dresses... and this is being borne out on the high street. RetailWeek announced in the last week that Ted Baker have seen first half profits soar by 25% as customers look for smarter product during the downturn.
So evidently the public knows as well as Donald Draper does, that no problem seems insurmountable when you're in a bloody good suit.
