Down The Hatch

The days of drinking at the office are long over, but that's not to say that things can't get a little crazy after hours. Office parties are always a great idea in theory, but the consequences of mixing alcohol and professionalism (or lack thereof) can lead to some awkward situations. Regardless, these communal drink-offs often end up turning into great moments of unity and bonding. It's pretty much guaranteed that if you put some beers, tunes, and co-workers together, you'll get one hell of a karaoke party. An internal video leaked today from the set of Mad Men, and in it we get a glimpse of cast and crew throwing a couple back while bidding adieu to the third season. It's great to see some of the cast out of character, and even better to see Peggy texting and Roger in a wig. Enjoy!

Via New York Magazine

Sugar & Spice

During my early teen years I decided that being girly wasn't for me. With that decision in mind, I started playing with edgier fashion, and I pretended that I wasn't still sleeping in a pink canopy bed surrounded by pink rose wallpaper. Suffice to say when I was a youngster I was mighty girly. I loved my pink bedroom with matching pink accessories, and I couldn't be separated from my pink Betty Boop sweatshirt that was fully equipped with a battery pack to power perfectly placed tiny red bulbs amidst her slinky dress. But more than all of those things I loved my Barbies - and boy did I have plenty. I had a plastic milk crate full of them, and I spent many of my summers making them tiny custom outfits with extra scraps of fabric my mom would give me. So of course upon reading today's New York Times article about the release of Mad Men-styled barbies, the little girl inside of me automatically thought: I want! Ok, maybe not just the little girl inside of me. You have to admit that these dolls are really amazing! With the approval of Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner and costume designer Janie Bryant, the dolls will hit shelves in July, an arrival that's perfectly timed with the beginning of season four. I'm hoping come July I can get my hands on Joanie, and she can take her rightful place in my apartment - I think she'll feel right at home.

A Woman's Scorn...

New York Times mega-fail!

Not Just Any Hourglass

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you, and this isn't Photoshopped madness. V Magazine just released a preview of their upcoming issue, and the Terry Richardson photo shoot above features model Jacquelyn Jablonski and 'plus size' model Crystal Renn playing an haute couture version of simon says. An in depth preview of the spread is currently on The Cut, and I have to say it's amazing to see Renn literally use her assets to put her competition to shame. She's fierce from "H to T" as Tyra would say. Meanwhile, other magazines are honing in on the 'plus size' trend through other dubious means, namely sticking a regular size model into some padding and calling it a day. The photo shoot below is from the third issue of German magazine I Love You, and was inspired by... you guessed it: Joan from Mad Men. I love me some Joanie more than anyone, but when you try to reproduce the curves of a woman with some padding the result is less than appealing. I appreciate the effort, but couldn't they have found a real voluptuous woman, and not just a model to fill Joanie's shoes?

Via New York Magazine and Cat Party

Normal People Are So Hostile

With only a few more episodes of Dexter left until the season finale, I'm scrambling to find a new show to help me get through these dreary cold months. Sure there's always movies and cable, but where will I get my bloody satisfaction? That's still left to be seen. In any event, the fine folks over at Flavorpill recently highlighted some work by graphic designer Albert Exergian, who's been putting a pared down spin on classic television imagery. I love the poster he did for Dexter (pictured above) but he's also tackled a handful of my favorites from LOST, to Six Feet Under, Mad Men and Twin Peaks. I have a feeling the list will continue to grow, so check out his site and maybe you'll finally find that desktop image you always wanted.

Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency

For all the haters out there who claim that Mad Men isn't the best show on television, I present one of the best moments of the season thus far. This should change your mind. So many great things going on here: 1) office hijinks, 2) Joan saves the day, 3) Peggy thanks Joan for all her advice, 4) blood. 'Nuff said. My love for Mad Men grows with each passing day, and the writing never ceases to amaze me. The name of this episode alone (re: title of this blog entry) is pure genius. If you aren't watching it already, I suggest you start from the beginning to fully appreciate everything Sterling Cooper has to offer.

Breaking The Habit

I'll be the first to admit that when I get into a show I'll consume it 'til the last drop. I drank down the first season of Dexter in two days, and months later gorged on the first four seasons of LOST, but I'd like to think that my addiction never superceded other elements of my life. In this hilarious sketch by Saturday Night Live's Fred Armisen, and fiancée Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men) we see what could happen if I really went off the deep end.

[FunnyOrDie via Jezebel]

Red Revolution

As a recent redhead convert, I've become increasingly more aware of the beautiful redheads that surround me on a daily basis. I've really started to wonder: do I notice more redheads now because I am one? Or are there more of us out there now (both fake and real)? According to some friends of mine, red is the hottest hair color right now, as its popularity has seen a resurgence in the past few years. There have been countless pop culture references to redheads, from the infamous South Park episode, to this year's British photography exhibition showcasing the rare genetic trait.

I've always been entranced and drawn to red hair, and I think I've found the seed of my obsession: The Little Mermaid! How could I have not put it together sooner? I wanted to be Ariel so badly when I was little - I used to recreate scenes from the movie at the local swimming pool, and I didn't care who watched. [Image at left: The fabulous Julianne Moore as Ariel, photographed by Annie Leibovitz].

Next up on my list of influential copperheads is the beautiful Lauren Ambrose. I first saw her in one of my favorite teen party tales, Can't Hardly Wait. Of course that film also starred another awesome redhead, Seth Green, but it was Ambrose who stole the show. When she later starred in Alan Ball's Six Feet Under as Claire Fisher, she became an idol of sorts for me. As Claire she was sarcastic, funny, and sassy - everything I hoped I was. When I saw her in 2009's Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie Loving Leah, in which she plays a Hasidic Jew who falls in love with her brother-in-law after her husband dies, I loved her even more.

Last up is the queen of curvy sirens, the unbelievably sexy Christina Hendricks. With her breakout role in AMC's Mad Men she has made almost every man I know rethink the appeal of an hourglass figure - and thank god for that! As Joan Holloway she embodies the role of a headstrong, intelligent woman in a man's world, with all the strength and sex appeal of a modern day feminist. She's a fake redhead just like me, so I like to think of her as my partner in crime. Masquerading as a redhead really has made me more confident and outgoing, but maybe that's because I look to these ladies for inspiration. And what fiery inspiration they are!

The Victorious Return of The Pin Up

I think it's safe to say that most women don't think of bathing suit shopping as a "good time". It's the shopping equivalent of shooting yourself out of a cannon - it can be hard getting into it, but if the fit is right the resulting spectacle is glorious. There's nothing like a perfect curve-hugging bathing suit, and the classic lines and silhouette of a vintage inspired suit do just that. I'm pleased to say that finding a great retro suit isn't too difficult nowadays with the resurgence and popularity of classic looks (perhaps as a result of the popularity of shows like Mad Men). Companies are finally taking note and realizing that curvacious goddesses still exist, and desire the quality and comfort afforded to beauties like Marilyn and Jayne. Thank goodness.

This summer I've discovered three favorites that make a real statement, and are devoted to style and fit. The first can be found at Brooklyn's Old Hollywood: beautiful pieces made by Italian trained swimsuit designer Elizabeth O'Brien Berg. The store carries her existing pieces, but the designer is always available to make custom suits at the client's request.



The second outstanding suit comes from Malia Mills, who has locations on both the East and West coast. Their motto "Love Thy Differences" says it all. The suits are expertly crafted to fit a wide array of bodies, and they carry every size imaginable. I'm obsessed with the Calendar Girl Bottoms (shown at right) - high waisted and ever so flirty.

The last one is also the most affordable and accessible, because it's from the ones I love to hate: Urban Outfitters. Yes, I have a very complicated relationship with that store and their practices, but they also fit right into my price range and hell they know how to cater to my demographic (read: young, sassy and prone to impulse shopping). Last year they came out with a handful of retro inspired suits, and at around $60 a pop they're quite a steal indeed. Oh, and very cute of course.

So bust out the suntan lotion, slip on your suit, and soak up some rays before it's too late.

Dressed To Impress

In celebration of today's DVD release of Mad Men Season 2, and in anticipation of the Season 3 premiere on August 16 (10pm) AMC has posted a veritable smörgåsbord of video teasers. What's so interesting about these teasers is that each one of them frames the show in a different light. With 5 different themes (Romance, Comedy, Action, Drama, and Utterly Seductive) AMC is obviously trying to appeal to more viewers - because apparently an Emmy Award winning show with some of the best acting on television isn't enough to draw in the crowds. Silly people. The teasers even employ the use of velvety voice overs, and dramatic editing to draw us in. And it totally works. Check out the themed teasers linked above, or the basic teaser for Season 3 below.