what I'd buy at the Mad Men auction

Did you know that in about 5 more hours, an auction of thousands of Mad Men props begins?  I'm still not over the show being over, but I did spend a pleasant hour or so at Screen Bid looking at the items on offer.  I didn't see any women's clothing (just shoes and jewelry), but many of the men's suits are available.  I fantasized for a moment about bidding on a suit for Andy, but he's between Pete and Don in size.  He's closest in size to Roger, actually, but style-wise. . . he's a 1960s Pete or Don.  (They have Don's dirty white t-shirt and Levi's from the last episode's Bonneville Speedway scenes, too.  Rawr.)

I don't have the money to actually win a bid, but that didn't stop me from going through and picking out the items I would bid on if I did.  You can place bids on your own favorites (or just peruse the available items) over at the Screen Bid site.

clockwise, from upper left:

* This is an item I would actually use: Don's bar tools set.

* Don's journal from season 4.  I would love to see what was written in it!  I enjoyed seeing Don be so thoughtful and introspective at this point in the series; it was one of the rare times I felt real hope for him.

* This green thing is Don's pencil sharpener.  I never knew what it was until the auction enlightened me; it looks like a game show buzzer and I always thought of it as Don's panic button.

* SCDP mug.

* Who knew Meredith was a secret interior design superhero?  I loved Meredith, as annoying as she could be, and I loved the scene where she shows Don her ideas for his new apartment.

* Another item I'd get a lot of actual use from:  Don's record collection.  Some of the gems in here:  The Supremes at the Copa, Nat King Cole's "I Don't Want to Be Hurt Anymore," Elvis Sings How Great Thou Art, "Whipped Cream and Other Delights" by Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass,  "Some Blue-Eyed Soul" by The Righteous Bros., "Sketches of Spain" by Miles Davis,  "Johnny Hodges, Billy Strayhorn and his Orchestra," "Ambassador at Jazz" by Max Kaminsky.

clockwise, from upper left:

* The note Don included with the flowers he sent Joan after their Jaguar test drive/cocktail date.  Another of my favorite series scenes, with Joan and Don musing about why they never hooked up.

* A typed set of directions to Pete's house for dinner and drinks, which he handed to Don.  This item is 100% pure Essence of Pete.

* Two cans of Old Style beer, which Don and Peggy shared while watching the moon landing in their hotel before the Burger Chef pitch.  A favorite scene between my two favorite characters.

* Sally's family tree, a prop in the scene in which Sally first learns about the existence of Anna, thanks to Betty (not one of Betty's finer parenting moments.  Not that there were many of those).

* The menu and bill from Quo Vadis restaurant, from the scene where Joan offers Peggy a partnership in her production company.  I admit, I had a real thrill of excitement thinking of these two powerhouses partnering up.

Bonus item:

* Pauline Francis' book and Seconal bottles!  That scene--where Pauline dopes up little Sally to calm her after Sally is terrified by the news coverage of the Richard Speck mass murder case--is both horrifying and hilarious.  Screen Bid takes pains to inform us that the Seconal bottles will arrive empty.

xo

K

shop accessories preview: tooled leather bags, denim wedges, 1900s boots

The shop will soon be getting a selection of new accessories, including a couple of tooled leather bags, some fun 1970s wedge sandals, a pair of early 20th century boots, and silk bow ties.  All items begin arriving in the shop today.

Tooled leather bag with cactus and hawk.

1950s black velvet purse by Mayer New York.

Tooled leather shoulder/cross body bag.

1970s flower embroidered denim blue and jute wedge peeptoe sandals.

1900s-1910s brown leather lace up boots by Roberts, Johnson & Rand.

1950s striped silk self tie bow tie.

1950s printed clay brown silk self tie bow tie.

1950s black plastic sunglasses with green lenses.

xo

K

shop preview: 1930s dresses, 1940s trousers, ladybugs, and April in Paris

1930s dresses, an April in Paris print, 1940s trousers, and lots of cute cotton blouses in this week's shop update!  All items begin arriving in the shop today.

1930s floral print voile gown with lace trim and flower buttons.

1960s gerbera daisy print cotton cropped tie front blouse.

1970s embroidered pink Mexican traditional dress.

1960s orange polished cotton scalloped hem top, an Original Playmaker by Mannie Fineman.

1950s blue rose print seersucker sundress, A Margy-Jane Creation.

1970s ladybugs and clover print skort by Randi Roberts.

1960s navy blue polka dot romper by Joan Curtis.

1960s mod green scooter dress with striped accents.

1930s blue and white floral print day dress.

1950s yellow and green floral print blouse.

1950s April in Paris print dress by Susan Ross.

1940s black faille wide leg trousers.

xo

K

shop preview: the Gold Rush, the Dutch countryside, and vintage denim

This week's shop update includes some great novelty prints--the Gold Rush, a royal palace, the Dutch countryside--plus an elegant 1940s tulle gown and jacket set, 1940s-50s denim, and much more!

The first two items are already in the shop, and the rest begin arriving today.

1950s buttercup yellow shantung dress with rhinestone pins.

1950s Dutch Pastoral print cotton blouse by Smart Lady.

1950s Gold Rush novelty print shirtwaist dress by Heritage.

1950s men's red and blue print swim trunks.

1940s black tulle and satin stripe dress and cropped jacket.

1950s Royal Palace novelty print cotton blouse by Shirtmaker.

1960s bright floral print shift dress by Famous Fashions of Miami.

1940s or 1950s gym suit.

1950s pale gold floral brocade dress.

1960s Stained Glass Shards print cotton blouse.

1960s tiki print sundress by Charm of Hollywood.

1940s-1950s women's Montgomery Ward 101 denim jeans.

xo

K

shop accessories preview: leather bags, sunglasses, cork heels, and more

Coming to the shop:  leather bags, hats, eyewear and more!  All items begin arriving in the shop today.

1960s mod colorblock purse.

1950s caramel brown elk skin clutch by Companion Bags.

1970s large brown leather tote/foldover clutch by Palizzio.

1970s cork wedge slides by Penaljo.

1950s pearlescent white sunglasses by Foster Grant.

1940s black and gold cat eye frames.

1960s green Shuron Continental sunglasses.

1950s red and white polka dot hat from Himelhoch's Detroit.

1940s mauve straw hat by Medfield.

1978 solid brass eagle's head belt buckle.

xo

K

shop preview: 1930s floral prints, 1950s taffeta stripes and 1920s embroidery

This week's shop update has a quite a mix:  two 1930s floral print day dresses, a 1960s lace maxi that would make a gorgeous and sophisticated wedding dress, a Venice print blouse, striped taffeta from the 1950s, and a lovely 1920s arts and crafts style embroidered shift.

The first dress is in the shop already; everything else begins arriving today!

1930s floral print day dress with grosgrain ribbon bow.

Deadstock 1960s sailor dress.

1950s Catalina maroon satin swim trunks.

1920s Arts & Crafts embroidered dress.

1950s Canals of Venice border print blouse.

1960s aqua blue mod scarf collar dress.

1960s white floral lace maxi dress.

1950s horizontal stripe taffeta full skirt.

1930s gray cotton floral print day dress with pockets.

1950s abstract floral print blouse with big Peter Pan collar and bow.

xo

K