For Halloween this year, I struggled with both my costume and finding something to do. I contemplated being Marie Antoinette (thank you, horrific neck scar), a "pink-slipped" employee (suit jacket, pink slip underneath), a devil in a blue dress, or nothing at all.
Last week, T2 and I went for nibbles and vino in Madison Valley. We both live on the Madison Corridor in the greater Mad Valley area. I asked what she and Mr. O'Dea were doing and she said they were going to a house party in Green Lake. She was dressing as Betty Draper from Mad Men. Then a light bulb went off over her head.
"Come with us! Dress up as Joan Halloway! You already have the dress."
She was right, I did already have the dress. And the red hair. And the vintage handbag. And the schedule cleared of all other engagements.
I called Jim and asked if he would come. He agreed, but planned to dress as the Cowardly Lion. Mr. O'Dea was going to be a narwhal. Us girls said WHATEVER and proceeded to plan.
I told KQ at work about my plans and she brought in her grandmother's vintage costume jewelry for me to borrow. Unbelievable! Finally by Thursday, T2 and I had convinced our men that they needed to dress up as our Mad Men companions. They acquiesced: Jim took on Don Draper and Mr. O'Dea took a young Roger Sterling.
On Halloween day, I found myself watching videos on eHow.com to learn how to do a proper French Twist. I set out the vintage martini set I inherited from the Ruoff family back in California. It's all chrome and shiny. I stocked up on gin, tonic, vodka, cranberry, bobby pins, hairspray and set my Pandora station to Motown. We put on the final touches at my house, then went out to party.
Halloween was a blast. Here we all are as Mad Men:
And probably my favorite picture of the night? Yeah, it's this one:
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Men Halloween.
