Mad Men Season 5

What you call love was invented by guys like me to sell nylons. Don Draper had us sold from the first episode of Season 1. Now, AMC's Mad Men is back for Season 5. The doors of Sterling Cooper Draper Price will open once again on Sunday, March 25, giving us a peek into the decadently scandalous world of a 1960s ad agency.

Jon Hamm, Christina Hendricks, Elisabeth Moss, January Jones and John Slattery return for another season of Mad Men, as fans eagerly anticipate the premiere.

Series creator Matthew Weiner previously said that Hamm's Don Draper will confront some midlife issues in Season 5, according to People magazine. Now, with a proposal hovering over the season, it will be interesting to see if that midlife crisis involved his beautiful fiancé Megan, played by Jessica Pare.

A couple of [themes] have emerged as we have gone on, one of them [being] 'It's every man for himself,' Weiner said at the Television Critics Association's winter press tour in January. There's a line in the third episode where somebody says, 'When is everything going to get back to normal?'

There's a feeling of being in the midst of change, Weiner added. I love that feeling of, 'Right when I think I'm on top of something, right when I think that I have some wisdom from life experience, you just sort of feel things slip away.' And there's this sensation, which I think people have right now - I know I do - [that] there is just so much change going on. I write from what I'm feeling, and I have this feeling right now of like, 'Enough already! Let's just get our feet on the ground and go back to the way it was.' I don't know if anybody else identifies with that, but that's a big part of the season. Just trying to hold on.

To celebrate the Season 5 premiere of Mad Men, here are some party ideas, drink recipes and fashion must-haves that will take you straight through Season 5.

How to Party Like Mad Men

No one parties quite as suavely as our favorite Mad Men characters. So, there is no reason not to throw a party to celebrate Sunday's Season 5 premiere. After all, Only boring people are bored, Betty Draper once said.

The Unofficial 'Mad Men' Cookbook features some delicious recipe ideas that echo 1960s dining. WeHeartThis.com gave the cookbook, which features over 70 recipes, a glowing review: It's an absolute must for any fan. It has more than 70 authentic recipes taken from the kitchens, restaurants and bars seen on Mad Men. It's a go to for anyone who wants to throw a retro shindig, Mad Men fan or not. But what's really clever about this book is that it cites the episode that the recipes appear in, then talks about the historical aspect of the dish. So, not only will you impress friends with your culinary skills, you can share your keen knowledge as well.

In terms of decorations, AMC has you all set. AMC offers printable Mad Men masks of Betty, Don, Joan and more. AMC also has a 1960s playlist featuring all the hottest tracks of the decade:

The Loco-Motion - Little EvaWives and Lovers - Jack JonesI Want to Hold Your Hand - The BeatlesLouie Louie - The KingsmenSurf City - Jan & DeanFly Me to the Moon (In Other Words) - Julie LondonYou Really Got Me - The KinksStagger Lee - The Isley BrothersLove Me Do - The BeatlesLet Me Entertain You - Ann-MargretThe Bossa Nova Hand Dance - Connie FrancisPapa's Got a Brand New Bag - James BrownThe Wanderer - DionI Saw Her Standing There - The BeatlesDo You Believe in Magic - The Lovin' SpoonfulFriday on My Mind - The EasybeatsGimme Some Lovin' - The Spencer Davis GroupCome On Do the Jerk - The MiraclesLittle Red Rooster - Sam CookePlease, Please Me - The BeatlesDevil With the Blue Dress - Mitch RyderThirteen Men - Ann-Margret

If you are deeply entwined in 1960s culture, you can go all-out and redecorate your home with the mid-century modern design trends as seen on the hit series. Build Direct has some stunning options for transforming your home from drab to debonair.

How to Drink Like Mad Men

Nothing says Mad Men quite like a cold, smooth beverage. AMC has a compilation of all the best cocktail recipes for your Mad Men party. Learn how to drink like Don and Betty with recipes for delicious drinks like the Pink Squirel, Mai Tai, Sidecar, Old Fashioned and for all you crossover The Walking Dead fans, the Zombie. From a Bloody Mary to a Zombie, mix up a concoction that even Don Draper would toast to. Of course, you must be at least 21-years-old to try these recipes. Please drink responsibly.

Here is AMC's recipe for the Old Fashioned:

Old Fashioned Courtesy of AMC

INGREDIENTS

2 dashes aromatic bitters½ tsp sugar dissolved with water and bitters1½ oz of bourbon1 cherry1 orange slice1 lemon wedge

INSTRUCTIONSFill glass with ice. Add cherry, orange slice, and lemon wedge. Pour in bourbon. Serve in a rocks glass over ice.

How to Dress Like the Leading Ladies of Mad Men

Do you yearn for the wardrobe of Betty, Joan or Peggy? Of course you do! They all look fabulous. As the years are changing, there is so much research that goes into how people are dressing. Some characters follow the fashion trends and some characters don't. Some characters are still dressing the way people dressed in the late '50s or early '60s, Jennifer Getzinger told Fast Company. People dress in all different ways, Getzinger explained. A lot of times, it's a weird amalgamation of different styles. In this new season coming up, some of the characters are changing, she said. There are some who maybe were very fashion forward or maybe were the ones who were always kind of wearing the more fashionable things, but because of things in their lives, they're not anymore. Just because of the way their lives change they sort of maybe aren't quite on top of it as much.

The 1960s was one of the most enviable decades for fashion. Mad Men surely helped to bring back the super feminine looks to the Spring 2012 runways. I saw an ad for Wal-Mart that had a funnel-neck suit, tweed, and a pencil skirt, Janie Bryant, the costume designer of Mad Men told Elle magazine back in 2009. And I thought, 'Oh my God! That's Mad Men! For Season 5, the characters' styles will shift a bit as the show is now in the mid-1960s. Skirts will likely be a bit shorter and eyelashes a bit thicker, noted The Associated Press' Samantha Critchell, as the characters move towards the psychedelic revolution.

Betty's prim pearls and tea-length skirts are all-the-rage for Spring 2012. Her style could be seen on the runways of Oscar de la Renta and Louis Vuitton.

Betty Style Courtesy of spenderellastyle via Polyvore

Joan's curve-hugging ensembles accentuate her hourglass figure. Joan would certainly approve of the peplum shapes popular this season.

Joan Style Courtesy of polybaby via Polyvore

Finally, Peggy's coolly casual style was seen in the ADAM, J.Crew and Ralph Lauren. We could totally see Peggy in one of Lauren's pastel pink hats.

Peggy Style Courtesy of redressingquirk via Polyvore

Polyvore also asked the community to tell them between Betty, Joan and Peggy, which classic 1960s style did they most identify with the most?

Here's what they discovered:

  • 50% identify with Betty's flawless, classic style
  • 36% identify with Joan's sultry yet professional style
  • 14% identify with Peggy's conservative, working girl style
  • Top products include lace gloves, pearls, red lipstick, cat eye sunglasses, suede platforms and feminine dresses
  • Top trends include pumps, classic box-shaped handbags, car coats and retro-inspired prints

Click here to see Polyvore's complete Mad Men fashion sets. You can also enter the Mad Men L.A. Sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to the Season 6 premiere!

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