A retrospective on Mad Men

I suppose it's time to speak to the cultural phenomenon that was Mad Men.  Over the course of the show, more women showed up in go-go boot than I was expecting, given the serious nature and often somber tone of the show (this wasn't Austin Powers, after all).

 We first need to speak to the elephant in the room - the moment that, I think, caught everybody (including her fictional father) off guard; that is the reveal of Sally Draper in white go-go boots.  Now, the first rule of go-go-boots.com is that we keep our "cool appraising stares" away from the kinder.  We're not interested in sizing up underage girls, even those wearing the most breathtaking boots, but since Sally's boots became something of a phenomenon in the fashion world, I think we can be forgiven for reviewing the two outfits with which she wore the boots.

The first time Sally put on the boots was to go to an adult party with Don and his co-workers.  Don made her take off the boots and make-up. While I don't have a daughter, as a father, I can't say that I blame him.  This is an adult look.  This is not to say I don't think young girls can put together more age-appropriate outfits that include white go-go boots.  I can imagine outfits with an adolescent-mod flavor including boots that exude youthful innocence, but I'd feel a little creepy throwing out examples here.

The second outfit, which is definitely more age appropriate, was worn on a clandestine date to a museum with the genuinely creepy Glen. It's too bad (though not surprising) that the date ended badly, with Sally suddenly feeling sick and running off, because it may have soured her on her bold fashion choices and she never wore the boots on the show again; though as I understand, actress Kiernan Shipka got to keep the "backup pair" for her own closet.

 The character of Megan played by Jessica Paré, despite sporting some of the great mod outfits on the show, rarely wore boots. Here is a unique candid moment

Joan was another other character who only wore boots once as I recall. Hovering at the doorway of an office with a "shoes off" policy, Joan complains to Bert "I'm wearing boots!" And don't we know it!   At another point Joan is shopping for clothes and she tells the salesgirl that she will "take the boots"which presumably are off camera.  Now why didn't we get to see that pair?

For the most part, other glimpses of boots were on minor office characters passing in the background, but an office worker named Scarlett proves herself to be a bit more prolific in white knee-high go-go boots with multiple outfits.

I seem to remember a dalliance between Roger and a go-go booted stewardess, but couldn't find a picture of her.  Here is one that attached herself to Don one evening

Finally in a moment of crowning glory for the show, Bert who has just died, appears to Don in a "dream" song-and-dance number that features a blonde in white go-go boots.  I'll post a few stills below, but one really needs to see the dancer in motion to get the full effect.  To that end, here is the video.