The “Mad Men” Effect takes its toll on cologne for men
Surely, you've noticed it by now. The classic hairstyles. The obsession with hip period fashion, like high waistbands and fedoras. The imitation shows that look to pony off its success.
They're all an extension of the cultural influence of "Mad Men," that 1960s-set drama about an advertising agency in New York City. Since it premiered in 2007, the show – starring my future husband, Jon Hamm – has collected Emmy Awards in the bunches but, more importantly, led to our current fascination with retro looks and fashion.
That's reflected in what The New York Times called in a recent piece a "revival" for classic cologne for men brands. We're not talking about new fragrances meant to evoke memories of the 1960s.
No, these are scents your father might have had on his bedside table back in the day (and maybe even still does!). The Times highlighted fragrances like Habit Rouge, the 1965 fragrance from Guerlain with the woody base perfect for an evening at a cocktail party.
The report also mentioned Cristian Dior's 1966 scent, Eau Sauvage, the smooth and classic cologne you might expect to smell on a boardroom executive down on Madison Avenue.
Perfume sellers even told the paper that a lot of ladies are now buying older fragrances for their men, mostly because they prefer the musky, manlier tones of these classics.
While I'm comfortable with newer and older fragrances, there's certainly nothing wrong with choosing one of these timeless options if you want your fella to exude masculinity. Now if only I could find a cologne that would make a guy look like Don Draper and not just smell like him.
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