T Lo Recommends: Mad Men: The Illustrated World

Mad Funny.

Like seemingly half the internet, our first exposure to Dyna Moe, comic, graphic designer, and illustrator extraordinaire, was through her now-famous Flickr stream of illustrations based on each episode of Mad Men the week it aired. Her work is stylishly evocative of mid-century design and illustration, but with a totally 21st Century snarky (and hilarious) cynicism underneath it. Who didn't love her Joan Holloway paper doll or her Sally Draper drink menu?

Like seemingly ALL of the internet, our second exposure to Dyna Moe came when AMC wisely tapped her talents to produce the Mad Men Yourself avatar machine, responsible for about 85% of all Facebook and blogger profile pics since 2009.

Our third exposure to Dyna Moe came when, to our hand-clapping delight, she left a comment on one of our very first Mad Style posts: "I wish I had this whole series two years ago. It would have saved me so much time getting screen shots for reference." We reacted like total squealing fangirls, which led to our fourth exposure to Dyna Moe, an email directly from her that basically said "Hey, you guys are unhealthily obsessed with this show. Want a copy of my book?" To which we said YES. And because we ARE unhealthily obsessed with this show, and because the book, "Mad Men: The Illustrated World," is so damn much fun for anyone else who is equally as unhealthily obsessed, and because she sent us a copy, we're gonna do the girl a solid and recommend all you Mad Style freaks (in the good sense) run out and get yourself a copy, or at the very least, put it on your holiday wish list.

For one, it's not a reproduction of her Flickr illustrations. It's an honest-to-god book with all new illustrations as well as some absolutely hilarious writing on topics such as "What's in an Executive's Desk" ("To do list: Laundry, Read Trades, Campaign Pitch, Client's Wife.") and step by step instructions for, "Office Emergency: Accidental Foot Amputation" ("Use the cheap liquor to sterilize the wound.")

There are Trudy Campbell-illustrated Recipes for Newlyweds and Betty Draper-illustrated menus for dinner parties, along with Sally Draper's drink menu and Paul Kinsey's "The Bachelor's Buffet," not to mention Hangover Remedies ("A long night of emotional truths and hard alcohol takes its toll on a pretty face."), and what drinks to serve at an election night office party.

And once you've been schooled on the eating and the drinking, you can read up on how to maintain a perfect 1960s style, with sections on "What Does Your Secretary's Hair Say About Her? ("My hair is as one-sided as my thoughts on Civil Rights"), step by step instructions on how to get Betty's Viva Italia bouffant, Rich Sommer (Harry Crane) on how to tie a bow-tie, and "Makeup Tips for Young Moderns" ("Last, take out your framed pictures of Jacqueline Kennedy and Mamie Eisenhower. If the resemblance is more to the latter than the former, start over.").

With your schooling almost complete, it's time for you to learn about the cultural happenings of the day. "Horsemanship for the Happily Married Housewife." "Phrases for Well-Meaning Squares." "Psychoanalysis Goes POP!" "Dream Car for the Rising Executive" ("Four manual trash disposal hatches (aka windows)"), "Write Your Own Folk Song."

And now you're ready to see the world, 1960's style, with sections on airplane travel ("Seduction at 20,000 Feet"), Los Angeles ("Find Joy in the Desert"), Rome ("Ugly Americans and the Eternal City"), and even the outer boroughs ("Greetings from Bay Ridge. We Have Manners.")

But hold on there, swinging gals and guys. Who's going to watch the kids while you're jet-setting? No need to worry, there are plenty of activities on hand for them, whether it's instructions on how to play with plastic bags, or the old favorite "Put a Name to Mommy's Sadness", there's always something to keep young minds and young hands occupied. Boys can play the board game "CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS! The Goofy Game of Nuclear Brinkmanship!" while girls can enjoy the Mrs. Joan Harris paper doll, with an updated wardrobe of pretty much every outfit she wore in the first 3 seasons of the show (and we would know).

It's a hilarious and beautifully illustrated book that gives you a view of the '60s as seen through the eyes of the characters of Mad Men. If you're at all a fan of the show or even just a fan of the look of the show, this book is waiting for you. We can't recommend it enough. It'll get you through those cold, dark months before the start of Season 5.

[Image Credit: us.peguingroup.com]

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Labels: Mad Men