It's a Mad, Mad Fashion World by Sharon Mosley on Creators.com

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It's a Mad, Mad Fashion World

The mad men and women from the hit TV series, "Mad Men," may be all about the slick suits and sexy secretaries, but flash forward 40 years, and you'll find the professionals of today's business world are anything but uptight when it comes to fashion in the workplace. A sense of "cool" chic still, however, presides over the likes of Madison Avenue and other bastions of corporate style.

Here's a list of the latest power points of the modern wardrobe for mad men and women:

— The tailored suit. Don Draper may be all about the impeccably tailored suit with his stack of freshly pressed shirts stashed in his desk drawer, but today's young executive has many more choices than Don did back in the '60s. Today's newest suit silhouettes are slimmer and can be dressed up more formally with traditional woven oxford shirts and silk ties, or worn more casually as separates layered over sweater cardigan vests and cotton T-shirts or turtlenecks.

— The power suit for women this fall is also about a new silhouette: the volume is on top with the focus on strong shoulder and lapel shapes that are teamed up with slimmer skirts and trousers. You can even "power up" with creative jackets in wool double-breasted cardigans or cropped military coats for more innovative looks. And don't forget there are lots of knee-length "city" coats and trenches out there that can do double duty as jackets and outerwear, especially when the weather turns cool.

— The new starched shirt. Yes, the white shirt may have been de rigueur for the '60s generation of advertising executives, but now you can get away with a few new "buttoned down" alternatives. Think plaid, checks and stripes. And straight from the dryer, too. Who'd a thunk it?

— The pencil skirt. Hey, we've all grown accustomed to showing up in our "pantsuits" — liberated from pantyhose and skirt suits that Joan Holloway wears in "Mad Men" (and check out those "bullet bras" and girdles). Anyway, now that we've all breathed a sigh of relief, we can still appreciate a little "sex appeal" at the office, now can't we? So, ditch the pants for a day or two, and try on a shorter knee-length skirt.

Add dark tights and suede booties and oh ... you've got a mad, mad look.

— The soft blouse. By now, I hope that all my readers have grasped this concept. It's just another way to update those same clothes you've been wearing for years. Take the "soft" and pair it with the "hard"... that's the modern way. Add a little twist to your wardrobe, whether it's for the workplace or for the car pool line. So for a professional wardrobe, you add a delicate, printed, chiffon blouse to a tweed pencil skirt, and you've got something a little extra special. Or, if you can get away with it, you do the white bow-tie satin top with a leather bomber jacket. Sharp and to the point.

— The rugged coat. OK, it's the same with the guys. Even if you're in a casual-Friday office most of the time, this is the time to mix a little hard ball with the soft-ball team. Go with the soft chinos, which can serve as a strong base for shawl-collar cardigans, leather motorcycle jackets and military-inspired blazers. It's all about attitude.

— The sheath dress. If you can pull this one off, then you're on your way — whether you're a junior copywriter like Peggy Olson or a suburban housewife a la January Jones. Reinvented for the modern-day corporate world, this dress is a class act that has stood the test of time. Layer on accessories for more drama. A quick swap of heels takes it from creative review to cocktails in the snap of a compact.

— The accessories. Let's face it. These are often the fashion extras that seal the deal. For him: shined black wingtip oxfords, black leather brief bags or extra-long cable scarves. For her: lace-up shoe boots, chain handbags, elbow-length leather gloves (no "Betty in the white lace gloves"), opaque tights and chunky scarves.

So, even though you're not going to the offices of Sterling Cooper advertising agency, when you dress for work in the morning, get a little mad and you'll be glad you did!

Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association. To find out more about Sharon Mosley and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.