Paul’s Hat Works seeking live models for their “Mad Men” windows

I just love the creative ladies out at Paul’s Hat Works on Geary near 25th Avenue. Every month they have a different theme for their windows. For November, it will be designed around the hit TV show “Mad Men”.

The shop has more than enough hats to recreate the Mad Men time period, but they’re adding a little extra spice by incorporating live models for an hour or two each day:

For an hour or two live models dressed in “old time” clothes will be on display doing what they do. Since we are going for late 50’s early 60’s, the actions should correspond to typical or stereotypical acts like men reading the paper, paying bills, having a glass of scotch (actually apple juice) or tying a bow tie or tie; women could be baking, knitting or doing their make-up.

Did you know there is a tradition of live modeling in Geary Boulevard retail? Allow me to elaborate…

As a child, I did this very thing for my mother who was a manager at Jamboree Clothing (kid’s) on Geary Street (I think the store was around 21st Avenue). She put old school desks into the store window and had me and my sister pose in the store’s clothes (Izod shirts were all the rage then).

Except we’d sit stone still, waiting for a window shopper to come by. Then we’d eventually move and scare the you-know-what out of them, or start giggling as they stared intently, trying to figure out if we were real.

Let’s hope Paul’s Hat Works gets some excellent Don’s, Joan’s and Peggy’s to fill their windows (no Pete Campbell’s please). I’m sure they’ll even let you Burt Cooper types leave your shoes off.

If you’re interested in dressing the part and being a live model on a weekend morning or afternoon at Paul’s Hat Works, email olivia@hatworksbypaul.com. And by all means let us know so we can come out and heckle you from the street!

Sarah B.