At Icons of Style, an exhibition of costumes from the cult TV show Mad Men, gals can answer the question once and for all: whether you are a Betty ­– a glacial goddess – or Joan, a bombshell with curves to kill and attitude to match. Equally, blokes can seek out wardrobe inspiration, asking the trademark query: “What would Don Draper do?”

As any fan of critically acclaimed ’60s advertising drama Mad Men will tell you, aesthetics are key. The exquisitely crafted and period perfect wardrobes and sets are as integral to the show’s appeal, as are its carefully drawn and complex characters.

Not since Sex and the City has a television show had such influence over the world of contemporary fashion. From the moment the first season of Mad Men premiered in 2007, catwalks have been awash with more feminine silhouettes, and men have seen the appeal of the precise tailoring and slim line suits worn by the show’s anti-hero, the aforementioned Mr Draper.

While the fifth season of Mad Men may have been delayed until 2012, there’s no need to drop your whisky on the office floor. Australian fans can still get their fashion fix at Icons of Style, which is exhibiting some of the show’s most influential costumes at Chatswood Chase.

Curated by Janie Bryant, the woman behind the Mad Men wardrobe, and presented within two recreated sets, the exhibition features 20 iconic top-to-toe looks from the show, which mixes original designs with vintage 1960s items.

Don’t miss the chance to see the handiwork of the Emmy Award-winning costume designer, a woman so adept at distilling the signature style of the show’s key characters that their names have become shorthand in women’s mags for describing a body type, attitude and style. Ladies, you can choose your mould. Gentlemen, feel free to mull which kind you’d most like to have hanging on your arm.

Where: Chatswood Chase, Level 1, 345 Victoria Ave, Chatswood, NSW
When: 5 Sep–2 Oct
Details: chatswoodchaseshopping.com.au