Porter Hovey

By Chris Frey
August 19, 2010

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Just days before her Sunday night debut on "Mad Men," we caught up with Porter Hovey, winner of the Banana Republic "Mad Men" Season Four Casting Call. For the contest, fans were asked to submit photos of themselves in character, and then the public voted on a winner. Hovey, depicting a cool, detached suburban New York housewife day-tripping in the city, garnered the most votes from thousands of photographic entries, earning her a coveted guest spot on the show where she was thrilled, among other things, to learn how to properly fasten a stocking to a garter.

To anyone who knows Hovey, the win comes as no surprise. She’s a travel-obsessed, vintage devotee with amazing taste who is as comfortable sipping tequila in a west Texas honky-tonk as she is handling Waterford crystal in East Hampton. Last year Hovey, along with sisiter and bogger Hollister Hovey was featured in a New York Times story titeld “The New Antiquarians” which showcased their antiquity-drenched Brooklyn loft. Since graduating from Bard in 2005 with a degree in photography, Hovey established herself within the New York art scene as a party and nightlife photographer shooting most recently for Interview and Art in America.

On the other side of her Cannon 40D lens for her winning "Mad Men" photograph, she stayed close to home in Brooklyn. Hovey lives in Williamsburg, where it seems entirely possible that American Apparel has generously sponsored the majority of its resident’s wardrobes. Swanning past disheveled brunch goers and grungy street vendors, Hovey took to the streets in a head to toe 50s lady who lunches suit while wheeling a pristine vintage pram—valiantly delivered from Virginia via Chinatown bus by an ex-boyfriend who, like Hovey, understands the importance of authenticity. In her travels from home to the steps of the stately but spooky Williamsburgh Savings Bank she and sister Hollister, who shot the winning image, were approached by fellow Brooklynites prepared to ohh and ahh over an immaculately styled baby carefully nestled in the pram, but who were instead shocked to find little more than a camera and cigarettes.

Fast forward to May in Los Angeles where Hovey shot on location and was treated to a tour of the "Mad Men" sets, including the new Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce offices where, she says, the Lucky Strike Christmas garland was a favorite. She describes the wardrobe department as “the best vintage store ever” and credits costume designer Janie Bryant in particular for making her feel at home. While Hovey is bound to confidentiality concerning her experience on set she jubilantly divulged, “You will die when you see the dress I am wearing!” And she confirmed that John Hamm, while taller than she expected, was “perfectly Don Draper.”

Hovey was thrilled to make eBay selects inspired by her experience:

Roll over items for details

Vintage Ericsson Telephone

My mom had this phone in red in her bedroom growing up, and my sister and I always marveled at how “futuristic” it was to be able to hang up a phone just by sitting it down. According to Vanity Fair, Matthew Weiner found one at a flea market and thought it was extremely rare and was a bit shocked to find out that they weren’t at all. But he still keeps his in his office.

((buy it now price, $74.90))

Hollywood Italian Bar Cart

Lane may be keeping the purse strings tight at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, but they still need to keep the clients (and themselves) appropriately tossed. Instead of giving everyone his/her own stash, they could just wheel this beauty around the office.

((buy it now price, $650) )

Globe Arm Mid Century Chair

A good old standard for the pared down Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce offices—though Jane would never let it go near Roger Sterling’s “Italian hospital” filled with Knoll.

((buy it now price, $195) )

Vintage Cocktail Dress Pattern

Not that Betty would touch a sewing machine, but she’d do well to hand this pattern off to her seamstres

((from $0.99) )

Gucci Doctor’s Bag

Betty might have picked up one of these when she was in Italy last season.

((current bid, $101) )

Vintage Triumph Typewriter

Freddy Rumsen might not be ready for an IBM Selectric, but this “old fashioned” type writer might help inspire some youthful thoughts in him.

((buy it now price, $50) )

Original Kay Bojesen Teak Elephant

Sally Draper really seems to be coming into her element this season—probably just in time to out grow toys and move towards boys. But for her youthful moments, this would be a great purchase for her—and will always retain its value.

((buy it now price, $299) )

Mink Stole / Cape

Without her doctor/soldier husband to keep her warm at night, Joan might need one of these this winter.

((from $49.95) )

Hollywood Regency Faux Bois Arm Chair

When Betty finds a new house, she’ll need some new things. She can add some feminine touches like this great Hollywood Regency Faux Bois chair...Henry Francis won’t mind. Will he even be around to deal with it?

((buy it now price, $1,350) )