Gallery: Mad Men fashion

On Monday Mad Men takes its leave after 7 seasons, rave reviews and a chest overflowing with awards.

At the time the cable drama hit television screens, TV was preoccupied with contemporary storytelling: Lost, House, Boston Legal, 30 Rock and Dexter.

But Matthew Weiner had a vision and a feel for a slice of American history on Madison Avenue.

In the world of Don, Roger, Peggy, Betty, Joan and Pete, the fashions were gaudy, the hair was high, the cars were gleaming and smoking was fashionable.

The evocative settings and costumes had an attention to detail that made period dramas popular on television all over again.

Asked about the show’s legacy, Weiner has said, “I hope it’ll be around and that people will watch it. I hope that it’ll be seen as part of this period, because there’s obviously a reason why it struck a chord. That the changes going on 50 years ago are relevant to whatever’s going on right now, otherwise people wouldn’t be watching it.

“I’m so thrilled it’s going to be in museums. It’s going to be on the field trip. I am proud of the fact that we did not try to imitate anything, and that it had an organic honesty to it. If it’s known for that, that would be the most important thing for me.”

Mad Men finale 3:35pm / 8:35pm Monday on Showcase.