It happened over a decade ago. 2013, to be exact. The paparazzi caught a few shots of Jon Hamm walking around the set of Mad Men in Los Angeles, wearing those notoriously tight, 1960s-style slim-fit trousers. Suddenly, the internet had a new favorite topic: the Jon Hamm package. It sounds silly. It is silly. But it’s also a fascinating case study in how celebrity culture, wardrobe departments, and the "female gaze" collided to create a viral moment that, honestly, Hamm himself probably wishes would just go away by now.
You’ve likely seen the memes. They aren't going anywhere. For years, Tumblr, Twitter, and various gossip blogs like Perez Hilton or Gawker (RIP) couldn't stop talking about the sheer physics of Hamm’s anatomy versus the unforgiving nature of mid-century tailoring. But beyond the tabloid jokes, there’s actually a pretty interesting technical side to this involving costume design and the literal constraints of period-accurate clothing.
The Wardrobe Malfunction That Wasn't
Most people assume Hamm was just being provocative. He wasn't. The reality is that Mad Men was a show obsessed with accuracy. Janie Bryant, the show's legendary costume designer, was a stickler for the silhouette of the 1960s. That meant high-waisted, flat-front trousers. It meant thin fabrics. It meant a fit that left absolutely zero room for the imagination.
In the modern world, we wear baggy joggers or relaxed-fit denim. In 1962, Don Draper wore suits that were practically engineered to stay crisp. When you take a tall, athletic man like Jon Hamm and put him in trousers designed for the smaller frames of the 1950s, physics takes over. Reports eventually leaked out—largely through AMC insiders and various gossip columns—that the production actually had to request Hamm wear "supportive" undergarments.
"They are called 'privates' for a reason," Hamm told Rolling Stone back in the day. You could tell he was annoyed. He’s a serious actor. He won Emmys. He played one of the most complex anti-heroes in television history. Yet, for a solid three years, the top Google search result for his name was about his groin. It’s a weird kind of fame. It’s the sort of thing that happens when a person's physical presence becomes more of a talking point than their actual craft.
Why This Viral Moment Stuck
Social media thrives on the "visual gag." The Jon Hamm package became a shorthand for a specific type of male celebrity objectification that was relatively new at the time. Before this, we had the "wardrobe malfunctions" of female pop stars. Suddenly, the tables turned.
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There's a psychological element here, too. We call it the "Law of the Unexpected." Jon Hamm is a "man's man." He has a deep voice, he’s rugged, and he plays a character who is the epitome of stoic masculinity. Seeing that image complicated by something as mundane as "tight pants" created a weirdly humanizing, if slightly embarrassing, bridge between the actor and the audience.
- It wasn't just the fans.
- Late-night hosts made jokes.
- Even his co-stars had to field questions about it during press junkets.
Imagine being January Jones or Elisabeth Moss and trying to talk about the nuanced feminist themes of a prestige drama, only to have a reporter ask if it was "distracting" to work with Hamm. It was a weird time for TV journalism.
The Technical Reality of 1960s Tailoring
Let’s talk about the pants themselves because that’s where the "problem" started. If you go to a vintage shop and try on a pair of 1960s slacks, you'll notice the rise is much higher than modern pants. They sit at the natural waist, usually right at or above the belly button.
This creates a long, continuous line from the waist to the floor. If the fabric is a lightweight wool or a blend, it drapes. If it’s tight? Well, it reveals everything. In the 1960s, men often wore specific types of briefs or even "girdles" (yes, for men) to maintain that slim, Madison Avenue silhouette. Hamm, apparently, was a fan of the more comfortable, "commando" lifestyle, or at least preferred loose boxers. This was a direct conflict of interest with Janie Bryant’s vision of a perfectly tailored Don Draper.
The NY Daily News once reported that the show's marketing team even had to use Photoshop on the promotional posters to "smooth things out." Think about that. A major cable network had a line item in their budget specifically for digital groin-smoothing. That is the level of fame we are talking about here.
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Hamm’s Reaction and the Double Standard
Hamm hasn't always been a good sport about it. And honestly? Fair enough. In a 2013 interview with Rolling Stone, he called the obsession "rude." He pointed out that if people were talking about a female actress's anatomy in the same way, there would be an uproar.
He’s right, mostly. There is a definite double standard in how we discuss male vs. female bodies in Hollywood. While the Jon Hamm package memes were generally "celebratory" or "thirst-driven," they still reduced a human being to a singular body part. Hamm noted that it's a "coarse" way to engage with someone you don't know.
But then, he also leaned into the humor later on. He’s a funny guy—anyone who has seen him on SNL or 30 Rock knows he has incredible comedic timing. He realized that fighting the internet is like trying to stop the tide with a spoon. You’re just going to get wet. Eventually, the conversation shifted toward his talent, especially as he took on roles in Baby Driver and Top Gun: Maverick.
The Legacy of the Meme
What can we actually learn from this? First, the internet has a very long memory. Second, "prestige TV" isn't immune to the baser instincts of the paparazzi.
The obsession with the Jon Hamm package paved the way for future viral moments involving actors like Chris Evans or any of the various "Chrises" in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was the precursor to the modern "thirst trap" culture, where actors are often complicit in their own objectification to drive engagement for a project.
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It’s also a reminder of how much costume design matters. A suit isn’t just a suit. It’s a statement of character, a restriction of movement, and sometimes, a source of unintentional viral fame.
How to Handle Your Own Wardrobe Like a Pro
If you’re looking to avoid your own "Hamm moment" when wearing slim-fit clothing, there are a few practical steps you can take. It’s mostly about understanding fabric and friction.
- Choose the right fabric weight. Heavier wools (11oz to 13oz) hold their shape much better than thin, summer-weight fabrics. They don't "cling" to every contour.
- The importance of the "rise." If you have an athletic build, look for "mid-rise" trousers. They provide more room in the seat and crotch area than the ultra-slim low-rise styles that were popular in the early 2010s.
- Undergarment architecture. It sounds clinical, but the choice between boxers, briefs, and trunks changes how trousers drape. For flat-front pants, a supportive brief or trunk is usually the standard recommendation from tailors.
- Lining matters. Good trousers are lined to the knee. This lining prevents the outer fabric from catching on your skin or undergarments, allowing the pant to hang straight regardless of what’s happening underneath.
Ultimately, Jon Hamm is doing just fine. He’s a wealthy, successful, handsome actor with a trophy room full of awards. If the worst thing that ever happened to him was that the world noticed he was well-endowed while he was playing a legendary TV character, he’s probably winning at life. But it serves as a permanent entry in the library of weird pop culture history—a moment where a pair of 1960s pants became more famous than the scene they were being worn in.
To really get the most out of this bit of trivia, go back and watch the early seasons of Mad Men. Notice the tailoring. Notice how the clothes define the men. Then, maybe, give the guy a break and appreciate the performance, too.
Check your own closet for "high-twist" wool trousers if you want that Don Draper look without the paparazzi-level scrutiny. High-twist fabrics are resilient and resist the kind of clinging that creates these viral moments. Most high-end tailors will suggest a "V-split" in the back of the waistband for added comfort and a better hang, which helps the fabric settle naturally over the hips and seat.