Moss Wears The Pants, But Not A Top

Mad Men’s Peggy Olsen has officially ditched her bow-collared cardigans and frumpy frocks. Elisabeth Moss sports overalls and nothing else on New York 's March cover, and the once clueless ad agency secretary glows with the confidence of a promoted and powerful executive — one who the dashing Don Draper would probably go for. (Not that, of course, an executive Olsen would accept his advances, psh.)

The topless cover and witty profile give us a glimpse inside our favorite rebelliously relatable character. As Moss opens up about her career and love life, she embodies Peggy with a little extra edge:

Acting is not stupid, but it’s a very strange profession, honestly. My job is to get up, and get dressed in someone else’s clothes, and go and pretend that I’m someone else. Who does that? Nobody does that. Strippers and actors do that.

It turns out the girl we identify with as “one of us” on-screen, breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes, enjoys the simple life. Fun, fresh, loose — the side-cleavage bearing overalls, far different from Peggy’s usual long pencil skirts, seem to perfectly depict her easy-going vibe. We learn she doesn’t like huge parties, travels with a stuffed animal, and is obsessed with iPhone games.

I’m just a normal person who worries and stresses about stupid shit. I like to sleep in. I like sushi. I love what I do. I think acting is super-fun. I don’t think it’s something super-serious.

Regarding her brief marriage to SNL’s Fred Armisen, she says,

Looking back, I feel like I was really young, and at the time I didn’t think that I was that young. It was extremely traumatic and awful and horrible. At the same time, it turned out for the best. I’m glad that I’m not there. I’m glad that it didn’t happen when I was 50. I’m glad I didn’t have kids. And I got that out of the way. Hopefully. Like, that’s probably not going to happen again.

Whether she’s teasing the reader with her towel or sitting criss-cross applesauce with her hands in her top, the photos are playful, spunky, and not so serious. The shoot visually portrays the 1960s glamour mastered by Christina Hendricks’ character, Joan Holloway.

Just like Peggy is more than just another girl that goes through a Madison Avenue office space before marriage, Moss too has proven herself time and time again. She has been nominated for an Emmy four times for her character, and plans on continuing in both film and television after finishing the final Mad Men season.

This Peggy Olsen is beautiful and beaming, and finally wearing the pants. Who cares if she doesn’t wear the top?

Images: New York Magazine