AI Art Prompt: Vintage "Mad Men" Style B&W Portrait (Reclining Pose & Face Swap)

The 1960s were an era defined by effortless cool, sharp tailoring, and a certain "Rat Pack" swagger. This aesthetic, captured beautifully in shows like Mad Men, is a timeless source of inspiration for luxury portraiture.

In today's post, I'm sharing a highly detailed AI Image Prompt for a Vintage-Inspired Black and White Portrait. This prompt is designed to preserve your exact likeness while transporting you into a high-contrast, cinematic scene. Reclining in a wingback chair with soft, diffused lighting, you will embody the sophisticated masculinity of a bygone era.

🍸 The "Mad Men" Aesthetic: 1960s Luxury Prompt

Use the prompt card below to create your own timeless, sophisticated portrait.

Prompt for AI Image Generation

MAD_MEN_PORTRAIT.TXT

Using the reference image I uploaded, I meticulously preserved my facial features, hairstyle, body proportions, and overall likeness (the user's likeness). A high-contrast, black-and-white image of a man reclining at a 45-degree angle in a dark leather wingback chair, his head slightly tilted back, looking confidently and calmly at the camera. The man wears a meticulously tailored black suit with pointed lapels, a crisp white shirt, a black tie, and a white pocket square folded in his breast pocket, creating patterns and artistic effects above his head. He raises his right hand and flexes it close to his face. A luxury wristwatch with a metal bracelet is visible on his left wrist. A medium shot showing the upper body and part of the torso, shot from eye level to slightly below. A minimalist, dark-themed interior with leather furniture, a flat-screen television visible but not visible in the upper left background, and neutral gray walls forming a clean backdrop. Soft, diffused lighting from the upper right casts gentle shadows and a smooth tonal gradation on the face and suit, with a balanced contrast between rich blacks and crisp whites, creating a cinematic effect. Shot with an 85mm f/2.8-f/4 portrait lens, maintaining sharp focus against a subtly soft, fine-grained background. This ultra-realistic black-and-white portrait, inspired by the aesthetics of the 1960s Mad Men series, classic luxury lifestyles, Rat Pack sophistication, and masculinity, is shot in 16K resolution and features editorial-quality portraiture.

Edit in Gemini

Deconstructing the Vintage Luxury Look

This prompt is a masterclass in creating a specific, high-end atmosphere. Here is a breakdown of the elements that bring the 1960s aesthetic to life:

• High-Contrast Lighting: The prompt specifies "high-contrast" and "soft, diffused lighting from the upper right." This creates dramatic shadows and highlights, giving the image a cinematic quality and emphasizing the textures of the suit and leather chair.
• Specific Posing & Framing: The subject is "reclining at a 45-degree angle" with his "head slightly tilted back," a confident and relaxed pose. The "medium shot" from "eye level to slightly below" makes the viewer feel like they are in the room with a powerful figure.
• Period-Specific Details: Elements like the "dark leather wingback chair," the "tailored black suit with pointed lapels," and the "luxury wristwatch" immediately evoke the sophisticated masculinity of the Mad Men and Rat Pack era.
• Technical Film Aesthetic: By specifying an "85mm portrait lens" and a "subtly soft, fine-grained background," the prompt simulates the look of classic analog film photography, adding to the vintage authenticity.

Tips for Best Results

To get the most out of this prompt:

1. Face Reference: As always with personal portraits, use your reference photo with the `--cref` parameter (in Midjourney) to ensure the face matches the prompt's instruction: "meticulously preserved my facial features."
2. Aspect Ratio: For a classic portrait feel, a vertical or square aspect ratio works best. Try --ar 4:5 or --ar 1:1 to frame the medium shot and the wingback chair perfectly.
3. High Quality Mode: The prompt calls for "16K resolution" and an "ultra-realistic" finish. Use your AI's highest quality setting (like `--q 2` in Midjourney) for the best texture detail.

I hope this prompt helps you create a timeless masterpiece. Copy the code above and transport yourself back to the golden age of cool!