For as much credit as Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead receive - and deserve, frankly - for making AMC a powerhouse network in dramatic programming, Mad Men was there first. The critically acclaimed, ground-breaking series wraps its final season this spring and when it does it will truly be the end of era. Fittingly, Mad Men's characters will also face a transition in their final episodes, moving on from the turbulent and revolutionary 1960s to the even wilder and less inhibited 1970s.

That transition is the centerpiece behind the marketing for Mad Men season 7's second half, and it's heavily implied in both the new teaser (above) - backed by Diana Ross’ "Love Hangover" from 1976 - and the wealth of new promotional images (below).

This first batch of promotional images are the more traditional portraits of the main cast against a plain background. In this case, however, the choice of simplicity serves another purpose: to highlight the era's changing fashion. And by observing who's wearing what we can take a guess at which characters are embracing that change - a change that isn't solely tied to clothing - and which are resisting it.

Check out the first galley of promo images for Mad Men season 7's second half below:

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Mad Men Season 7 John Hamm as Don Draper

Mad Men Season 7 January Jones as Betty Draper

Mad Men Season 7 Betty Drapper

Mad Men Season 7 Jessica Pare as Megan Draper

Mad Men Season 7 Megan Draper

Mad Men Season 7 Kiernan Shipka as Sally Draper

Mad Men Season 7 Sally Draper

Mad Men Season 7 Peggy Joan

Mad Men Season 7 Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris

Mad Men Season 7 Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson

Mad Men Season 7 John Slattery as Roger Sterling
John Slattery as Roger Sterling - Mad Men _ Season 7B, Gallery _ Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC

Mad Men Season 7 Roger Sterling

Mad Men Season 7 Vincent Kartheiser as Pete Campbell

Unsurprisingly, Don (John Hamm) has changed the least out of the group, but that fits well within his role on the series - to observe the world changing around him. Betty (January Jones), too, looks just as off-putting and icy as ever in that flowery frock. Don's new wife, Megan (Jessica Paré) and his daughter, Sally (Kiernan Shipka) are the two women who appear to be embracing the new fashion the most, though both Peggy and Joan are equally stunning. And interestingly, both Roger (John Slattery) and Pete (Vincent Kartheiser) seem to be more with the times than Don, what with their checkered plaid blazer and new hairstyles.

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NEXT PAGE: Additional Mad Men Final Season Images

Jon Hamm in Mad Men Season 7 Episode 1

This second collection of Mad Men final season promo images are basically the still life companions to the new teaser, obviously taken during the same shoot.

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Mad Men Season 7 Don Draper

Mad Men Season 7 Don Garden Party

Mad Men Season 7 Betty Francis Gardent Party

Mad Men Season 7 Francis Family Garden Party

Mad Men Season 7 Draper Family Garden Party

Mad Men Season 7 Don Peggy Garden Party

Mad Men Season 7 Peggy Joan Garden Party

Mad Men Season 7 Pete Peggy Garden Party

Mad Men Season 7 Roger Joan Garden Party

Mad Men Season 7 Women Group Garden Party

Mad Men Season 7 Men Group Garden Party

Mad Men Season 7 Group Garden Party

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The choice to depict both the Francis and Draper family is an interesting one, and it puts an emphasis on the changing family dynamics of the time. The photo of Don and Peggy sharing a moment is also a nice touch and it implies the two are now on equal footing, no longer mentor and protege.

Otherwise, these garden party images are pretty accurate from the standpoint of these characters being forced to socialize outside the workplace and acting awkwardly nice to one another. Beyond that, however,  there isn't much to learn about from these photos beyond how slick and stylish the aesthetic of Mad Men remains all these years later.

Are you sad for Mad Men's seven year run to come to an end? What are you expecting from the series' final episodes? Let us hear from you in the comments below!

The final season of Mad Men will return on Sunday, April 5 at 10pm on AMC.

Source: EW, Vanity Fair, Variety, THR (via /Film)