The Mob Wife Aesthetic as TikTok is calling it, is a term often used to describe a specific style influenced by the portrayal of mob wives in popular culture, including the popular television show The Soprano’s and movies like Casino and the Godfather. The aesthetic is characterized by a more is more approach; it is quite literally the polar opposite of the quiet luxury trend we were seeing everywhere last year.
The jacket is fur, the hair is big, the nails are done, the jewellery is gold, the sunglasses are big, and the personality is bigger. The aesthetic is linked to a portrayal of a lavish and opulent lifestyle. But how does one actually get in on the trend?
Keep scrolling as we’ve narrowed down the key characteristics of the mob wife aesthetic and how you can easily incorporate them into your wardrobe. Think fur coats, gold jewellery, animal print, dramatic eye makeup, high heels, and the all-important luxurious lifestyle. More is more and the ‘clean girl’ look is a thing of the past.
While this can most definitely be viewed as a daunting trend it really doesn’t have to be, there are loads of ways to add pieces of the trend in a tasteful way rather than going full Carmela Soprano overnight. A pop of leopard print or some faux fur is a great way to get in on the trend and luckily both are staple in anyone’s wardrobe. Have fun with it!
Looking for more inspo to nail the trand?Here’s our roundup of 13 of our favourite leopard print dresses andthe best leather trousers on the high street. And if you’ve had a faux fur coat on your wishlist here’s 6 Ways to Wear a Faux Fur Coat.
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Fur Coats
A fur coat is the backbone of the Mob Wife Aesthetic, it’s the key piece that will instantly transform your outfit. A fur coat reflects a sense of luxury and indulgence which is key to any mob wife. Any by fur we of course mean faux fur and there are some really great options on the high street right now.
Megan Black Faux Fur Coat, £189, Phase Eight – buy now
Long Camel Fur Coat, £165, BIMBAYLOLA
Long Camel Fur Coat, now £165, BIMBA Y LOLA – buy now
Leopard print
Animal prints, especially leopard print, are another key element of the mob wife aesthetic. This bold pattern is often seen in clothing and accessories, but it doesn’t stop there, the mob wife aesthetic takes it all the way to home decor. Leopard is a neutral after all.
Ella Leopard Flats, £199, Pretty Ballerinas – buy now
Gold Jewellery
Extravagant jewellery, including gold chains and hoop earrings, are commonly associated with the mob wife aesthetic. And the bigger the better. Think layering gold chains and hoops. It’s all about attention grabbing details.
Solace Cross Necklace, £30, ELJAE at Wolf & Badger
Solace Cross Necklace, £30, ELJAE at Wolf & Badger – buy now
Medium Luxe Chunky Hoop Earrings. £90, Carrie Elizabeth
Medium Luxe Chunky Hoop Earrings. £90, Carrie Elizabeth – buy now
Leather
Leather is another key component of the trend, be in it your coat, trousers or even accessories. Leather is seen as adding an element of sophistication and glamour to the overall look. Best worn with stilettos or platform heels to really nail the trend.
Black Faux Leather Tailored Midi Skirt, £40, River Island
Black Faux Leather Tailored Midi Skirt, £40, River Island – buy now
Sunglasses
A statement pair of sunglasses is key to any mob wife look. On top of that it needs to be a branded pair of sunnies, no self-respecting mob wife will be seen in anything but the likes of a Miu Miu, Prada or any other designer brand. It’s a luxury lifestyle after all.
The starting point of the mob wife look is typically a simple all-black outfit, which is then adorned with eye-catching statement pieces like lush faux-fur coats, bold jewelry, boots and even some animal-print accessories.
The trend is about more than French manicures and furs. The look focuses on conspicuous signifiers of wealth earned outside the rule of law. Adriana La Cerva in “The Sopranos,” played by Drea de Matteo, was sexy, confident and ambitious in her own right.
Mob Wife Nail Aesthetic often features long, stiletto, or coffin-shaped nails. These nail shapes elongate the fingers and provide a dramatic canvas for intricate designs and eye-catching details. Luxurious Color Palette: The color palette associated with this aesthetic leans towards deep, rich hues.
“The Sopranos” turns 25 this year, and the “mob wife” look—big hair, fur coats, animal prints, and lots of gold jewelry—is back and trending on TikTok.
A TikTok trend that's about more than French manicures and furs, the look focuses on conspicuous signifiers of wealth earned outside the rule of law. Ray Liotta and Lorraine Bracco as Henry and Karen Hill in “Goodfellas” (1990). Even when she's powerful herself, the mob wife is an accessory to a more powerful man.
Setting out the trend on TikTok, hair stylist and educator Faye Redfern explained: “The mob wife haircut is a take on a really chunky, '90s bob. [There's] a lot of fullness on the ends […] a lot of swing in the blow dry, so it looks really fun and curved.”
Channel your inner mob wife by emulating Drea's striking long red nails from The Sopranos, coupled with the ombre-effect "aura" manicure trend. Elevate your French manicure by introducing glittery and metallic silver tones, with a non-opaque black nail polish as the perfect base, ensuring a captivating allure.
In millions of TikTok videos, 2024 has officially been hailed as the "year of the mob wife." The style is big, bold, and often involves a (real or faux) fur coat. There's no "quiet luxury" here, honey — a true mob wife always makes an entrance. Where TikTok goes, the rest of the world follows.
Is there deeper meaning? Like the clean girl and stealth wealth aesthetics, the mob wife look focuses on conspicuous signifiers of wealth, but this time it's of those usually associated with the nouveau riche. And specifically, those whose wealth was earned outside the rule of law.
Marking the biggest shift from the 'clean girl' trend is mob wife makeup. With a penchant for bolder, more defined looks, there's no room for barely-there blush or concealer-only looks here. Instead, reach for black eyeliner – messily smoked out across the lid – and lipsticks in either rich reds and browns.
Killer cheekbones are de rigeur so it's time to fall back in love with a hard, unapologetic contour. “Mob Wife Makeup is a tougher variation of an '80s power makeup," says Neil. "So drop the pretty blush and shape the face with bronzer and champagne gold highlights. It's all about the money, honey!”. Lifestyle.
And it's there in the much-discussed "Mob Wife" trend on TikTok – characterised by aforementioned fur coats and animal print, paired with stacks of gold jewellery. This is luxury at its very loudest. Alamy. Sharon Stone played the iconic Ginger McKenna in the 1995 film Casino (Credit: Alamy)
If you're wondering what exactly the “mob wife” aesthetic is, you are not alone. Though questionable due to its connection to crime, the name suggests that this trend would tap into everything the social imaginary and pop culture have associated with mobsters' romantic partners, but with a sense of levity.
According to Trivieri, the mob wife look is for the people who don't identify with minimalistic style of the clean girl or quiet luxury aesthetic. "The whole Y2K thing felt a little younger," the New York-based content creator told the magazine, "and I think this is a little bit more mature, sexier, and bold."
Since self-proclaimed “mob wife CEO” and influencer Sarah Arcuri laid out the aesthetic's basic tenets last October, the social media platform has been obsessed with the over-the-top look, which, its promoters say, works for everyone – as long as they have the attitude to match.
What is the 'mob wives trend'? The dark history. The aesthetic, modeled after wives of mobsters, saw the resurgence of '80s glamour: leather, fur coats, tight animal print clothing and heavy makeup with an emphasis on bold black eyeliner.
The Mob Wife is undoubtedly a bold but, above all, multifaceted type of woman. The less elegant characteristics that distinguish her, however, also demonstrate that one can go beyond appearances. The complexity behind the concept of the Mob Wife lies in the conflict between what is right and what is wrong.
The mob wife itself, according to Urban Dictionary, is described as a beautiful, selfless woman, usually married to a man of poor character-who is expected to do nothing but smile, take care of the kids and household, and tend to her husband, while never ever acknowledging the abusive, sinful, greedy, selfish world she ...
Introduction: My name is Kerri Lueilwitz, I am a courageous, gentle, quaint, thankful, outstanding, brave, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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