Clean girls are out, mob wives are in — at least according to TikTok.
After minimalism returned in a major way last year (looking at you, quiet luxury) it appears that an entirely opposite — read: maximalist — aesthetic is taking social media by storm. Enter the “mob wife” with her fur coats, heavy makeup and teased hair à la Big Ang, Sharon Stone’s Ginger McKenna in “Casino” and naturally, Adriana La Cerva and Carmela Soprano of “The Sopranos.”
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The recent mob wife obsession aligns with the 25th anniversary of HBO’s hit series, which some TikTok users have speculated is a genius marketing strategy. It isn’t just fans of mobster media that are talking about the trend: even Francis Ford Coppola, director of “The Godfather” trilogy, shared his thoughts on the fad via Instagram last week, noting that his sister inspired the “sultry, delightful Italian princess” character of Connie Corleone.
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Below, WWD breaks down the mob wife trend.
Mob Wife Outfits
One needn’t be a gangster’s moll to dress like a mob wife. Jennifer Lopez, Dua Lipa and the entire cast of “Real Housewives of New Jersey,” among other celebrities, have successfully channeled the aesthetic.
The mob wife look can easily be replicated after a trip to the thrift store. Faux furs, large sunglasses, animal prints and costume jewelry are readily available for resale, although many current brands — think body-con silhouettes hawked by Skims or Balenciaga — are making the rounds on TikTok as base layers for a mob wife look.
Much inspiration can also be found on the runway: long before the aesthetic went viral, labels including Alaïa, Versace and Dior made fashions that work within the trend. John Galliano’s early 2000s designs for the latter house, frequently aplenty with logos, prints and diamanté embellishments, have proven timeless with stars like Rihanna and Emily Ratajkowski rocking vintage Dior in recent years. Meanwhile, Courregès’ vinyl skirt suits, which Stone could be spotted wearing in “Casino,” for example, were re-released in 2020 after first being introduced in the ’70s.
While the look clearly trafficks in maximalism, for a more minimalist approach, shoppers can look to Michelle Pfeiffer’s Elvira Hanco*ck in “Scarface,” whose slinky satin slips and structured suits embody a more tailored, elevated version of the trend.
Mob Wife Makeup
A mob wife aesthetic often comes with full face of makeup. TikTok beauty aficionados Alicia Breuer, Steph Hui and Hayley Bui, for example, have the look down pat with smoky eyes, heavy blush and maroon lips. Other current makeup trends can be easily incorporated into the aesthetic: siren eyes, dark lip liner and bold eyebrows are peak mob wife. Long nails are yet another important staple, with shades of red and french tips being preferable.
Mob Wife Hair
Mob wife manes are all about volume. Retro hairstyles like bouncy blowouts and towering updos are an ideal source of inspiration.
