What’s Really Behind the ‘Mob Wife Aesthetic’? (2024)

FAQs

Where did the mob wife aesthetic come from? ›

The aesthetic originates from Hollywood's mob wives from primarily Italian crime media such as Carmela Soprano in “The Sopranos” or Lorraine Bracco in “Goodfellas.” A fur coat and an expansive, black wardrobe distinguish the style.

Rather, the trend is about embodying the confidence and self-assured nature of Hollywood's classic mob wives — think Edie Falco or Drea de Matteo in “The Sopranos,” Sharon Stone in “Casino” or Lorraine Bracco in “Goodfellas” — and along with it, the sultry and often decadent nature of their style.

What is the 'Mob Wives' trend? And why did the TikTok aesthetic upset so many? Mob wives made a comeback this year, and no, it was not the VH1 show. Sarah Arcuri, author and self-proclaimed "Mob Wife Aesthetic CEO," kicked off a makeup and wardrobe trend on TikTok that went viral.

From hair to makeup to skincare to clothing, shoes, and accessories, the clean girl aesthetic celebrated minimalism. And it worked for a long time as a trend that almost everybody embraced. With the 25 ^th anniversary of HBO's classic show The Sopranos, everything “mob wife” is now trending.

In one of the earliest videos linked to this trend, influencer Sarah Jordan Arcuri, the self-proclaimed “Mob Wife Aesthetic CEO,” — broke down how to dress like a mob wife. “You need to start with an outfit that is comprised of entirely black garments.

The mob wife girl is a girl whose outfit displays undeniable grandeur and who you'd certainly think twice about messing with. Mob wife aesthetic has of course taken TikTok by storm, but it has also made waves with celebs too.

What is the 'mob wife aesthetic'? The most basic version involves throwing a fur coat — real or faux — over an all-black outfit. But according to its proponents, the look is nothing without the attitude to go with it.

What Is the Mob Wife Aesthetic For Hair? Like the fashion, mob wife hair is elaborate. While famous mob wives in pop culture sport hairstyles ranging from fluffy blowouts and banged bobs to big, bouncy, '80s-style curls, the best way to incorporate the trend into your look is to embrace a “more is more” sensibility.

Whereas the clean girl is supposed to be indicative of daddy's money, the mob wife aims to communicate that she has married into money. The breed of husband-rich specific to the mob wife also alludes to something else that's very potent, seeing as the mob boss makes his money from illegal activity.

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.

What is clean girl vs mob wife? ›

And crucially, despite the latter's pared-back approach to dressing and simple make-up, the clean girl look is incredibly difficult to achieve without naturally perfect skin and hair. A mob wife, on the other hand, is exciting, vibrant, dangerous and a little messy – making the style more forgiving and approachable.

The mob wife makeup look is an artful combination of classic beauty and modern glamour. By focusing on a flawless complexion, striking eyes, bold brows, and a statement lip, you can channel the timeless elegance and strength that define the world of mob wives.

We're talkin' leopard print (although any animal print will do), faux fur coats, gold jewelry, oversized sunglasses, and red lipstick. Yes, fashion trends come and go, but I rounded up over 40 pieces and 4 complete outfit ideas to inspire you to enter the mob wife era and make Gen Z proud.

Graziano, a consigliere in the Bonanno crime family, started her career in television with Mob Wives, which ran for six seasons between 2011 and 2016 and spawned a number of spinoffs. She also developed unscripted and scripted projects with the likes of HBO, E!, HGTV and Roc Nation.

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.