Why Does Everyone Want to Look Like a Mob Wife Right Now? (2024)

Anyone else getting sick of clean, quiet luxury? TikTok’s so-called mob-wife aesthetic—an explosion of animal prints, black leather, and all-gold everything—is your excuse to go a little messier and more maximalist this season, no organized crime necessary. And don’t just take it from us; Sofia Vergara, Dua Lipa, and Kendall Jenner are all on board.

The winter trend got its start last October when TikTok user and self-described “mob wife CEO” Sarah Arcuri posted a video on the basics of the aesthetic. (In short: black leather, vintage fur, messy updo, gold jewelry, designer bag.) But it really started taking off in the first week of 2024, when TikTokker Mikayla Toninato homed in on the glamorous, messy appeal of teased hair, smoky makeup, and the-bigger-the-better outfits.

It is ’90s supermodel glamour mixed with the cheeky, pattern-mixing excess of the early 2010s. It is Mob Wives’ Big Ang (RIP) rasping “money!” and “diamonds!” while smizing into a photographer’s lens. It is reclaiming the fur and the quilted leather bag your mom might have in the back of her closet. It is spilling a bit of Chianti on your all-black outfit and not really caring.

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Italian-American culture—specifically that of New Jersey and New York—looms large over the mob-wife aesthetic, which counts icons like Michelle Visage and Teresa Giudice (who, it should be noted, are not tied to organized crime) among its influences. The idea of the mafia gets involved because of the kind of character fur coats and animal prints evoke: Drea de Matteo and Edie Falco in The Sopranos, Sharon Stone in Casino, and Lorraine Bracco in Goodfellas, to name a few, all partners of mobsters. And we can’t ignore Mob Wives, the Staten Island–set reality series that reveled in black leather and designer sunglasses. These are all outspoken women with highly specific tastes and the swagger to back them up.

Even if you’re not sold on the look as a whole, you might have an appetite for each of its elements. The look unites several microtrends—leopard print, faux fur coats, statement tights, chunky gold jewelry—currently ripping through social media. Style them together and you get the mob wife aesthetic. Plus, it’s pretty much the opposite of stealth wealth, the clean girl, and the bow accessories you’ve seen all over your feed; it’s an invitation to a flashier, more glamorous take on dressing that screams “loud luxury.”

There’s a bit of an identity crisis going on here. Despite having a distinct sartorial identity, the mob wife is defined by her husband’s career. (Waste management.) This online aesthetic isn’t alone; the rockstar girlfriend also alludes to a romantic partner’s job, arguably to more annoying ends. But Toninato, the TikTok user who helped catapult the trend to popularity, has a different take: “She is a boss in and of herself,” she says in her video. “It’s an attitude. It’s an aura.” Shall we rename her the mob boss instead?

Ray Tamarra/Getty Images

Angela “Big Ang” Raiola, 2012

Gotham

Dua Lipa, 2023

Arnaldo Magnani/Getty Images

Naomi Campbell, 2004

Karwai Tang

Michelle Visage, 2023

WWD/Getty Images

Yasmeen Ghauri, 1991

Ilya S. Savenok

Renee Graziano, 2012

Ron Galella, Ltd./Getty Images

Cindy Crawford, 1991

Robert Kamau

Jennifer Lopez, 2019

Mario Magnani/Bauer-Griffin

Lady Gaga, 2012

Nailing the mob-wife aesthetic involves stocking up on high-low wardrobe essentials. You’ll need a leopard-print dress, jacket, or skirt, of course. If you can snag a fur from a family member’s closet, feel free to mix it into your winter outfits—otherwise, we can only condone faux fur if you’re buying something new. Black leather is essential, especially in the form of knee-high boots and roomy bags, as are massive shades and gold earrings. Offset all the glamour with a simple white tank top and wide-leg leather pants. (We have picks for all of those and more below.)

The most important element, though, is the unbothered attitude of a woman with money to spend and no time to waste. No matter how you’re feeling, disappearing into a gigantic coat and a statement dress should help you slip into the mindset of a mob wife, even if you have no idea how to make Sunday sauce. You have places to be, capeesh? Welcome to mob-wife winter—it’s going to be a fun one.

Mob-wife aesthetic clothing

Why Does Everyone Want to Look Like a Mob Wife Right Now? (3)

Madewell Brightside Rib Cutaway Tank

Why Does Everyone Want to Look Like a Mob Wife Right Now? (4)

Abercrombie & Fitch Vegan Leather 90s Relaxed Pants

Mob-wife aesthetic outerwear

Why Does Everyone Want to Look Like a Mob Wife Right Now? (6)

Azalea Wang Kaya Faux Fur Coat

Mob-wife aesthetic accessories

Why Does Everyone Want to Look Like a Mob Wife Right Now? (7)

Tory Burch Small Kira Chevron Convertible Shoulder Bag

Why Does Everyone Want to Look Like a Mob Wife Right Now? (8)

Free People Rocky Slouch Boots

Why Does Everyone Want to Look Like a Mob Wife Right Now? (9)

Fandy Chunky Gold Hoop Earrings Set

Why Does Everyone Want to Look Like a Mob Wife Right Now? (10)

Mango Maxi Chain Necklace

Why Does Everyone Want to Look Like a Mob Wife Right Now? (11)

Free People Leopard Fishnet Tights

Why Does Everyone Want to Look Like a Mob Wife Right Now? (12)

Sojos Retro Rectangle Polarized Sunglasses

Why Does Everyone Want to Look Like a Mob Wife Right Now? (2024)

FAQs

Why mob wife is trending? ›

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 this mob wife trend? ›

What's behind the 'mob wife' trend and what it means for fashion and beauty brands. “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.

What's really behind mob wife aesthetic? ›

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.

What is the mob wife craze? ›

It's been in every news outlet. It's totally taken over." Acuri's Instagram Highlights feature women embracing the mob-wife aesthetic, which means fur coats, flashy jewelry, animal prints, leather jackets and glamorous makeup. She calls it "The Mob Wife Movement."

What is the mob wife trend in 2024? ›

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.

How did mob wife trend start? ›

It seems to have started on, of all days, January 6, when a 28-year-old Canadian blockchain product developer named Kayla Trivieri shared a video declaring: “Clean girl is out; mob wife era is in, okay?” It has since been viewed over a million times, spawning a million other videos both for and against the trend, which ...

Are Mob Wives real Mob Wives? ›

Just the face of hardship, poverty and survival. This new TikTok trend is inspired by The Sopranos' 25th anniversary and the American TV series “Mob wives” (a kind of Big Brother-meets-The Godfather). It is a commercial product rather than a reflection of the gritty reality of Italian mafias and organised crime.

Who started mob wife era? ›

Quiet luxury is out, and the “mob wife” era is in, according to Kayla Trivieri's viral TikTok video. “Bold glamour is making a comeback,” she says.

What are mob wife nails? ›

The Trend. While a deep red acrylic nail was the preferred look of Miss La Cerva, the quintessential mob wife nail look will always be an extra long, extra square, extra white French tip. It was the go-to look for Carmela Soprano, Elvira of Scarface fame, and, of course, the mob wife, Big Ang. Getty Images.

What is the mob wife stereotype? ›

The trend holds a mirror to the '80s, a decade during which fashion designers favored big hairstyles, animal prints, padded shoulders, large fur coats and stacks of gold jewelry. In today's parlance, the mob wife rejects quiet luxury; her closet is maximalist and expressive and she has the attitude to pull it off.

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.

What makes a mob wife? ›

History and usage. Dressing like "mob wives" (the fur coats, the dark lipstick, the leathers, the oversized sunglasses, and devil-may-care attitude) has been around since before TikTok made it famous. Examples of mob wife aesthetic can be seen in movies like The Godfather and in TV shows like The Sopranos.

How do you dress like a mob wife? ›

Leopard on Leopard

Leopard is the unofficial print of any mob wife, and one of the tamest, most accessible ways to achieve the look is with a simple pop of the print. To recreate this look, all you're going to need is a pair of killer leopard print pants, a leather jacket, and some classic combat boots.

Is mob wife appropriation? ›

But for as many people who love the trend, there are others who deem it appropriation. The issue lies in the fact that it seems to capitalize on the classic image and flair of an Italian mob wife (not to mention that it glorifies organized crime) and that it also appropriates immigrant culture.

Who was the most famous mob wife? ›

Maria Licciardi was known as “The Godmother” and was hailed as the unchallenged crime boss of the Camorra (an Italian mob-type crime syndicate) in Naples from 1993 until her arrest in 2001. Maria's entire family belonged to the Camorra, as did her husband, Antonio Teghemié.

What did Mob Wives do? ›

Mob Wives follows the lives of "associated" women at a crossroads while their loved ones do time for mob-related activities.

Is Alicia from Mob Wives in jail? ›

DiMichele, a mother of three, was facing up to six months in prison under a plea agreement. Instead, she will be on probation for four years and will have to pay $40,000 in restitution.

Why did Carla leave Mob Wives? ›

HollywoodLife.com spoke to multiple insiders who confirmed that they're leaving after a dispute with Renee Graziano and the show's creator, Jennifer Graziano. “The women wanted more money and it's only fair,” the source tells us. “But Renee and her sister said there was none.

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