All you need to know about the mob wife aesthetic that's all the rage right now

Goodbye, clean girl look!

Jan 30, 2024 | by Bani Sachar

Animal prints, flashy jewellery, and big (faux) fur coats are so on trend right now, and we can credit their popularity to the rise of the ‘mob wife aesthetic'. The TikTok phenomenon has made waves across the global fashion scene, even receiving a nod from Francis Ford Coppola—the director of the Godfather trilogy. The trend is being heralded as a welcome pendulum swing away from the ‘clean girl aesthetic’ that’s dominated our lives since 2022 (read: a maximalist throwdown). The minimal, Sofia Richi-esque beauty and lifestyle made way for more girly Barbiecore and coquette styles last year. However, the 'mob wife' exudes more grown-up energy. It embodies the spirit of a woman, as opposed to a girl's. It is sultry, mature, confident, and unapologetic. The 'mob wife' knows how the world works, and knows how to bend it to her advantage—much like the original mob wives and their iconic style from The Sopranos, The Godfather, and Scarface.

Though the aesthetic might seem opulent and over-the-top in some ways, it’s really not about having the most expensive outfit—it’s more about the bold aura. Pieces like Schiaprelli’s big jewellery, Alaia’s black leather garments, and almost anything from Italian fashion houses like Versace, Gucci, and Dolce & Gabbana can be incorporated into the aesthetic just as well as items picked up from your local thrift store. We see a lot of leather and all-black as a part of the 'mob wife' ensembles; throw in some faux fur, a touch of animal prints, some chunky gold jewellery, and a pair of oversized sunglasses to really commit! Beyond the fictional world, we see celebrities like Kris Jenner, Dua Lipa, Sofia Vergara, and even Martha Stewart giving off major 'mob wife' energy by adorning elements like knee-high leather boots, larger-than-life fur coats, and a bold red lip to seal the deal.

The aesthetic is ’90s supermodel glamour mixed with the pattern-mixing excess of the early 2010s. It encourages us to reclaim the fur and the quilted leather bag that your mom might have somewhere in the back of her closet. It is spilling a bit of Chianti on your all-black outfit and not really caring. It is the confidence that allows women to walk into a room as if they own it. 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. These are all outspoken female characters with highly specific tastes and the boldness to back them up.

Even if you’re not sold on the look as a whole, you might have an appetite for some of its individual elements. The look brings together several microtrends currently ripping through social media. Style them together and voila, you get the mob wife aesthetic. It’s a refreshing change from the 'stealth wealth', the 'clean girl', and the 'bow accessories' you’ve been seeing all over your feed. It’s an invitation to a flashier, more glamorous take on dressing that screams “loud luxury” more than anything else. The most important element, though, is the unbothered attitude of a woman with some big bucks to spend and absolutely no time to waste. The 'mob wife' gets shit done and doesn't take any bullshit. No matter how you’re feeling, disappearing into a gigantic coat and a statement dress should help you slip into the seemingly coveted mob wife mindset.

This aesthetic often comes with a full face of make-up. Think smoky eyes, heavy blush, and maroon lips. Other current make-up trends can be easily incorporated into the aesthetic: siren eyes, dark lip liner, and bold eyebrows channel peak 'mob wife'. Long nails are yet another staple, with shades of red being preferable (coming with the added bonus of the red nail theory). 'Mob wife' manes, on the other hand, are all about volume. Retro hairstyles like bouncy blowouts and towering updos are an ideal source of inspiration. With styles so chic, it’s no surprise that the mob wife aesthetic has taken the internet by storm!

Below are some of our favourite pieces to help you cop that 'mob wife' look.

Coperni Twisted Cut-Out Draped Dress, ₹40,000