25 years have passed since Tony Soprano schlepped into Dr Melfi's anodyne office for his first therapy session. In that time The Sopranos has enjoyed a second wind of popularity, a third, and managed to inspire a prequel film, too. Jump on community message boards and you'll find the discourse around that infamous ending to be more impassioned than ever. But here's the thing. What's left a lasting impression is not the mobster lingo or the raft of anti-heroes Tony Soprano catalysed, rather the treasure trove of looks the series left us to play with.
I'm not talking the quiet luxury of Dr Melfi's camel-coloured pantsuits but Carmela Soprano's mob wife fashion – in fact, I would argue this is quiet luxury's antithesis. (Word is, each time you mention mob wife fashion, a piece of clothing from The Row spontaneously combusts.)
Why hide your wealth in subtle cuts and luxury fabrics, when you can shout it with expensive perfume and designer handbags? We've always had a soft spot for mob wife style. It's all vintage fur coats, cherry red, huge sunglasses, animal print, long nails, full glam makeup, gold jewellery, and big hair. Think Fran Fine if she ended up hitched to Tony the Mobster or Lady Gaga's Patrizia Reggiani from House of Gucci if she moved to New Jersey.
Minimalists might call it tacky, but as feminist publication Polyester Zine points out, this is a double standard reserved for the working and middle classes – when Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy wears leopard print she's called chic. And anyway, we're not the only ones who are into it.
@ktrivz manifesting a 24 carat diamond tennis necklace to match my mob wife energy #greenscreen ♬ original sound - kayla trivieri
Carmela Soprano is one of the many mob wife archetypes in pop culture that's inspiring a new wave of women to tap into their inner fast-talking Italian femme fatale on TikTok. She's joined by other fictional characters like Elvira Hancock from Scarface and Ginger McKenna from Casino who have been submitted as the blueprint for the aesthetic. And if you're at a loss, there's always IRL mob wives like Victoria Gotti to turn to.
Every decade has its own spin on mob wife style, and while she's never afraid to bare a little skin, she always veers more "Madonna" than "whore" to the male gaze through which she's typically portrayed. But this isn't more tradwife content. At home, she wears negligees, strappy tops, lace, and tight-fitting pants. To the world outside, she's formidable, untouchable, glamorous. Which is where the aspirational bit comes in. Despite the men around her there's always a sense that it's the mob wife who is actually pulling the strings. If the husband is the head, the wife is the neck twisting it whichever way she likes. This trend is all about power dressing.
@thesweetpaisana #stitch with @kayla trivieri the OG mob wife aesthetic CEO is reporting for duty 🫡 who’s excited? It’s our time to SHINE! #mobwives #mobwife #mobwifeaesthetic #mobwifewinter #mobwivesoftiktok #2024fashiontrends ♬ original sound - The Sweet Paisana
Self-professed resident CEO of the mob wife aesthetic, Sarah Arcuri, is spearheading mob wife style on TikTok. The Italian-American blogger told her followers "just knowing that this is in style... 2024 is off to a good start". Meanwhile, Avery Brynn insists the mob wife trend is more than a fashion aesthetic, it's a lifestyle, a philosophy. "Would a mob wife text him first," Brynn asks? "Gone are the days of quiet luxury," Brynn continues, "we're introducing filthy wealth. This has nothing to do with how much money you have. It's all in the mentality."
@averybrynn1we RISE AT DAWN♬ original sound - Avery
@viennaaylau already know Vincenzo was hopping♬ original sound - vienna ❤️🔥
In the spirit of the mob wife trend, we're sharing some style inspo from our personal favourite fictional mob wives – including where to shop the look.
Mob wives style inspiration
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Where to shop mob wife fashion
MIU MIU Patent Leather Slingbacks with Buckles
KARLA LAIDLAW Tiger Pant
LOEWE Square Screen Sunglasses
MAX MARA Long Teddy Coat
MEJURI Bold Herringbone Chain Necklace
PARIS GEORGIA Heart Dress
GUCCI GG Print with Horsebit Silk Carré
Feature image: Saint Laurent FW23, Saint Laurent FW23, Saint Laurent FW23, Versace FW23, Gucci FW23, Versace FW23, Bottega Veneta FW23, Ferragamo FW23.
