If you spent most of 2023 embracing the Clean Girl aesthetic and “quiet luxury” thanks to style icons like Sofia Richie-Grainge, you've embraced timelessness, sophistication, and simplicity. While we saw a lot of microtrends like mermaidcore and the Vanilla Girl in the last year, many of them were centered around the elegant, minimalist look that the Clean Girl and quiet luxury emphasized. But now, the Mob Wife aesthetic is taking social media by storm, and fashionistas seem ready to ditch minimalism, at least for now.
First things first, what is the Mob Wife aesthetic? It’s not about loud colors or logomania. It’s all about the glamor and opulence. Voluminous blowouts, long nails, oversized fur coats, animal prints, big sunglasses, and jewelry stacks. It’s everything that “understated” isn’t, which means that subtlety is not an option. And, even when it’s time to be a little more casual, it exudes confidence, sexiness, and attitude. In other words, think of Adriana La Cerva from The Sopranos, Karen Hill from Goodfellas, and Rosalyn Rosenfeld from American Hustle.
And the makeup? It’s smoky eyeshadow, defined lips, and chiseled contour. There are not a lot of strict rules for beauty, so don’t worry about sticking with any lip color or blush shade. But whatever you do, don’t make it look too perfect and blended. We want to make sure it’s bold and defiant. As content creator @mikaylatoninato notes in a now-viral video explaining the trend, “A mob wife is unbothered. She has places to be, people to see […] she does not take anything from anyone.”
While some might think the Mob Wife aesthetic is just another fleeting trend, that is certainly not the case. Celebrities, including Kendall Jenner, Dua Lipa, and Jennifer Lawrence (who played Rosalyn Rosenfeld in American Hustle) have recently stepped out in mob wife fashion, complete with fur coats and a whole lot of glitz.
And if that’s not testament enough, luxury fashion houses like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Fendi, and Saint Laurent are also embracing the trend in a few recent runway looks, including hair and makeup. Clearly, it’s already catching on.
Whether or not you still prefer the minimalist vibe embodied by the “clean girl” and “quiet luxury” trends, the Mob Wife aesthetic is here to stay.
