All about TikTok's trending ‘Mob Wife’ aesthetic, from style and outfits to makeup (2024)

The carousel of fashion trends never stops spinning, and the gurus have landed on their starter aesthetic of the 2024 season. It’s official: Clean Girl is out and Mob Wife is the hot new TikTok aesthetic in town, bringing with it a bevy of fresh styles, outfits, and makeup looks.

If you’ve ever ventured into the realm of TikTok aesthetics, you may have emerged in a fog of confusion, bewildered at the vast expanse of fashion choices and styles available for emulating. In the fast-paced world of trends that cycle through the social video sharing app, very little time is allowed for the uptake of any new offering.

Thankfully, we’re here to give you a solid brief on TikTok’s latest aesthetic trend, named for the iconic glamour, impeccable style, and fashionable sensibilities of television’s most notorious mob wives. From Diane Keaton’s Kay Adams-Corleone and Simonetta Stefanelli’s Apollonia Vitelli-Corleone in The Godfather franchise to Michelle Pfeiffer’s Angela De Marco in Married To The Mob (1988), this aesthetic is a clear departure from last season’s Clean Girl aesthetic.

Aesthetics and how they inspire outfits and styles on TikTok

Given the amount of time we now spend online and on social media, it comes as no surprise that TikTok is the birthplace of numerous trends, styles, and yes, aesthetics. Whether sparked by the fancies of influencers or celebrities du jour – think trendsetters like Gigi and Bella Hadid, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, and the KarJenners – it cannot be denied that TikTok aesthetics have made their mark upon the world of fashion. From high street labels to haute couture houses, all have taken note of styles at their very roots, subtly infusing their designs with elements that might appeal to the up-and-coming generation of fashion connoisseurs and consumers.

For the uninitiated, the Clean Girl aesthetic on TikTok is best summarised as ‘looking your best’, but in a way that suggests you ‘rolled out of bed this way’. A good example of Clean Girl makeup is Hailey Bieber, who broke the internet last year with her lush strawberry girl make-up. The Clean Girl aesthetic upholds the basic tenets of quiet luxury; think lots of neutrals, high-quality materials, gloss, slicked-back ponytails, no-makeup makeup, minimalistic accessories, loose silhouettes and athleisure, and the like.

But, while preliminary releases from high street fashion labels would suggest that quiet luxury is here to stay, TikTok has decreed that the Clean Girl aesthetic is out, summarily replaced by what the world has come to know as the Mob Wife aesthetic – just in time for Mob Wife Winter. And if the Clean Girl is polished and put together, the Mob Wife is unapologetically glamorous, fearlessly throwing her weight behind fashion choices that are certain to make a splash. And the best part? She does this, all the while rocking a massive blowout, bold and gold accessories, thick and luxurious furs, and some form of animal print.

Pop culture icons who have influenced the Mob Wife aesthetic on TikTok

Longtime fans of The Sopranos will most likely have encountered the infinite elegance and sophistication of Drea de Matteo’s Adriana La Cerva and Edie Falco’s Carmela Soprano on the series. Ditto, for Goodfellas’ Karen Hill, portrayed by Loraine Bracco, as well as Rosalyn Rosenfeld (Jennifer Lawrence) and Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) in the 2013 crime comedy movie American Hustle. From their larger-than-life fashion choices to their stunningly empowered, runway-worthy struts, these iconic pop culture characters are the moment.

Following the revival of this enduring and time-tested aesthetic, celebrities and high fashion brands alike are hopping on-board the Mob Wife train. Consider the glamorous Reputation era outfits of newly minted billionaire Taylor Swift. From sequinned bodysuits and snake motif Jimmy Choos to sleek winged eyeliner and glittering ruby lipstick, Swift’s Rep era is notably Mob Wife coded.

And while the hallmarks of ’70s indie disco pervade Swift’s Midnights era, the nostalgic nightlife style is likewise imbued with the magnetic allure we have come to associate with TikTok’s Mob Wife aesthetic. Of late, the style icon has also been photographed sporting loud prints and flashy accessories, perfectly paired with her signature red lip.

Swift is far from the only celebrity to have wholeheartedly embraced the aesthetic. More and more, celebrities are incorporating dramatic silhouettes and bold tactile choices into their outfits – as was the case with singer Dua Lipa’s dramatic black fur coat and leather boot combo on an outing in Tribeca last November.

Others have followed suit, most notably Jennifer Lawrence, who donned a luxurious leopard print fur-lined coat at the Golden Globes afterparty, and Kendall Jenner, who showed off a long chevron fur coat on an outing in Aspen. In another show of support for Mob Wife Winter, Lauren Sanchez recently took to the streets with future husband Jeff Bezos in a stunning display of the aesthetic, pairing a corseted black lace dress with an oversized black blazer.

Hallmarks of Mob Wife aesthetic inspired outfits and makeup

Want to build some outfits to emulate TikTok’s trending Mob Wife aesthetic? It’s easier than you think. While fur trench coats are sadly impractical for our humid Southeast Asian climate, there are numerous other ways to evoke the aesthetic’s hallmark qualities in your daily ensembles. The Mob Wife aesthetic draws inspiration from the timeless allure of ’90s supermodel glam, with just enough excess to toe the line between kitschy and classic.

Luxury is the name of the game. The Mob Wife aesthetic eschews subtlety in favour of maximalism, and the outfits incorporate high-quality fabrics, designer shoes, sleek silhouettes, animal prints, leather and velvet, and chunky gold accessories.

To complete the look, add long manicured nails and a voluminous blowout, and bring it all together with confidence and an attitude to boot.

If you’re heading out for mimosas with the girls and want to look your best, bring the bling with unapologetic excess. A sleek maxi dress makes for the perfect brunch OOTD; pair with layered statement necklaces and sunglasses that spell ‘glam’ in glittering diamonds.

For a fabulous date night out in town, only a flirty little black dress will do. Glam up the style with plenty of gold hardware, incorporated through accessories from jewellery to your purse, and even your choice of shoes.

Heading out for a party? Steal the show and cement yourself as the unshakeable star with a glittering, fully-sequinned glitter. Don’t forget to add texture; layer for style and comfort with a statement jacket, and follow it all up with thick hoop earrings for the ultimate show of luxe.

Equally dramatic is Mob Wife makeup, which entails a messy smoky eye, strong contouring, thick mascara, eyeliner, and a bold, defined lip. The ultimate aesthetic goal is to create a makeup look that reflects the unbothered and defiant nature of a Mob Wife, who simply does not care that her eyeliner is smudged.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– What is Mob Wife aesthetic?

The Mob Wife aesthetic is a trending style for outfits and makeup on TikTok that celebrates glamour and maximalism. Pop culture inspirations for the Mob Wife aesthetic include Kay Adams-Corleone and Apollonia Vitelli-Corleone (The Godfather franchise), Carmela Soprano (The Sopranos), and Rosalyn Rosenfeld (American Hustle). Famous celebrities who have begun to adopt the style include Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, and Jennifer Lawrence.

(Main image: Raymond Hall/GC Images/Getty, @aemisias/Twitter; featured image: Raymond Hall/GC Images)