What’s behind rise of the mob wife look? TikTok viral fashion and make-up trend defies 2023’s clean girl minimalism in favour of the big, bold and over-the-top

TikTok’s tastemakers are moving away from the ‘clean girl’ look and dressing like ‘mob wives’ – think fur coats, red lips and nails, leopard print and blowouts

A mob wife is exciting, vibrant, dangerous and messy – making the style more forgiving and approachable than the deceptively high-maintenance clean girl

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A recent photo posted on social media platform Instagram of a woman wearing a full length fur coat with the hashtag #mobwife illustrates the 2024 “mob wife” trend that’s seen a rapid rise on TikTok and spread across social media. It’s the opposite of 2023’s “clean girl” and “quiet luxury” looks. Photo: Instagram/@lovefromjulez

Published: 4:15am, 20 Feb 2024Updated: 9:25am, 20 Feb 2024

2023 saw the “quiet luxury” and “clean girl” looks reign supreme, but fashion and make-up are doing a complete U-turn in 2024.

Instead of slicked-back buns and matching athleisure sets, TikTok’s tastemakers are dressing like “mob wives”.

Since self-proclaimed “mob wife CEO” and influencer Sarah Arcuri laid out the aesthetic’s basic tenets last October, the social media platform has been obsessed with the over-the-top look, which, its promoters say, works for everyone – as long as they have the attitude to match.

Following Arcuri’s statement, influencer Kayla Trivieri enthusiastically announced on the platform that “Starbucks and black puffas are out, we are wearing vintage furs all winter”.

An Instagram post from a user with the username “diary_of_a_housewife” and the hashtag #mobwifeasthetic, captioned: “If you’re not familiar with the current pop culture phenomenon, the ‘mob wife movement’, the mob wife aesthetic embodies a fusion of classic elegance, bold statement pieces and a touch of femme fatale allure.” Photo: Instagram/@diary_of_a_housewife

Could it be that the world is finally ready to usher in this century’s roaring 20s, and that cream jumpers and minimalist make-up are not cutting it any more? With recession lurking just around the corner, some are looking towards excessive escapism – and for them, the brassy vibes of a gangster moll fit the bill perfectly.