Can You Pull Off the Mob Wife Aesthetic Without the Right Car?
TikTok says the bold and beautiful Mob Wife Aesthetic is here. With some hot cars currently on the market complimenting the look, this trend might linger indefinitely.
Annika Carter
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Signal That You, and Your Cadillac, Are Not to Be Messed With
TikTok seems to have taken over. From what lipstick to wear to what color to paint your house to whether skinny jeans are “in” or not anymore. This time, we’re learning that the “clean girl aesthetic” of 2023 is out (that’s so last year), and the newest trend in stepping forward – the Mob Wife Aesthetic. Dark colors, fur coats, bright red lipstick, and huge, dark shades prevail to set the tone for the season.
Sarah Arcuri, @TheSweetPaisana on TikTok, the self-proclaimed CEO of the Mob Wife Aesthetic, recommends accessorizing with gold jewelry and a designer bag, as well as an attitude to “let everyone know that you are not to be messed with.”
@thesweetpaisana How to dress like a mob wife (in the style of how to dress like you’re from the lower east side) yes this is satire (kind of) use this sound to show me your mob wife style! #mobwife #mobwives #italiangirl #italianamerican #italianamericansbelike #fashiontiktok #mobwifewinter #fyp ♬ Mob Wife Energy Activate – The Sweet Paisana
A true mob wife can’t maintain her “badass energy” stepping out of a beat-up 2002 Toyota Corolla. So, what does a real mob wife drive?
Related: Movie Cars that Outshine the Stars
The Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan has cool headlights, which completely match the Mob Wife Aesthetic. Photo: Sara Lacey
Mob Wife Aesthetic in Reality Television
Originally on VH1 in 2011, Mob Wives captured the magic of these women in the reality TV series focusing on the lives of several New York City women whose husbands allegedly had ties to mob activity… and were doing time for their crimes. While more women are introduced in future seasons, the series premiered with four mob wives: Drita D’Avanzo, Renee Graziano, Karen Gravano, and Carla Facciolo.
And not all the Mob Wives drove fancy cars. In 2020, Renee Graziano drove a new Nissan Murano, which met a fateful end after she crashed into a parked Jeep.
As a mob wife, though, your car is never safe, no matter how luxurious and expensive. In 2017, Karen Gravano’s silver E-Class Mercedes was vandalized, spray painted with the word “Rat,” and all four tires slashed. Karen blames Drita D’Avanzo, with whom she has had a prior conflict.
Related: The Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan: Ready for a Dreamy Electric Car?
Carmela Soprano’s hot ride was a Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT. Photo: Sara Lacey
Our Favorite Fictional Mob Wife Car Cameos
Cues for mobster vehicles can be found in fictionalized media, as well. Take The Sopranos, for instance, with Carmela Soprano as potentially the most influential mob wife in the series or Elvira Hancock in the movie Scarface. In The Sopranos, we see the women driving an assortment of vehicles, from a Jaguar (Dr. Melfi) to a Mercedes and Porsche (Carmella) to a Corvette (Angie) and a Ford Thunderbird (Adriana). And, of course, Tony’s mistress, Gloria Trillo, sold Mercedes-Benzes. The Sopranos itself has a laundry list of unmistakably cool cars, including a Ford Mustang, Hummer H2, Range Rover, and Cadillac Seville.
In many mob movies, though, it seems the wives or girlfriends are more commonly sitting in the passenger seat, as with Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) in John Travolta’s 1964 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu in Pulp Fiction, or riding in the back of a menacing luxury SUV, such as a Chevrolet Suburban, with a dark tint.
Related: 2025 Chevy Suburban and Tahoe: First Look
The Mob Wives Aesthetic should always include a big ol’ Range. Photo: Sara Lacey
Get Your Own Mob Wife Aesthetic on Wheels
If you’re trying to create your own mob wife aesthetic, there are some modern cars that exude the luxury necessary to achieve the look. The mob wife vehicle has to catch your eye – it is showy, the epitome of class and luxury, and the perfect accessory to the designer handbag and fur coats – but not gaudy. A mob wife won’t be driving a bright orange Lamborghini, or an ultra-futuristic supercar. Here are our top five picks to complete your mob wife aesthetic:
Who here among us thinks the picture-perfect vehicle in the Mob Wife Aesthetic is a Mercedes Benz G-Wagon? Photo: Mercedes Benz
1. Mercedes Benz G-Class – The Ultimate Mob Wife Aesthetic
Commonly called the G-Wagon, this SUV from Mercedes sets itself apart from all other SUVs in both styling and performance. Starting at $139,900 for the G550 or $179,000 for the AMG G63, this icon houses all of Mercedes’ state-of-the-art innovations. From LED ambient lighting with 64 different color settings, Nappa leather upholstery, cabin air purification, and heated rear seats, the G-Wagon doesn’t skimp on luxury. Both iterations accelerate to 60 in under 6 seconds, with the AMG making a whopping 577 horsepower and speeding up to 60 in only 4.5 seconds.
The Bentley Bentayga has a longer wheelbase than the standard Bentayga for even more rear leg room. Photo: Scotty Reiss
2. Rolling in the Deep in the Bentley Bentayga
If true luxury is for you, the Bentley Bentayga is an SUV like no other, with the unmatched interior and technology Bentley is known for. The seats can monitor the passenger’s comfort and adjust to keep the drive as comfortable as possible. Offered in a multitude of customizable colors, including 10 different shades of black (to match the outfit, of course), the pinnacle of the Bentayga line, the Bentayga EWB Mulliner, starts at $336,000. The interior leather can be fully bespoke and utilized sustainably tanned leather. Even the keys to the Mulliner are presented in a custom box, matching your chosen interior colors.
The 2023 Mercedes Benz SL63 AMG looks proper in white with black accents, perfect for the Mob Wife Aesthetic. Photo: Annika Carter
3. For Those Who Need a Cool Getaway: Mercedes Benz SL63 AMG
For the sporty mob wife who wants to cruise with the top down, the Mercedes SL63 AMG roadster is unmatched. With a 577 horsepower all-wheel-drive drivetrain, this sports car accelerates to 60 in only 3.5 seconds with a symphony of V8 bi-turbo noises emanating from the exhaust. Despite the performance, the AMG SL63 doesn’t skimp on luxury, with Napa leather seats, a heated steering wheel, and a heat “scarf” from the seat to keep you warm with the top down. The starting price for the SL63 AMG is $183,000.
The Alpina B8 is a BMW 8 Series….redefined. Photo: BMW
4. BMW X7: For the Mob Wife and Mob Kiddos
For family SUV-loving mob wives, nothing beats the BMW X7 for its 3rd row and over-the-top luxury. The X7 starts at $81,000 and is over the top in the Alpina edition. Even the basic model offers the significantly elevated experience of BMW’s 7 series, the brand’s luxury flagship. The tuned engine delivers a fast, smooth getaway with up to 630 horsepower, power that belies its wide stance and large size. Inside, it’s filled with luxuries like crystal glass dials and buttons, textured metal, and microsuede details.
The ultra-luxurious interior of the Rolls Royce Cullinan fits the Mob Wives Aesthetic. Photo: Rolls Royce
5. Not-So-Quiet Luxury: Rolls Royce Black Badge
Even Rolls Royce describes the Black Badge as fit for “those who reject conformity and live on their own terms.” A car built for the rule-breakers (mob wives, looking at you!), the Black Badge is designed as an alter ego to the standard Rolls Royce Ghost and Cullinan, with the Cullinan for those who prefer to be chauffeured in an SUV and the Ghost for those who prefer the sedan experience. This car will be sure to turn heads – not only is it a Rolls, but it is a rare Rolls, with only 15% of all Rolls Royce cars being Black Badges. Rolls Royce tops the car market in luxury, with each car being assembled by hand, taking approximately 450 hours of labor (6 months to complete). Even the pinstripe on the exterior of the car is hand-painted!
The Escalade V can make any woman feel posh, especially one with a Mob Wife Aesthetic. Photo: Jill Ciminillo
6. Cadillac Escalade V: The Ultimate Boss
This is one SUV you’ll hear before it gets there, thanks to the 682 horsepower V8 engine that roars to life with the push of a button. Put the Cadillac Escalade V in gear, and it sails away, its fin-shaped taillights leaving nothing but a light trail. With its $149,000 price tag, it’s not for the shy or reserved driver but for the one who relishes making an entrance and having it all: Super Cruise hands-free driving, Google assistance that delivers upon command, top quality leather upholstery, automatic running boards to assist passengers with getting into the car and three rows of seating so no mob wives are left home.
Fashion fads seem to come and go quicker than the seasons change. And the Mob Wife Aesthetic may fade away at the end of this season, but don’t count it out. The empowered, strong, badass attitude is not simply fashionable; it’s a mindset for both those who are determined to get what they want and those who simply want the life. Drita D’Avanzo said it best: “This is not just a look, it’s a lifestyle!”
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