Attributes of a gangster. Modern gangster style

I owe a lot to cinema.

It was he who sang the romantic and daring image of bandits running all criminal affairs in America in the early twenties of the last century.

Why has the style become interesting to many?

Prohibition, adopted by the United States at that time, did not bring sobriety to its people, contrary to expectations. Instead, smuggling and underground sales of alcohol flourished. Gangster clans and groups got their hands on a new powerful method of obtaining funds, which quickly filled the black cash register. Now in the sphere of gangster interests there were not only raids, robberies and extortion, underground gambling became commonplace.

As each faction wanted a bigger bite of the pie, gang wars began. The police took the side of those who paid the most. The clan structures were different in their hierarchy and national characteristics. We can say that the gangster style itself appeared thanks to immigrants from Italy. Gangster groups that were called families because they were based on close and distant relatives. The difficult economic and depressive situations of that time pushed young people into the arms of the mafia in search of better life. Naturally, having received easy money, people, tired of poverty, wanted to emphasize their success and power.

Suits

Clothes and jewelry became the first changes in their lives. Therefore, they were sewn to order from the best and highest quality fabrics. As a rule, they shone with shine or had a defiant pattern of vertical stripes. The gangster-style suits could hardly be called the sophisticated attire of a gentleman from high society, but, of course, they had a special gangster chic and courage. After all, clothing was also an indicator of high status in the clan. The shirts were bought in very expensive stores. Many even had a monogram with the name of their owner. The costumes consisted of a jacket, vest and trousers. Their style corresponded to the fashion of the time. The trousers were very wide, the jackets were long and double-breasted, and the vest often added a special chic to the wearer. And silk embroidery or embossing was very popular back then popular decoration these clothes. The look was complemented by polished boots with snow-white leg warmers and a deep felt top.

The suit and gangster style were completed by a tie with a hairpin decorated with a diamond, a silk scarf peeking out from chest pocket edge, or a flower threaded into the buttonhole of a jacket. The boater hat, which was very fashionable at the beginning of the last century, was also used as a headdress. Of course, it is difficult to imagine these gentlemen of fortune unarmed. Therefore, films immediately come to mind where dashing gangsters are in their hands. These guys are complemented by weapons.

Dresses and women's outfits

The daring bandits were always accompanied by beautiful young ladies. In poor areas, every girl since childhood dreamed of becoming the lover of a tough gangster. The most fashionable and beautiful clothes was provided beautiful girl, if someone from the mafia group likes her.

Naturally, no one thought about the possible dire consequences or a prison term. Easy money, gold and diamonds became the decisive argument in favor of meeting dashing guys.

The bandits' lovers purchased their outfits from the most expensive stores. And the dress in the style of gangsters corresponded to the latest fashion of those times. Then femininity and sexuality literally burst into the fashion environment, thanks to the movement of suffragettes and feminists, which became widespread in the United States. Dresses could be long with an exciting neckline or open back, fitted or cropped straight cut. Embroidery, embossing, stone work and, of course, furs and feathers were used as decorative details. The headdresses of the fair sex delighted with their elegance. These were all kinds of hats, decorated with feathers, flowers or a brooch.

The gangster style for women was no less ostentatious than for men. That's why the girls always had a lot of precious jewelry. Pearl threads decorated long women's necks in multi-layered coils, and rings and bracelets sparkled on their hands. And the head in special cases crowned with tiaras with diamonds, even the buttons were made of precious stones. The manner of dressing with such chic did not leave anyone indifferent fashion designers, and periodically the gangster theme appears on the catwalks of the world. Therefore, when organizing a party or celebration in this style, you can choose the right style of clothing if you spend a little time searching.

Men's hairstyles

For creating ideal image You also need to do hairstyles in the style of gangsters. It will be easier for men. Although it should be remembered that in those years grease and special lipstick for mustaches and hair were very fashionable.

With a side parting or combed back hair, created using foam and varnish, it will be a pretty decent imitation of the style popular at that time.

Women's hairstyles

Ladies' hair will also need stylization to resemble the twenties of the last century. Curls and waves, tied up or loose, were just as popular as they are now. The main condition is accuracy. Each curl lying in its place and frequent waves will create bright image film stars of those times.

Curled hair can be styled with a side parting or gathered into a bun, chopping the curls at the back of the head into a loose roll. You can decorate it with hairpins with stones or beads. An interesting finish to the hairstyle will be a silk ribbon tied on the head and decorated with a feather or a brooch in the shape of a flower.

Makeup and other equally important points

Don't forget about makeup: bright red lipstick and a fly on the cheek or above the lip will correspond to the spirit of the time. If the party is planned at home, and you will have to create the surroundings yourself, it is worth decorating the room with small details typical of underground casinos. A green tablecloth and tape measure are fine, dim lights and bottles interesting shape, as well as posters with photographs from films with gangster themes will also correspond to the stated name.

Conclusion

Now you know what the gangster style is and where it came from. We also paid attention to clothing and hairstyles on this topic. We hope that the information presented in the article is useful to you.

Bright, dynamic, dangerous - this is how we can briefly describe gangster style in clothes. A male gangster is necessarily dressed in a stylish and very expensive suit, with a headdress and accessories. His companion prefers a lush and chic dress. Together they are invincible!

How it all began

Most people associate the word “gangster” with the criminal circles of the 20s, 30s and 40s of the 20th century in the United States. Gangsterdom dates back to 1919, when the production, sale and transportation of alcohol was banned in the United States. Despite this, the use of “forbidden fruit” has not stopped. Alcohol could still be purchased for a lot of money. And this was done by gangsters who quickly got rich and turned into really wealthy people- the “cream” of society.

Possessing immodest capital, representatives of mafia circles considered it a given to dress impeccably and respectably. This is how a certain style of clothing appeared, which all gangsters adhered to. Surprisingly, Chicago criminals can safely be called trendsetters in high fashion.

Gangster style - perfection in details

The gangster style presupposes enormous freedom of choice, but the main criterion for the outfit is pretentiousness and high cost. Smooth materials expensive fabrics, genuine leather and the presence of a stylish outerwear– it’s so expensive, pretentious and gangster-like!

Dress code for men

- Immaculate suit. To imitate a gangster to the modern man you need to forget forever about carelessness in clothing. Classic two or three double breasted jacket- Here perfect choice!

– White shirt. The beau monde of that time preferred white or plain, perfectly ironed shirts made of smooth, high-quality material. Occasionally, in gangster fashion, it was customary to wear shirts with thin vertical stripes.

– Bow tie or tie with shiny threads. The butterfly was used on very rare but solemn occasions. More everyday choice- a dark-colored tie, sometimes with shiny threads, which added shine and charm to the image of a gangster.

- Accessories. Lots of shiny, beautiful, and most importantly - crazy expensive accessories. Suitable for gangster style big clock, stylish cufflinks, expensive rings and everything that “enriches” appearance owner.

– patent leather shoes. Carefully polished shoes from genuine leather with big round noses were in great demand among Chicago mafiosi.

Dress code for women

The gangster’s girlfriend is his support and inspiration for new victories. Her appearance should complement the image of a crime boss.

- Dresses. Dresses are a necessary part of the wardrobe for a gangster's companion. Depending on the occasion, you can choose a cocktail or floor-length dress. The color of the outfit should be dark or black in order to look just as stylish and expensive compared to your man. Evening dresses chic, embroidered with sequins, rhinestones and beads. The silhouette of the dress is predominantly fitted and straight.

- Decorations. Following their men, flappers (as they were often called for their loose dress) chose the most expensive jewelry with real or imitation diamonds. Feathers, embroidery, miniature hats and handbags made the ladies' appearance theatrical and unusual.

– Bright makeup. This is an indispensable attribute of a female gangster style. Thanks to cherry or red lipstick and black eyeliner, the mafioso's companions looked even more feminine and sexy.

The modern image of gangsters is very dramatic, but, unfortunately, not as expensive and dangerous as the style of the criminal predecessors of that century. You can still stick to the gangster style. The main thing is not to forget about important details that will add ambience: large cigars, suspenders, silk scarves and hats. An extravagant look, self-confidence - without this it is impossible to imagine a gangster style!

October 6, 2016

You won’t surprise anyone anymore with an ordinary party without any stylistic idea. More and more people are trying to organize celebrations in a rather original way: either by choosing an unusual venue, or by relying on exotic entertainment, or by giving preference to costumed events.

There are many themes for a costume party. Here everyone chooses according to their preferences or capabilities. But the main thing is that the style of the evening really matches the declared one.

One of the most popular party themes is. This period is still considered romantic and mysterious. And if we take into account all the paraphernalia of that time, then this is generally perfect solution for the celebration. In addition, this theme is universal because it is suitable for different ages: both children and adults will be happy about such an evening. The gangster style will fit well into name days, New Year’s festivities, and corporate fun. What can I say, even weddings are held in this design.

If your choice is a gangster party, then you should pay special attention not only to the design of the room and dishes, but also to the costumes. They should, if not completely, then at least partially correspond to the chosen era. And since it is quite problematic and expensive to provide all invited guests with outfits, it is better to warn them in advance about the dress code. And to save money, instead of buying a ready-made outfit, invite them to create it themselves, using what they have at home, or purchasing the necessary materials as little as possible.

And now advice from website everyone who wants to create their own unique image for Gangster Party.

1. Mafia outfit: acceptable and not

Most people associate Chicago in the 1930s with luxury, good taste, weapons and the mafia. Therefore, when creating an image, it is necessary to take these points into account. In order for the appearance to be recognizable, it is necessary to pay close attention to many details.

It is clear that luxurious outfits are not cheap. To achieve the desired effect without spending a lot of money, you should use materials that are more budget-friendly, but no less effective.

Outfits for a gangster-style party should not be flashy or provocative. The best option - elegant dresses and costumes. It should be noted that too revealing clothes are also not welcome. Otherwise there are no restrictions.

2. Men's suit for a gangster party

The image of a Chicago mafioso is not difficult to create. This does not require any special skills or special materials. In almost every closet you will find those wardrobe items from which you can put together a wonderful suit.

First of all you will need classic suit. It can be either pure black, brown, dark blue or white, and in horizontal thin stripes contrasting color. Many people will find something similar, from a wedding, for example. If you don’t find exactly that color, it doesn’t matter. Other colors are also suitable: the main thing is that they are not too bright and catchy, because the mafia style is restraint and efficiency. Ideally, a three-piece suit would be suitable, with not only a jacket, but also a vest. But you can wear a vest without a jacket, just like a jacket without a vest.

If nothing suits you at all, rent a suit.

The next item is the shirt. Many will also find it in their wardrobe. The main thing is that it is monochromatic and matches the color of the suit: they can be either the same color or contrasting. It’s better if it’s cotton or silk (in case you have one lying around).

Well, where would we be without a tie? Even, red, white, gray or silver without patterns or unnecessary details are suitable. But if neither you nor your friends have a tie, then you can safely replace it with a bow tie. In this case, you don’t need to buy anything special. It’s not difficult to make: you need to fold a small rectangular or square piece of fabric like an accordion and sew it in the middle, forming a butterfly. Next, the resulting element should be secured directly to the shirt or to an elastic band that will be hidden under the collar of the shirt.

Very important subject the suit is broad-brim. It is unlikely that you will be able to make this accessory yourself, so you should arrange a total inspection not only in your closet, but also in the closets of your friends. Straw and leather hats are not suitable. And felt or fabric water is what you need. If the hat is not the same color as the suit, then to create a single ensemble you should attach it to it thin tape the same color as the chosen outfit.

If we talk about shoes, the ideal option would be patent leather shoes with a round toe. But since nowadays it’s quite problematic to find them, you can wear any classic shoes, which you will find. The main thing is that you should not try to wear sneakers or moccasins, even if they are black. Such a choice will completely destroy the image and give it absurdity.

3. Women's costume for a gangster party

It’s even easier for ladies to make a costume from scrap items and materials, because the choice of outfits for them is much larger.

To begin with, they, just like men, can wear a classic pantsuit black, brown, dark blue or white. Instead of trousers, a pencil skirt will work well. But few people choose this option. Most people prefer a dress.

A dress for a party in the style of Chicago of the 30s gives room for creativity. You can, without much inventiveness, wear a cocktail dress black dress. It will also look luxurious in combination with the appropriate accessories.

And you can take a good look at your wardrobe. There will probably be dresses made of chiffon, satin, silk or velvet. The length can be very different: from very long to the floor and to knee level. But it would be difficult to call such a dress gangster - it will still need a little modification. A few meters of fringe or rhinestones with sequins are suitable for this. If we talk about fringe, then you should trim the dress with it at your discretion. You can put it only on the bottom of the dress, or add a little in the sleeve area. Or you can spend a little more time and trim the entire outfit with it in several rows horizontally. But this is not important either. You can trim it with fringe in absolutely any way you like, the main thing is that it looks beautiful.

For some dresses, fringe is not an option, since under its weight your decoration can lose its shape and look like a bag. Then self-adhesive rhinestones will come in handy for a budding clothing designer. There are, of course, those that need to be sewn on, but this is time-consuming and irrational. You regulate the number of rhinestones used yourself. They can be attached randomly, or you can lay out some kind of pattern. But in any case, their shine and shimmer will create the necessary luxurious ambiance.

The dress is good, but other items of clothing are equally important. A fur cape or boa would be a beautiful addition. If you don’t have one like this at home, you can unfasten fur collar from winter coat. It will also look decent. Alternatively, you can use a lightweight chiffon scarf, but it will only be appropriate in warm time year with a chiffon or silk dress. But you can safely throw a boa over your shoulders or wrap it around your neck at any time of the year. Moreover, the color scheme here can be very diverse.

But while you can do without furs, you can’t do without gloves. They will add elegance and sophistication. Only real craftswomen can sew them on their own, but the rest will have to use their own or borrowed from their friends. In this suit they will be very appropriate long gloves made of opaque material, and short lace ones.

As for shoes, any shoes will do. high heels in the same color as the dress itself. No desired color? Then choose classic black ones.

Since we're talking about legs, it should be noted that stockings or tights are suitable for the gangster style. fine mesh. Stockings with a horizontal stripe at the back will look especially plausible. And the openwork garter, neatly peeking out from under the dress, will add piquancy to the look.

A real lady's accessory is a headdress. For the image of a mafia girlfriend, cute little hats decorated with a large feather are suitable. But if you couldn’t get a hat, then instead you can safely use a small piece of thin edging in pure black or decorated with lurex or rhinestones. A feather is also attached to it. Instead of a feather, you can attach a small veil to the hat.

Another option is to wear an elegant hat with a wide brim. But such a headdress will be appropriate only if your image is directly of a lady connected with mafia affairs, and not just a gangster’s girlfriend.

4. Must-have accessories for a gangster party

As with any stylized party, you need your own specific accessories, which you can also make yourself.

For men, a thick and long cigar will look cool. It can be rolled out of any paper, painted in the appropriate color and glued in the middle with a thin gilded strip of paper. A homemade cigar should be dense so that it does not crumple in your mouth, so roll the paper carefully, leaving no free space inside. And for women, a long thin mouthpiece is suitable, which is also easy to make from colored paper, twisting it into a thin tube, narrowed at one end.

When using a classic suit, an essential accessory is suspenders, which must match the color of the suit itself. They perfectly emphasize the figure (especially the athletic one) and are suitable for both men and women.

Weapons are the attribute that can save even the worst outfit. After all, that is exactly what it is business card gangster style. Naturally, we are not talking about real weapons, but toy or fake weapons will be just right. For women, small pistols are suitable, which can be effectively pulled out of a clutch bag or tucked into a garter. For men, larger pistols are suitable, and also better automatic Thompson.

Decorations are a separate item. Guys can use cufflinks and massive rings. Well, the fair sex has plenty to roam around: very long beads that can be tied in a knot, elegant necklaces with sparkling stones imitating diamonds, gold chain with an eye-catching pendant. Regarding earrings, then special requirements no: they just have to go well with other jewelry.

If you find a cane with a beautiful knob at home, then feel free to use it when creating an image.

Don't forget that little things matter too.

As you can see, creating a gangster costume yourself is not that difficult. And it will require minimal financial investment. Just don’t forget that any little thing can affect the impression of your outfit. Therefore, do not forget about appropriate makeup and demeanor. If any of the above is not in the spirit of the chosen time, then the image will turn out in best case scenario simply incomplete, and at worst simply ridiculous. So listen to the advice offered, but don’t forget about your imagination and creativity. In any case, the costume must be original and different from others. So experiment!

To be a real Depression-era gangster you need not only courage and luck - you also need a raccoon fur coat, a girl in a boa and other fancy things.

Style - as you know, is the unity of the main ideological and artistic features of a work of art or the distinctive features of a person, which he adheres to both in clothing and in behavior, but style is not limited to just this. Everyone understands by this definition something - something that is his own, close only to him. There are a great variety of styles, but not all of them will suit a real mafioso. Remember, opinions about you are made up of many little things. Therefore, every person must always remain on top, not forgetting that every step he takes can be decisive.

Mafia clothes

Any clothing demonstrates your attitude towards others. Especially mafioso clothes.
“In your clothes, try to be graceful, but not dandy; the sign of grace is decency, and the sign of dandy is excess.”

Mafia clothes should be comfortable, elegant and neat. Comfort is the main criterion, but if you want to impress someone, then wear a suit.

Some tips for choosing clothes:

Textile
Wool fabric will do.

Glasses
Glasses must be either Oliver People's, Armani, or Ralph Lauren.

Cufflinks
As many years ago, for self-confident, conservative men, as most representatives of the VIP group are, cufflinks are still relevant today. And, above all, for an evening wardrobe. They define the style and emphasize the sophistication and sophistication of the men's toilet.

Shirt
A checkered or other patterned shirt in the shade you like is suitable. Classic shirts are not excluded.

Trousers
Trousers must be straight cut and of such length that they fall over the boots with a small fold. Several folds on classic-cut trousers are also made at the waist. One of the features of a successful person’s suit is perfectly pressed trousers with straight creases in the center of each leg.

Tie
Today, the width of the tie should be 6.5-8 cm. The tip of the tie should reach the belt.

Suspender
If you choose suspenders for your wardrobe, it is better that they are fastened with buttons rather than secured with clips. You can also attach a chain made of some precious metal to your suit.

Socks
Socks should be comfortable and one shade lighter or darker than the trousers.

Shoes
Combined loafers are suitable. All kinds of decorations are encouraged.

Of course, all mafia clothing is not limited to this, the list shows only a few examples. Designers don't make suits clothes for mafiosos. This image is given to clothing by the people wearing it.

Appearance has great importance in anyone's life, and it is difficult to imagine a dirty, slovenly person who could watch his actions.

Double-breasted jacket with buttons

The trendsetter of gangster fashion, Al Capone, despite his obesity, preferred frivolous single-breasted jackets made of thin fabrics - in the “roaring 20s” this style was the complete opposite of the thick woolen armor that the godfathers wore to Sunday mass before the First World War. However, His Majesty, the double-breasted one, was inexorably replacing him. driving force men's fashion period, with 6 buttons, wide lapels, high waist and straight coattails without cuts. Gangsters loved the Kent model, named after the Prince of Wales's younger brother, Prince George, Duke of Kent, because of its longer lapel that reached to the waist - the design created the illusion of slimness and height, which was important for short gangsters (others on the streets they just didn’t survive). But what’s even more important is that not one Thompson submachine gun fit behind the two sides, but two.

Hat "Borsalino"

In 1857, Giuseppe Borsalino founded a hat factory in Alexandria, Italy. For the next hundred years, the best classic men's felt hats are a must-have for everyone decent man- she was the one who pressed Belgian rabbit wool. In honor of the legendary hat, they even made a gangster film of the same name with Delon and Belmondo.

Boots with lacquered leggings

There's nothing you can do, you'll have to put this strange thing on your feet to get past face control at the Cotton club. In the 30s, patent leather leg warmers completely went out of fashion, but at the beginning of the decade, “old school” gangsters still wore them as a memory of pre-crisis raspberries.

Thompson submachine gun

The Kalashnikov of the "Roaring '20s" is the legendary Tommy Gun, or "Chicago Typewriter", a submachine gun developed in 1916 by Captain John Thomson. New in the American Army for a long time remained unclaimed, but was used very actively by the civilian population and the police during Prohibition. In fact, as it turned out with the start of deliveries of the Tommy Gun under Lend-Lease to the USSR, it was impossible to shoot through even a couple of quilted jackets with a “typewriter”. And these, we note, were also at the disposal of the gangsters.

Bulletproof vest

The most practical thing dressed as a gangster. In the early 20s, the first lightweight bulletproof quilted jackets—vests made of pressed cotton—appeared in the equipment of police and military personnel. Before this, we had to go out to gang fights wearing metal chain mail. Naturally, bootleggers immediately acquired the new product, which forced the police to switch to weapons of higher caliber and destructive power, including automatic ones.

Ford "eight"

In 1932 it was released onto the market new model"Ford" - Ford B. It was equipped with a highly modified 4-cylinder engine, but the "Model 18", which was no different in appearance from the "B", began to be equipped with a powerful 8-cylinder unit. "Eights" were produced before, but on a separate order, the eighteenth model became the first mass-produced "Eight" in history, whose torque was immediately used by the criminal element in their favor (the standard Eight could reach a speed of 120 km/h). The Ford Museum houses a letter from John Dillinger, in which he thanks the auto tycoon for his good work. Some consider it a fake, but the fact that the elusive Dillinger became even more elusive in the new Ford is a fact of history.

Raccoon coat

In an unheated Ford in the cold season, it was chilly even in a double-breasted suit, double-breasted coat and bulletproof vest, so in the 20s all the happy owners of Fords could be easily identified by their raccoon coat, and if the raccoon coat was topped with a Borsalino, and the patent leather leggings were illuminated from below - in front of you was a 100% gangster. Naturally, a more or less successful bootlegger and bank robber could afford something more decent than a raccoon, but such things played a role important factors, like volume and weight: in a light raccoon fur coat, more reminiscent of a coat, it was easier to operate the levers, reload the “machine”, and when the gasoline and bullets ran out, cross the Canadian border on skis.

Foster Grant glasses

The only one who managed to launch the production of sunglasses on an industrial scale was Sam Foster, who founded the Foster Grant company in 1929.

Diamond from Jachersfontein

Finally - pebbles. In addition to the obligatory cigar and Borsalino hat, Al Capone set another gangster standard - a tie pin with a diamond from Jachersfontein, an old South African mine that supplied unique diamonds with a blue spark. The mine was closed in 1971, but every real gangster still dreams of having a blue beam shoot out of his silk tie, “like Al Capone’s.”

Girl in boa

A double-breasted jacket with buttons, a raccoon coat, a Borsalino, patent leather boots, a Ford eight, a pin with a Jachersfontein, a Tommy gun and Foster Grant glasses will be a waste of money if next to these treasures there is not a cheeky young lady decorated with a boa, a hat with a plume and a cigarette holder sticking out straight through. With the beginning Great Depression the girls began to look more modest, but the poses they took in front of their gangsters remained the same.

Some tips for mafiosi. :)

How to wear mafia clothes:

Wear light suits during the day and dark ones in the evening.

In a formal setting, the jacket should be buttoned.

You can completely unbutton your jacket buttons while having dinner or while sitting in theater chairs. When rising, you need to fasten the top button.

Keep your weekend suit in in perfect order Always.

The same applies to shoes, socks, cufflinks.

The suit should be comfortable.

Don't always follow fashion. It's better to look unfashionable but good than fashionable and bad.

Carry two handkerchiefs with you. The first “worker” is located in the trouser pocket. The second one is always absolutely clean - in the inner pocket of the jacket.

A bow tie, intended for official celebrations or major holidays, is worn only with dark suits.

Tie to evening suit It is best to choose from natural or artificial silk.

If the tie is made of high-quality material, then the knot is untied when it is removed.

If the tie is made of inexpensive material, then you can not untie the knot, but remove the tie over your head.

Mafia clothes are always in fashion! :)