Velvets and Furs
Add delicate details to elevate your winter wardrobe
“Mob wife” – a concept that blew up on Tik Tok last year, seemingly out of nowhere, has left traces of faux fur everywhere. The “mob wife trend”, as it was known, featured big fur coats, bold makeup, and black clothes. Inspired by Italian-American 90s and 80s aesthetics, Drea and Carmela from the Sopranos are key style inspirations. But the most important ingredient is confidence, and an attitude to get away with what others seemingly cannot.
Interestingly, there’s been push back from former mob wives offended that their trauma became a joke. Some are claiming it leads to romanticizing organized crime, which I think is a stretch. What it does reflect is a craving for loud, luxurious statement pieces in the winter. Trend drama aside, wearing velvets and furs can be a cute way to elevate your winter wardrobe; it’s just about the how.
Don’t be like everyone else
Personally, I don’t like the mainstream “mob wife” trend as it forces an overproduction of cheap, polyester furs. Not only is cheap polyester bad for the environment, it also looks bad on people in real life. Maybe this is my Eastern European background speaking, but I believe that fur coats are something sacred and should be an investment piece, not just a trend. A cheap dupe is worse than nothing at all. And I know that it’s very difficult to construct a fur garment to flow smoothly and elegantly; there’s a craft to this coat. To me, when everyone puts on the same basic item, it kills the whole aesthetic. This is one of those trends where thinking for yourself might be better than tapping in blindly to avoid looking tacky.
If you feel a calling to be a “mob wife”; don’t rush for that $50 polyester dupe that you won’t wear in two years. A true mob wife would never wear that. Instead, elevate your winter closet with small fur details and accessories that truly spike your excitement. Right now, I’m kind of into the micro-trend of adding small bits of fur into tops, dresses, and cardigans, hats and collars.
Velvets are a beautiful detail to add for winter
Velvet is not a fiber, it’s a fabric. It’s a way to weave fibers into two layers that are then cut apart to create a short, shiny pile that is soft and smooth. It can be woven together from polyester, silk, cotton, nylon and viscose. Paying attention to the production materials can make a difference; silk and viscose are better quality and better for the environment than polyester, which will be rough and tough on the skin.
For these, I recommend a long sleeve mini or a v-neck midi dress, depending on your style preference. Another great option is a long maxi skirt that will shine and add a unique touch to your closet. You can find cute velvet picks HERE.
Happy styling! Remember, the best outfit is the one you already own; but if you’re looking for extra inspiration, check out the mob wife aesthetic InStock Finder HERE. Let me know if there is something else you’d like to know more about in the comments below.
Pro tips to feel your best
Don’t buy something cheap just to feel a part of the hype; retailers produced many coats they will now try to sell to capitalize off of January’s virality. A fur coat should be an investment piece, even if faux.
Consider details in garments that can add a nice fur touch, instead.
Velvets make great statement pieces for winter, specifically in dresses and skirts.
Keep in mind combos with other pieces – coats, bags and shoes.
Author Favorites
I looked through 100s of velvets and furs to put together this piece. My favorites are linked HERE!