All about gangster style

Gangster style is the aesthetics of the 30s of the XX century, obligatory pretty dresses for girls and formal suits with cloaks for men. The role of the fair sex in this historical period was reduced either to the image of a fatal beauty, or to the appearance of an exemplary housewife, wife and mother. Dresses and other outfits for women in a gangster style, beautiful hairstyles and accessories can be tried on today: it is only important to know how to properly combine all these elements with each other.

The gangster style has its origins in North America, but it has features and elements from other eras and cultures. In the 20s of the XX century, ethnic clans, famous for their special cruelty and scrupulousness in business, began to actively conduct their activities in large cities of the United States. They preferred to set their own rules and codes of honor, preferring smart clothes in the spirit of silent films. The basic concept was dictated by the traditional Italian style with its strict three-piece suits, a watch on a chain in a waistcoat pocket, an indispensable hat and a raincoat or coat.

Women's fashion depended on which part of the United States the lady lived in. Chicago mobsters preferred to surround themselves with cabaret beauties - singers, actresses. This dictated a certain bohemian character of the image. New Yorkers preferred a more independent and laconic style, and the origins of the feminist movement were already emerging here. Ladies wore magnificent wide-brimmed hats, luxurious fur coats, preferred business suits, the most daring could even try on trousers.

Gangster style for modern girls is usually seen as an element of a masquerade, a one-time occasion to go out. But if you take a closer look, you can appreciate the simplicity and brevity of everyday women's dress, find your charm in it.

There is an element of femininity in casual gangster-style outfits. There are two main cut options... First of all, these are dresses of the silhouette, today known as baby-dolls, with a slight flare from the chest to the hips. Loose, not fitted, they were decorated rather modestly in the everyday version, they could be supplemented with bows or frills on the chest, or with a beaded pattern.

Much more popular for everyday life can be considered a version of the classic cocktail dress with short sleeves or 3/4 length, with a hem that reaches mid-knee. They were worn close-fitting, with a narrow belt. There was a V-neck in the cut, and the neckline could be quite deep. In the modern version, you can try on an ankle-length or mid-calf dress, with a slight flare from the hip, a modest pill hat or beret. The optimal color scheme is pastel, sand, as well as deep wine, blue, green.

The dress can easily replace a trouser suit with a vest or an elongated jacket with turn-down lapels. It is necessary to exclude stripes or any decor, placing accents in color. Wine red, black, burgundy, sapphire are appropriate. A must-have addition is a white shirt, possibly with a thin drawstring tie.

Gangster style ceremonial outfits are largely era-oriented. There are a number of points to consider.

• 1920s style. It provides for the use of dresses with a low waist, rather long, up to the mid-calf or ankle. This cut provides for sleeves and a narrow bodice.

• Style of the 30s. Here, the fashion for mini, daring length, free cut and an abundance of decorative details has already begun. Fringe, beads, sequins, narrow shoulder straps - all this is characteristic of the spirit of Chicago with its revelry and desire for a chic life. An open back or a deep neckline was an obligatory element. Such an outfit will definitely suit a girl with a slender physique, fragile, rather tall or petite, with a long neck and a beautiful shoulder line.

• 80s style. This era continued the traditions of gangster culture. Companions of influential mafia bosses wore floor-length dresses with an asymmetrical hem or neckline, an open back. The cut of the outfits should emphasize the femininity of the forms.

• Modern stylization. It provides for the possibility of using a formal suit with an original top in a contrasting color. You can use Chicago-style looks with short dresses with thin straps or bohemian jumpsuits, complemented by loose cardigans. Correctly selected accessories will help to make the image more stylistically accurate.

All these elements of festive looks are well suited for parties, special occasions, shaping the look for the "red carpet" and social events.

For women looking to recreate the gangster style in their image, it will be helpful to choose the right accessories. So, The 20s of the XX century require the obligatory use of long strands of pearls tied in a knot. To combine with a coat or fur coat, a pill-hat with a veil, shoes with medium stable heels with straps are used. A compact handbag and a long mouthpiece will complete the look.

The bold 30s Chicago gangster girl look is complemented by the obligatory fur capes or boas made up of feathers. Also used are diamond necklaces or laconic strands of pearls framing the neck.Fishnet stockings, open high-heeled shoes, and a small handbag embroidered with beads will effectively complement the look.

The 80s style is not so rich in interesting accessories. Lush wide-brimmed hats and long gloves up to the elbow are used here. The lack of jewelry on the neck is replaced by embroidery on the bodice, shiny threads or printed elements on the fabric of the dress.

Gangster hairstyles are a triumph of conciseness and chic. First of all, this is a strict square with clear lines, an open neck, graphic bangs. Besides, Smooth wave-hairstyles, which were preferred by Hollywood stars and the starlets who imitated them, came into vogue. The image was complemented by makeup with an emphasis on the eyes - long eyelashes, sharp cheekbones, dramatic makeup. At the same time, the lips remained rather neutral, they were not singled out on purpose, they were made emphatically modest.

The gangster girlfriends from New York preferred different looks. Their attribute was curls framing the face. Curled ends, strands laid on top with a crown, well-groomed eyebrows, stylish manicure - this is what was given special attention. Cosmetics were used quite carefully, only to emphasize natural advantages. Lips in the shape of a heart, raised and well-defined thin eyebrows were considered fashionable.

A few examples will serve as proof of the beauty and originality of the gangster style images.

• Stylized image of a girl in the spirit of the era of gangsters from Chicago. A boa, a headband with feathers, a careless string of pearls on the chest and gloves to the elbow are essential elements of the Mafioso's girlfriend.

• Real gangster wife wedding dress. Spectacular manicure, a fluffy snow-white hat with a flower, a dress with an embroidered bodice and puff sleeves - this bride looks truly luxurious and expensive.

• Gangster girls were not always allowed to come to the fore. A simple silhouette of a dress with a laconic belt at the waist, stockings and shoes made up a casual look that was strikingly different from the look of a brilliant beauty.

• Virginia Hill, one of the most influential ladies in the gangster world could afford and deep neckline, and curls, and carelessly thrown over the shoulders of fur. Her self-confidence is evident even without these attributes of the era.