TikTok has spoken, and apparently, we're in for a mob wife winter. Per the hundreds of videos that have suddenly popped up on the subject, the colder weather (and the 25th anniversary of The Sopranos) is the perfect time to indulge in a luxurious, over-the-top aesthetic and ditch the previously trending clean girl look for something bolder. Plus, it's really the only time of year that wearing a fur coat—which is extremely key to the aesthetic—makes sense.
Perhaps it's my Sicilian heritage or the fact that I've always been down for a tacky-on-purpose fashion moment, but I'm into this trend—however silly the name is. That being said, the whole head-to-toe Cavalli, teased hair, vintage fur thing can feel like a lot for a day at the office. And so, the best way to channel your inner Carmela, Adriana, or Ginger is with a mob wife manicure.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-51098323-0eeb53065bfc4ce8b4e8c968158733bb.jpg "The Mob Wife Manicure Will Unleash Your Inner Carmela Soprano (1)")
The Trend
While a deep red acrylic nail was the preferred look of Miss La Cerva, the quintessential mob wife nail look will always be an extra long, extra square, extra white French tip. It was the go-to look for Carmela Soprano, Elvira of Scarface fame, and, of course, the mob wife, Big Ang.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/icespicewearingafrenchmanicure-447e2b5deab14f60a14b766f3f81c43f.png "The Mob Wife Manicure Will Unleash Your Inner Carmela Soprano (2)")
After their reign in the early 2000s, French manicures were considered a mainstream fashion "don't" until they came back in style in the past five years. However, most modern French manis call for a soft almond shape or a micro-fine tip. The mob wife nail, on the other hand, is all about the square, chunky tip in a super-bright white shade (no milky French here).
It's a polarizing look for sure, but there have been a few celebs who have recently tried it out. Ice Spice is devoted to true Y2K aesthetics and has worn the style on multiple occasions, including to the VMAs. Kim Kardashian wore a Hello Kitty-charm encrusted long, square French manicure on a trip to Japan. Storm Reid opted for a gorgeous extra-long French mani for a recent event, and Lily-Rose Depp was recently spotted in a classic square French.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/lilyrosedeppfrenchmanicure-ecb12eaa5159498a93952ccc5dc72197.png "The Mob Wife Manicure Will Unleash Your Inner Carmela Soprano (3)")
How to Get the Look
The easiest and ultimately most authentic way to get the mob wife look is to head to the salon for a set of acrylics. Make sure to ask for a long length and sharp square tip. Also, a must is a classic bright white tip, though it's up to you if you want a traditional baby pink base or something closer to your skin tone.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/jasonbolden_1701976689_3252738682192321234_197605412-9fdeff3e10704b34a9f52e261fc2c4ab.jpg "The Mob Wife Manicure Will Unleash Your Inner Carmela Soprano (4)")
You can, of course, also opt for a set of press-ons for a similar look at home—a great option if you want to test the look before committing to it at the salon. The Nailest's square French set is the closest I've found to the right length and shape, and you can't go wrong with Kiss if you want to pop into the drugstore. Static offers an extra-long French manicure in a coffin shape if you want a little more of a modern take that's just as dramatic.
And, of course, if you somehow have extra-long nails naturally, you can always DIY the look at home. After prepping your nails, apply a base coat and allow it to dry. Once fully dry, add a piece of nail tape or Scotch tape where you want your tip to start. Remember: for this style, the bigger, the better. Then, use a true bright white shade to paint on your tip for the crispest line possible. If you want more of a curved tip, use a small nail brush to add white polish to the corners of your nails. Finish off with a glossy top coat, and you're ready to get started on your Sunday sauce.
