It's a myth that John Gotti’s downfall was because of how he dressed. Gotti was brought down from telling his entire life story on tape. The Chin on the other hand eventually fell even though he dressed in a bathrobe and slippers. The public is more forgiving when a mobster has class. Many mob bosses died free men even though they dressed sharp. Grant it was before RICO, still, it had absolutely nothing to do with their attire. People making excuses for dressing like bums need to stop. Mobsters need to blend in and infiltrate the upper crust of society. What respectable politicians and businessmen are going to sit with a mobster dressed like shit? Discuss.

Pictures in the 1940s and 1950s shows these guys mostly insuits often with fedora type hats
Even earlier
And yes,they probably wanted to fit it with the businessmen and politicians and other upper crust people rather that rely on committing street crimes

Back then if they were together at a crap game or social club,they probably dressed more casually but not in ripped jeans an a T-Shirt or a baseball cap turned backward

Somehow they managed to dress well and still not get exposed as being part of a criminal society for many years

I think rich people including politicians these days often are associating with people dressed like bums as long as they have some kind of reputation or fame or wealth and can influence large followings.

All we ask is for modern day mob guys to dress respectably. Wear clothes that are clean and stylish and considered nice casual or formal depending on the occasion.

If you are heading down to your social club, jeans or dress shorts are acceptable but make sure they are pressed and fit you well. The style of shirt that should be worn would be a nice shirt with a good fit, preferably a button down with a collar or a polo.

Shoes also are very important so make sure you choose a pair that goes nicely with your attire. If wearing shorts a nice pair of loafers (No socks please!)

Also facial hair should be well kept and trimmed if you choose to not be clean shaven and haircuts should always been short and styled well to fit your facial profile. Monthly Manicures, pedicures, and daily showers before venturing out in public (morning and night) are a habit that every mob guy should value along with a good quality cologne and teeth whitening. You can easily buy teeth whitening products on Amazon or get treatments provided by your local tanning salon.

Invest in an actual tanning membership as well if you don't live in a state that provides you warm weather year round. Everyone looks better with a tan. Gym memberships should be a requirement also in my honest opinion.

Jewelry is subjective but a simple addition such as a nice watch doesn't hurt either and in my opinion is a must. Bulova, Rolex or Movado.

Don't forget the 1st Commandment of Mafia sartorial splendor according to Carmine Lupertazzi:
A Don doesn't wear shorts ! '

Joey Merlino wears shorts and has for years down in Florida. The shorts thing is an old school way of thinking that goes way back to the early 20th century and does not really apply anymore.

Now jean shorts for example? Fuck that , no fucking way would that ever been acceptable! But a nice pair of dress shorts in the middle of summer in South Florida on say the golf course or hanging out socializing at a local restaurant during the day? That is in fact acceptable.

Most shorts are flambé tho.

I'd say that it's a shame the classic "sharp dressed man" has gone out of style. For instance, many politicians these days - not most, but definitely a growing amount - show up at debates dressed in hipster attire. For what it's worth I do feel when you show up in a high stakes setting where important decisions have to be made, showing up in a suit should be mandatory. And it's time three piece suits get back some of that respect they deserve.

In my opinion you can also dress well in tracksuits. Some people may find them tacky, but there are some stylish high end tracksuits out there. The Sergio Tacchini velour collection is based.

OK.but I draw the line at twirling sausages like stripper tassels.

Agreed 110%

I agree; in my country there are mayors who show up with blazers and graphic t-shirts and jeans underneath to show they're "hip". Like Phil Leotardo would say: "Fucking nauseating!"

Same thing over here. We even have the head of one of the oldest parties who continuously shows up dressed in plain t-shirts during airtime national debates. We got zero-charisma politicians running around in basically all parties. I mean, I get why some far left party like the Greens would elect some "Jamal Ginsberg"-looking dork, but nowadays you got dweebs filling the echelons of every major party. No wonder the EU is in the sad state it's in. First of all, we need politicians who take a solution-oriented approach to real important problems and actually got in-depth knowledge about these problems. There are many economy- and security-related issues that need the focus of our politicians, but instead you got way too many of them putting 90% of their focus on that "inclusivity" horseshit. And importantly, we need politicians that have the charisma and the authority to be able to sell the fact that they have sufficient in-depth knowledge. And yes, that charisma and authority includes being a snappy self-respecting dresser. Who's gonna take you serious when you stroll around like some hippy bum? I sure as hell won't.

Anyway, $4 a pound.

The owner of the company I work for actually came out and said to me yesterday "I want you to represent me because you actually give a fuck about your appearance and dressing well."

Perfect example about being taken seriously in the way you dress.

The rest of the people here that dress like shit overheard it and the look on their faces it was like a dog with a tail between their legs. Fucking slobs but not my problem. You choose to dress like shit well that is just a reflection on just how fucking pathetic you are. Don't even get me started if I made the rules on dress code policy at work as these people I am not even sure if they would be capable of following it. I'll write out a few examples of what I would require.

1. Clothes must be neatly pressed. Jeans are acceptable but they must be dressy & well fitted and shirts (For men) need to have a collar.
2. You must be showered & clean and your hair styled before you start your day. A good cologne or perfume is also highly encouraged.
3. Clean shaven or well maintained trimmed facial hair.
4. Nails must be neatly manicured.
5. A tanning membership is highly encouraged. Everyone looks better with some color (male and female).
6. Gym memberships will be provided by the company. That way there are no excuses to be a fat slob.

I think that one of the biggest components figuring into the way so-called 'wiseguys' dress today has mostly to do with the era they find themselves in. They're dressing habits only mirror the larger population and the mindset in America today.

The average businessman, unless he is on Wall Street or operates from Park Avenue as a lawyer or top corporate official, generally does not dress in a business suit or even in dress slacks and a button down shirt. Say what you like about that, but it's just not the way it is anymore.

The average man or woman dresses much more casual today -- even when they go out to dinner in a nice restaurant. How many people in the finest of restaurants even wear a sports jacket nowadays? Not many! 90% of the finest restaurants in NYC don't even require a 'jacket' anymore.

....sign of the times.

I dress in a suit or sport coat when Im going out to dinner. Id feel
Funny not doing so.

I enjoy dressing up also...but the occasion has to call for it. Of course, at a wedding or other formal event I'm gonna wear a suit and tie. If I'm going to Manhattan for dinner at a top place like Delmonico's or the Bull & Bear Restaurant in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, then I would also dress my best. Or, if I think it's appropriate, I'd at least wear a sports jacket and an open collared dress shirt. Dinner out with certain friends or couples, etc.

But today, many of the finest dining establishments on Manhattan's Upper East Side don't even require a sports jacket (although I personally would feel underdressed not to wear one.) Dress slacks and shirt, dress shoes, etc. Thats how many people go today. I think they refer to it as 'smart casual.'

And I'm talking about top joints that are multimillion-dollar venues. Drop dead gorgeous Big Apple eateries that draw a celebrity and upper crust fine dining crowd, where the average tab can run $200-$400 or more per head for supper. These are not your average run-of-the-mill restaurants...The world changed.

In the outer boroughs like Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Long Island, etc., at top places, its even more relaxed.

You'll still see most people dress very nicely. They don't dress like slobs. But sports jackets and suits are generally a rarity, unless its a business meeting or some other type event.

Do I personally agree with it. Not necessarily. Like I mentioned, I enjoy dressing up. But this is today's vibe. Nowadays, to wear a suit or sports jacket to most places you'd stick out like a sore thumb and almost look inappropriate and stuffy.

PS: But no doubt, in years to come, they'll be a reverse trend. What do they say? "Everything old becomes new again."

Most everything in life is cyclical.

Oh trust me Ive been labeled as stuffy or snobby more times than I can count. But Ive also met some amazing women who I then dated by dressing the way I do and being in shape so it is what it is. Wearing a nice suit is a great way for a woman to feel comfortable starting a conversation with you and breaking the ice. It definitely works!

I just feel its better to dress nice than being a fuckin slob. No I do not wear suits 24/7 but I love wearing them, sometimes with a tie sometimes not. Just depends how Im feeling.

Do I feel that people need to wear suits to be dressed up? Absolutely not , but for me its just what I really prefer, especially in the evening.

One of the main appeals to the wiseguy world was their swag, their charisma, and how they dressed. Once they lost that, people lost interest. One commenter on an article once said to me something like, "why are you interested in this, they don't even dress cool anymore?" I personally will always have an interest in this subject, but nonetheless he's right.

I must admit though that the top guys still do take pride in dressing well. if you look at the top guys in Philadelphia for example they are good dressers. The Bonnanos also are very well put together.

I must admit that I prefer casual dress (sports jacket and slacks) for places like upscale restaurants,casinos,or clubs.
I tell my friends that if they see me in a suit, I'll be standing in front of a jury or a casket.

Sport Jacket and slacks is a good look! Nothing wrong with that!

They are criminals not models,the mob don't have a obligatory dress code.

Although Messina Denaro was always a fashion nut many oldtimers still dress like farmers lol.

As a mob guy you should enjoy the finer things in life and dress accordingly. You are representing an organization that commands respect. Put some effort in looking professional and presentable. You hold yourself to higher standards and your appearance should reflect that.

But even Riina is dressed better than many I've seen in recent times.

Goti's downfall was not the tapes, it was the government having a constant campaign against him. They had one FBI squad that went after him for years, and they let killers and drug dealers off in exchange for their testifying against him. With all that it took 3 separate trials and a biased judge to get him,

It was definitely the tapes. He forgot a very important rule, never bring up past murders. But there he was, yapping away about most of them.

In fact, he yapped away so much, that his tapes were made into an entire book, The Gotti Tapes, the man was a talking machine. He just loved to hear himself talk.

I think the whole "a Don doesn't wear shorts" thing has been taken too far and too literally. How someone dresses at the beach isn't the issue here. There are nice, classy shorts, and if you're physically fit it's even encouraged to wear shorts on occasion.

Agreed. Say a guy works legs twice per week, well hes gonna look good in shorts more than likely. Dress shorts are totally acceptable.

According to a pentito of the Caselesi there was some kind of dress code in prison all members wore designer clothes but the Zagaria faction wears Samsonite shoes while the Schiavones always wear Hogan shoes.