The flashy, designer logo-loving style of the early 2000s has regained its glory, thanks in large part to Gen Z's penchant for nostalgia and the omnipresent yakuza wife aesthetic currently dominating TikTok. I am. The latter trend is mainly manifested in wardrobes with bold jewelry and rich fabrics, but it's slowly but surely making its way back into our homes as well. This time, though, the focus is less on decorating a Tuscan kitchen and more on incorporating some gorgeous (and very maximalist) animal print motifs that you might find in a mob wife's closet.
Alex Bass, interior designer, art curator, and founder of art and design studio Salon 21, recommends dipping your toes into loud patterns and general aesthetics before going all in. It feels a bit luxurious,” she says. This allows you to lean into the mob wife trend while maintaining a more subtle and timeless touch, so the space doesn't feel too jarring and blends better with modern design choices. can.
Coincidentally, animal print has a rich design history and is incredibly versatile. “Animal prints evoke iconic eras such as the glamorous 1950s and the extravagant 1980s,” says interior designer Erin Richie. Much like the suburban mansions of our favorite gangster wives (hello, Carmela Soprano), these eras celebrated indulgence and sophistication, and that's what we associate with animal print today. .
Lindsey Davis, interior designer and founder of Blueberry Jones Design, says that apart from versatility, animal prints are meant to enhance a space with personality. “What I love about it is how it adds character to a room and makes even the most sophisticated spaces feel unexpectedly fun,” she explains.
Leopard and cheetah are the most iconic and obvious Mob Wives animal prints. And since most colors complement his palette and are very easy to decorate, they happen to be considered neutrals (as far as prints are concerned) in the design world. That said, zebra and tiger prints also work particularly well, especially when combined with saturated colors, luxurious textures (such as velvet or fur), and brass motifs. (If you want to try the yakuza wife look but prefer a more minimalist look, tiger is usually a good choice, says Lichy, because it's less crowded than leopard or cheetah print.)
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How to decorate with animal print
The décor of a gangster's wife's home tends to go in a flashy direction. For a more contemporary take on this style, Bass says focus on animal prints as statement décor. “Try to use the[print]as an accent rather than the whole[scheme]so it really creates its own unique moment,” she explains. This might be something like adding a leopard and brass table lamp to your entryway table, throwing some leopard cushions on your couch, or adding a small rug to your office.
Interior designer Sarah Latham of Latham Interiors says you can incorporate animal print in a more subtle, contrasting way, but leopard print alone can look a little too predictable. I say it might be. Instead, she recommends blending these patterns with other prints, textures, and bold colors (jewel tones are perfect) to make them more intentional and interesting. To take things up a notch, Davis recommends pairing animal prints for a super bold effect. “The key to making a mix work is to use patterns of different scales,” she says. “By reducing the scale of the leopard print and increasing the scale of the tiger print, they complement each other and the colors work well together.”
Whether you prefer leopard print mob wives or classic tiger stripes, there are plenty of ways to make the mob wife aesthetic your own this season. Here are some animal print pieces, from subtle to statement, to help you start your trendy journey. Products for carousel:
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