Does social media influence how we dress?
In short - yes!
Recently, TikTok has been awash with videos of influencers showing off the so-called 'mob wife aesthetic', which is a good example of how online trends can influence our behaviour. But this exists far beyond the realms of fashion - the things we see on social media can shape our tastes, interests and opinions.
So if you've been wondering what the 'mob wife aesthetic' trend is, check out this short clip from Reliable Sauce, a tv Sounds podcast.
The mob wife aesthetic kind of typically looks like fur coats, fur jackets, animal prints, big loud hair, glamorous eyeshadow, gold jewellery is heavy. Maximalist.
So I got in touch with Depop. I asked them if they've seen an increase in search for the mob wife trend.
Leopard print outfits.
I'm going 25%.
213%.
Gold hoop earrings.
50%.
70% increase in gold hoop earrings.
At least people are going to second hand, I guess. But those numbers are wild
What is 'mob wife aesthetic'?
The mob wife, a woman whose husband is usually part of an organised crime gang often known as “the mob”, is a popular figure in film and TV, with Karen Hill, Carmela Soprano and Connie Corleone all serving as big inspirations for TikTok's latest trend.
The 'mob wife aesthetic' is characterised by wearing lots of black, as much leather as possible, big fur coats and gold jewellery.
The trend has drawn criticism from certain sections of TikTok, who claim it is an example of cultural appropriation.
Does TikTok influence our behaviour?
As discussed in the clip, this trend had led to huge spikes in searches on Depop for items indicative of the 'mob wife aesthetic', with the number of searches for some items increasing by 213%, showing the influence that online trends can have on real world behaviours.
Learn more about whether social media is biased or balanced and how this can influence our opinions.
You can get more from Reliable Sauce, Bitesize and tv News on tv Sounds.
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