Suave  Suits & Silk  – Ties Hollywoods Best Gangsters

Over the last 80 years, there have been enough high quality gangster films to drive a number of popular sub-genres. The same principle can also be applied to television, where shows such as The Sopranos have also offered a unique and authentic insight into the fascinating world of life as a mobster.

From film and television to the realities of life as a mobster, gangsters are synonymous with style and impeccable dress sense. This is something that has been captured within almost all gangster and mob-inspired films, from those recorded pre-war to the contemporary titles that contain style and glamour with gritty realism.

With this in mind, here are three of the best dressed gangsters from the annals of movie history, including the following.

SAM ‘ACE’ ROTHSTEIN, CASINO (1995)

Robert-De Niro

While Robert De Niro has played a number of gangsters in his lifetime, his reprisal of famous mobster Sam ‘Ace’ Rothstein in the 1995 hit Casino arguably represents the pinnacle of his career. His clothing choices throughout the film embody the boldness and audacity of the character too, with the famous, slim-fitting check suit particularly eye-catching. Few actors could have pulled off this outfit and similarly spectacular combinations as effectively as De Niro, which only goes to underline the quality of the casting. A skilled actor who has built his reputation on the many successful films he has had a part in, can you name the casino movies?

JOHN DILLINGER, PUBLIC ENEMIES (2009)

The 1920’s represented a golden age for gangsters at least from a romantic and idealized standpoint. Alongside Al Capone, few mobsters embodied this period as effectively as John Dillinger, whose character was recreated by Johnny Depp in the 2009 hit film Public Enemies. The fashion from this period was also iconic, with Depp looking as dapper as ever dressed in a statement double-breasted overcoat with wide peak lapels, not to mention the immense and heavily padded shoulder pads. A titled fedora only added to the sense of dominance and mystique, with the essence of Dillinger’s commanding persona captured perfectly.

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MICHAEL CORLEONE, THE GODFATHER PART 1, 2 (1972, 1974)

While these two gangsters were incredibly well-dressed and had their essence perfectly captured on set, they would have to go a long way to match the striking, visual impact of Michael Corleone. Portrayed brilliantly by Al Pacino in The Godfather Part 1 and 2 between 1972 and 1974, Corleone was always impeccably dressed in minimal suits that helped to optimise his frame. With well-tailored suits that boasted modest, notch lapels, Corleone’s outfits reflected his calm and imposing manner that oozed understated menace from every pore. This enabled Pacino and his character to take centre stage at every turn throughout the first two films, even when stood alongside the explosive, all-action and attention grabbing Sonny Corleone played by the equally brilliant James Caan. In short, if you want to dress like a gangster and do it well, you would be well served by using Michael Corleone as a template.

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