Gangster

There are two types of "gangster":

1) A wannabe thug, often illiterate and an inhabitant of a downtrodden ghetto that hangs around in "gangs"; largely associated with the African-American subculture. These try-hard wanna be "gangstas" attempt to make themselves appear like real criminals by graffiting buildings, smoking/selling drugs and trying to looking all “macho". An utter degradation of what true gangsters represent and street wannabe "gangsta"-types don't hold a candle to what real gangsters are.

2) The real gangsters are those behind organised crime; most notably the Mafia. Responsible for black market trade, espionage, organised beatings/assassinations, etc. "The Godfather" portrays the archetype of true gangsters, showing the brutality of mob beatings, shootings, running rackets and abusing woman, alcohol and everything in between. The real gangsters should not to be confused with the aforementioned definition, commonly used as it might be.

Gangsters first originated in the 1920s and became the American icons of the self-made-man.  Expanding their organizations into illegitimate markets, namely racketeering, bootlegging, and prostitution, these gangsters live life by their own shady but strict code of ethics, but outside of the iron grip of the law.

1920s gangsters fashion owes much of its rise in the public's consciousness to the prohibition and the newspaper media's love affair with these criminal media darlings. Gangster and bootlegger "above the law" lifestyle brought money, fame, nice clothes, women, cars, and homes.

Quality, high fashion suits and expensive accessories were as much the calling cards of the gangster then as they are today. Gangster suits like those from Brooks Brothers (American), Brioni (Italian), or Gieves and Hawkes (English) would outfit image conscious gangsters and the tailored suit is key to the gangster's uniform.

Along with the flashy suit, the twenties also gave us the best dressed and most famous gangster of all time: Al Capone. Typical fashion for Capone: "The star wore a sumptuous blue suit, accented by a white silk hankie, pearl grey spats and diamond studded platinum watch chain."

Every famous gangster has a colourful name to go along with his fine suit such as "Scarface" Capone, "Lucky" Luciano, "Bugs" Moran (AKA Jack "Legs" Diamond), and "Dutch" Schultz.

The gangster suit has influenced today’s society with every businessman wearing a traditional suit to work.

The Influence of 1930s Gangster Suits