Written by Nicholas Wolf
GoodFellas (1990) is arguably the pinnacle of mob films. The imagery that pops into your head is filled with crime, violence, Robert De Niro, and being a straight-up gangster. The film is based on the life of Mafioso Henry Hill but based in 1955 to 1980. What should also be catching your attention is the wardrobe, the fashion, the flair, and attitude. Characters donning big suits and leather is always a plus when talking about fashion. This film will always be a classic & continue to inspire me through fashion; I'll leave the crime part to someone else.
Discussing fashion and film wouldn’t be right without mentioning the ambiguous Henry Hill ( Ray Liotta ). His life aspirations of becoming a gangster are realized and with it the style of being a made man. He went from parking Caddy's to owning them. Personal style develops over time and Henry Hill was no exception. Henry was “cool” with the suits, aesthetic, and having a fly personality. Things that were popular during that time were over sized camp collars, nice suited jackets, and wool trousers which he sported throughout the move. It was either that or a nicely fit knitted polo with bootcut pants accompanied with boots or loafers.
Jimmy Conway ( Robert De Niro ) might have been the Uncle of the group, but the man had class when it came to his wardrobe. His fashion style fits his personality of being the true Wise Guy. This means he wore a lot of plaids, printed suits, and would wear these huge glasses. Jimmy always had a cigarette in his hand, which to him, was an accessory to a powerful presence. The off-white, earth-toned button-down plus a tailored printed suit is the heart of his look. Mix in minimalist ties, sometimes he switches up, and his essence is over the top. Once you add some hidden rage, you get the man, Jimmy Conway.
Last but not least, the short-tempered, time bomb, Tommy Devito. Tommy was not quiet, subtle, or gentle. He always thought someone was trying to disrespect him somehow and was ready to kill whoever looked at him the wrong way. His style was of a regular Italian during the time but it’s his personality that amplified his sophistication. Tommy's go-to is a plaid grey blazer, wide-collar button-down, wide black tie, black pants, and black dress shoes. This is such a classic fit that it sometimes gets overlooked, but it's classic for a reason. He tops it off with the pocket hanky which serves a double purpose: looking mode and cleaning off blood.