Gangsters prefer scoopers. Fashion gangsters and their fighting girlfriends: unsurpassed and flawless style of a razor blade

Gangsters prefer scoopers. Fashion gangsters and their fighting girlfriends: unsurpassed and flawless style of a razor blade
Gangsters prefer scoopers. Fashion gangsters and their fighting girlfriends: unsurpassed and flawless style of a razor blade

American gangster is an image of the same iconic as a cowboy. And although not a female thing is to organize crimes, there are quite a few representatives of the fine sex in history, which their lives proved the opposite. John Dillinger, Al Capone and Bagcy Sigel - names known to everyone. But did you ever heard about Stephanie Saint Claire or Marie Baker from the Panishki gang? Not?! So it's time to get to know them?

1. Bonnie Parker

With any doubt, the most famous woman-gangster in the United States of America, Parker became part of the Bonnie and Clyde cult crime duet. Both were reserved banking robbers; Their criminal activity accounted for the beginning of the 1930s - "Epoch of State Enemies".

Parker was born in the city of Roven (Texas), where she heard a smart and open girl. With Clyde Barrow she met in 1930. They quickly revealed each other, despite the fact that Parker was already married. The legend of Bonnie and Clyde arose not only because of the robbers and the murders they committed, but also in part because of the photo shoot, made them near Joplin (Missouri) - places where a couple hid from the law. These pictures still inspire writers and filmmakers to create interpretations of their life and death. Bonnie and Clyde died in a terrible shootout with the police in 1934. She was 23, he - 25.

2. Stephanie Saint Claire

In Manhattan, she was called "Quini" (English Queenie), and in Harlem she was known as Madame Saint-Claire. Saint Claire, African American by origin, emigrated from France in the United States in 1912. Ten years later, she opened his own business - "the game in the numbers" (the appearance of the underground lottery) - and began to protect his district violently. She testified against the corrupt cops, who charged payments from the business loaf, for which they were fired from the police. In addition, she prevented the seizure of power in his Mafios district from the business part of the city, which, after the end of the "dry law", decided to take possession of the bedrooms as a new source of income.

Thanks to its mainline (Note: A member of a gangster gang, whose function is to force to fulfill the requirements or enforcement of sentences) Ellsuworth "BAMPI" Johnson and the marriage union from Lucky Luciano Madame Saint-Claire managed to squeeze from Harlem Dutchman Schulz. She triumphantly when he learned that Schulz dies in a hospital from a gunshot injury, and decided to send him a note in which the famous saying was written: "What we sleep, they will get enough." When St. Claire moved away from affairs, her place was taken by Bampi, subsequently became famous as the "Great Father Harlem".

3. Opal "Mac-Truck" Long

Opal Long, presumably born in Texas, received the nickname "Mac-Truck" (Note: heavy cargo car manufactured by the American Mack Trucks company) Because of its large sizes (although in her face, it is, of course, no one called). She was a member of the gang of John Dillinger, where he got through his husband Russell Clark. Thinking from nature, Long, who preferred her name to be Bernis Clark, happily prepared and cleaned the house where the accomplices of her spouse, whom she considered their native family.

Everything went awry when her husband was arrested in Tucson (Arizona) on January 25, 1934. She first attacked the police who took part in the detention, and later begged the Dillager to take her money to hire a good lawyer. For this reason, opal asked to leave the gang. In the summer of the same year she went to jail. Long never kept evil on those who once replaced her family. In November 1934, she received a parmerial exemption. Opal lived her days in Chicago.

4. Helen Gillis

At sixteen, Helen Vazhzhinyak took the fatal decision to marry Leicester Gillis, a man who gained fame as a baby Nelson. For twenty years, she gave birth to two children and thanks to her husband fell into the list of state enemies, which were ordered "alive not to take." Helen herself considered herself a picker, and not a member of an organized criminal group, however, as it turned out, she was directly involved (along with her husband and his friend John Paul Chase) in a tough shootout with kopami, which occurred in the small town of Barrington (Illinois state) November 27, 1934 and led to the death of two policemen and the baby Nelson.

Gillis received an "honorable" place in the list of enemies of the state, saving his dying spouse from the persecution of the police. She gave up for Thanksgiving Day. Messaged to Chaise because of Nelson's death, Helen gave testimony against him, providing him with a lifelong conclusion. She died in the late 1980s and was buried next to his beloved husband, the baby Nelson, at the Chicago Cemetery of St. Joseph.

5. Mom Barker

Arizona Donney Barker (she is Kate Barker) heard a merciless woman. At the nineteen years of Arizona Clark married George Barker; They had four sons: Herman, Lloyd, Arthur and Fred. But the barkers were not a simple family; In 1910, they began to deal with larger roads.

Their criminal activity could not not attract the attention of the press and the general public of the Midwest. Fate ceased to be favorable to the barkers in 1927, when Herman committed suicide to avoid arrest. Shortly after that, Lloyd, Arthur and Fred fell into prison. The latter was released in 1931, and he, together with his mother, continued to commit crimes, which led to tragic consequences.

Arizona and Fred were killed on January 8, 1935 during the storming staff of the FBI of their shelter not far from Lake Weir (Florida). After the death of Barker, real discussions broke out regarding her place in a criminal gang. People who supported close relations with the family claimed that she did not play any active role in the criminal affairs of their sons, but John Edgar Hooker, who held the post of Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations from 1924 to 1972, responded about it as the very vicious, dangerous and the resourceful representative of the criminal world of the last decade.

6. Pearl Elliott

Pearl had close ties with John Dillinger and Harry Pierponton, nevertheless, she was not dependent or someone else a report. Elliott kept a brothel in a small town of Kokomo (Indiana); The institution was under the protection of the local police, which at the signal of the hostess immediately came to her help in case any client began to behave inadequately.

In the public house, Pearpontone was also hidden after a bank robbery in 1925. In 1933, for communication with Dillinger, Elliott fell into the list of enemies of the state, for which it was ordered to "shoot on defeat". She died at the age of 47 from a gravily disease - allegedly, cancer.

7. Gang leader "Pants" - Marie Baker

The name of the violators of the laws of Marie Baker, an attractive brunette with brown eyes and the habit of constantly carrying two guns with him, appeared in the headlines of newspaper articles in 1933 after a series of shopping robbers committed by the pantice gang, which received such a name because of the strange requirement that presented Her leader to sellers to sellers. When there were no visitors in the store, Baker took a weapon from his pocket and commanded: "Remove the pants!", After which it was poured loud laugh.

As wrote in Miami News, Marie ruined vanity. When Baker brought the marafet during the robbery of the meat shop, her owner took advantage of the case and slipped out of the hands of the criminal. Soon she was arrested. Subsequently, it turned out that in fact her name is Rose Durant. In prison, she served for three years; After the liberation, no one has heard anymore.

8. Virginia Hill

Famous as "Flamingo" and "Queen of the Gangster World", Virginia Hill was the mistress of the famous Brooklyn Gangster Baghi Siegela. It originated from the poor family, saying to everyone that the first pair of shoes she appeared only at seventeen years. At a young age, Virginia left a small town in Georgia, where she grew up, and went to conquer Chicago. She did nothing here. For a short time, I worked as a courier for the carriage of the Black Nala in Band Al Kapone, Hill went to Los Angeles to disclose his acting talent. Then she met Baghi Sigel, who became her lover. Later he opened a hotel in Las Vegas, which called in honor of Virginia - Flamingo. On June 20, 1947, Bagsi was killed in his own home in Hollywood, where he lived with Hill.

Virginia, by a happy random, was then left. She later claimed: "He loved her hotel in Las Vegas more than me. I did not even suspect that he was involved in all these dirty matters. I do not know why he was killed. " In 1961, Hill was found dead at one of the ski resorts of Austria. Presumably, she died from an overdose of sleeping pills, although many believe that it was a deliberate murder.

9. Arlin Brikman

Arling Brikman was born in 1933 in a Jewish family living in East Harlem. The girl since childhood idealized the lifestyle of Virginia Hill and decided to go on her footsteps. She traded drugs, worked as a percentage and collectors of bets in an illegal lottery. Jewish origin did not allow Arlin to advance in a criminal career, but she was not particularly and did not strive for it, because she was enough for money and power.

Many years later, after her daughter began to threaten the percentagers, Brikman became an informant. She helped her denunciations and espionage to keep behind the grille of Anthony Scarpati's extortionist and a few more of his accomplices.

10. Evelin "Billy" Frevest

Evelin Frevel was a devoted mistress of the famous criminal John Dillinger. She took place from a mixed family (the French and American Indians from the menomini tribe) were considered her descendants, attended a Catholic school and received a pretty good education. The girl could not find a job in his hometown for a long time, so he decided to go to Chicago. Immediately after her first husband was put in prison for the robbery of the post office, Frevel met a dillinger and joined his gang. The couple survived several terrible shootouts.

In 1934, Evelyn was arrested and judged for the harboring of the fugitive. She was given two years. When she came out of prison, the dillinger was no longer alive. In 1936, Frevel decided to tie with his criminal past and went to the lecture tour of the United States, which was called "the crime is never justified." She died of cancer at the age of 33.

ROSEMARINA - by material with

The term "Gangster" is mainly used in relation to members of criminal organizations in the United States, Italy, Latin America and other countries related to the dry law or with the American branch of Italian mafia. Before you - genuine criminal photos of the early XX century. Bright representatives of the criminal world and very colorful personalities ...

Snapshots of "American gangsters and mafia people" almost a century ago. All photos of the perpetrators of the beginning of the 20th century are made after the detention in the interval from 1920s - 1928.

Mother Gangster Wedley Moore from Chicago nicknamed "Inquisitor", answered the execution of debtors and people who "stood on the way" from mafia. From the mark of the criminal case: it is extremely cruelty, does not compromise.

Putany, working on the mafia, during sexual proximity, lured valuable information from customers and "merged" to its criminal patrons.

The owner of the famous triton in his circles personally sent 7 people to that light - by poisoning. Motigned all the goal of robbery and profit.

MAFIA members controlling part of New York were responsible for workers' trade unions, alcohol and tobacco. Murders and armed raids were an ordinary craft of these "noble" men. Drove friendship with John Dillinger.

Mr. Sing is a mercenary and a wide profile specialist. He worked on the mafia, skillfully eliminated competitors, police and officials. He poisoned the unfortunate different poisons, according to the Asian specific

Gang leader of Chicago Gangsterov - Smith (bone hand) and his assistant Jones, engaged in a "loofering" of shocks with girls, gambling, drugs, robbeles of collectors and killings of rich Americans for the purpose of profit. In the note of the criminal case, it is said: possess the gift of suggestion of fear, very dangerous, they will kill without thinking.

This sweetheart lady got acquainted on the street with men, flirting and invited them to visit them on the "tea". Having gotten guests wine or tea with arsenic. I robbed and sold the stolen stolen htched stained, all right to the shoelaces of their victims.

The owner of the Lich Bar, on the outskirts of New York, Mrs. Turner, worked until the last client, and in the place with his assistant, was often killed in "cutting for meat" with the goal of robbery. In the mark of the criminal case, it is said: if you find out that you have cash with you, you are a corpse.

The man in the middle is the leader known under the nickname "Bloody Fletcher". On the account of his gang of gangsters a huge number of registered killings and kidnaps of people in order to redeem. The gang did not disappear to steal children, high-ranking officials and large policemen. In the note of the criminal case, it is said: together do not plant, exclusively on someone, are very dangerous and cruel, they can kill the models in the dispute.

A man in short trousers is a Chicago Mafia accountant. In prison, under the pressure of the police, repented, but immediately after, he was found hanging his almight. On the chest, a scratched inscription was concerned: "I said everything and silent."

And this is a fairly early period of photography. April 1865, Lewis Powell, patriot of the Confederation, accomplice of the murder of Lincoln, three months before hanging.

Smith is the senior ordinary fighters of the "Arrows" Mafia. In the note of the criminal case, it is said: it is characterized by the ability of suggestion, cunning and merciless to the enemies of the mafia, very much shoots.

The most dangerous, ethnic and cruel gang of two Farlane brothers. They were industrialed by robbery on the roads and in distant regions of states. Apparently earn nothing to do, as they go to ripped rags and leaky shoes.

Prostitutes thief. Speed \u200b\u200balcohol customers, shaking the contents of their pockets. We worked on the mafia, the most valuable and chatty clients were transferred to the crime.

Prostitutes Mafia Madrodies. I got acquainted with rich customers in restaurants, they began to turn novels with them, after that, the novel ended the bloody slaughter with theft of all the contents in the apartments "Mount Lover".

18-19 Summer confused, from the tritons, were engaged in theft, not creating.

Large mater gangsters from Chicago. Not once covered by the police a gang of John Dillinger. Oversaw workers trade unions and gambling. Testernly engaged in prostitution, armed robbers, "loofering" of businessmen and drug dealers. Two on the right - these are two brothers, they became famous for the fact that they were scored by the meat hooks of an informant of the police, after hanging on a central street with a table on his chest: "He spoke a lot and all the wrong people." In the mark of the criminal case, it is said: very dangerous and ruthless, despite courtship and intelligence.

Famous gangsters from Chicago. No matter what they did not go, robbed collectors, bank branches, jewelry stores. The main feature: killed everyone, not leaving witnesses.

The thief is a single, climbed onto the first and second floors to the apartments of the victims, stifled and endured all the valuable apartments. Why photographed in the toilet and remains a mystery. In the note of the criminal case, it is said: a first-class climbing and a fool.

Materia Cutter Fitch, under the nickname (smooth) from Chicago. He worked on the mafia, mining, for its dark cases, stolen cars. Also, stole cars with subsequent sale on spare parts.

Ross - lawyer Mafia, under the nickname "old man." I didn't want to testify for a long time to testify on members of the major grouping of Gangsters from Los Angeles, but after testimony on its members, all his family was found dead in the city center in their home. A month later, he was strangled by the models during sleep. On the chest was scarcely inscription: "I just loved to chat a lot."

Offended wife. After she found out that her husband repeatedly changed her, applied to the unbelievable "Gestapo torture", although it was still particularly and did not smell. He drank her husband to unconscious, filled the bath with boiling water and "brewed" to death. The husband died, so really and without realizing the same thing. She herself came to the police with the opposite and told everything.

Faithrill - small thief, hacker. At the time of arrest it was 16 years old. After the deadline came on the steal again in 1928.

Mr. Falenya - first killed the first wife, served. After married again and killed the second. In the book of Records, Guinness never fell, although the desire probably was.

Sydney Kelly, very dangerous gangster from Los Angeles. Worked closely on the mafia in other states. On his account: custom murders, armed attacks, drugs and pimp. I knew and did unproved business with John Dillinger.

Grassi and Dalton are very serious "colorful" gangsters from Los Angeles, entered the elite of American mafia. We were engaged in workers' trade unions of factories and factories, gambling, hippodromes, finances of mafia groupings. They did not disgust personally kill the caught punching or competitor.

"Disclaimers" from businessmen and mafia debtors. Engaged in the presence of money, health and sometimes lives of debtors. In the note of the criminal case, it is said: very dangerous, possess the gift of the belief and hard psychological pressure.

The stolen burner, worked on the mafia. I missed all the prostitutes and thieves for the purpose of resale.

Thief is a househpan. Brew and if necessary, killed the owners of housing. In the note of the criminal case, it is said: Very Chiter, deft, loves prevents peaceful patients for the effect of pity.

Little Schmidt is a sleepwear, thieves. He worked on the mafia, was a courier to transfer valuable notes between shops and tritons. When capturing police, instantly eaten valuable notes with instructions.

Mr. Skkerman - engaged in a scam with securities and fraud in the ports for the mafia.

Twenty-year-year-old store of shops and residential buildings. On his account theft in houses and shops, pocket theft and rape. In the note of the criminal case, it is said: Personal, Hiter is particularly dangerous, leaving and panic.

Murray - apartment theft, househop. The peculiarity of this character is that all the extraction descended to drink and prostitutes. So did not have time to get rich for its weaknesses.

Vera is the thief, the challenge. He entered the trust, to the tenants of apartments, leaving the new neighbor, while carefully obscured their accommodation. He participated in robbees with mafia in jewelry stores, took the "maneuvers on distractions" during robbery.

Walter Smith is the most dangerous gangster, the thunderstorm of the street. In the specifics, which were street disclosures and custom murders from mafia. I did not like the weapon, killed people with bare hands, carefully turning the heads to them as roosters in dark alleys. In the note of the criminal case, it is said: very dangerous, there are bright pronounced sadistic inclinations, it can bite, the feeling of fear is missing, sit alone.

Ellis - authority in a gang of Chicago gangsters, a pet favor. He was engaged in the organization of crimes, incited accomplices to commit crimes, fully controlled the divide of production. In the mark of the criminal case, it is said: especially cruel and dangerous, outstanding leadership qualities, do not tolerate the police and the law.

Lucky, he is also Charles Luciano American criminal of Sicilian origin, one of the leaders of organized crime in the United States. The list of his crimes was a racket, robbery, drug trafficking, the organization of underground gambling houses, sanguage, smuggling and many other types of criminal activity. Luciano was the strongest intellectual of the criminal world.

Al Capone
Full name: Alfonso Gabriel Capone
Nickname: "Big Al"
Birthplace: Brooklyn, US New York
Date of birth: January 17, 1899
Date of death: January 25, 1947
A powerful crime wave, overwhelming America from 1924 to 1936, gave rise to Al Capone - "Boss Boszov" of the criminal world of the United States, the leader of the largest and most powerful criminal organization "Goz Nostra" in the world, translated "our business."
Al Kapone has grown smuggling (bootlegism) by sanguits and gambling business.

In the early years, he began the bouncer had a greater physical strength to which he often resorted! He received his famous scar on his face in a stabbing with the criminal Frank Galucheo. Al I was very fortunate enough and therefore everyone told everyone that he received the scar in the First World War in the "Lost Battalion". Although historians argue that he was not in war! Al Kapone pushed his Bosa Torrio taking his place.

With Alcapone, the war between gangs and elimination of competitors acquired an unprecedented war. Several thousand fighters flew! The practice of eliminating unwanted elements for the mafia included grenades and explosions of machines. Alya suspected at least 2 murders. He said he participated in the "Boyne on Valentine's Day" when the bandits changed into the police shape shot near the walls of their competitors thinking that this is a police cloud!

Alcapone was always under the supervision of the authorities and all his illegal money could not spend nonimea income for this, he opened the laundry network, for the financial then whom will not keep track of them in connection with their large attendance from the need and low prices, so it was easy to wash money through them. He is credited with the words "it's just a business! Nothing superfluous!"

In 1931, Kapone was put in prison for 10 years for non-payment of taxes. 1934 he was transferred to the famous Alcatrass prison. went out after seven years from him.
On January 21, 1947, Capon had a stroke, after which he came into consciousness and even went on amendment, but on January 24, he was diagnosed with pneumonia. The next day, the cappone died from the head of the heart.

John Torrio
Full name: Giovanni Torrio
Nickname: "Pope Johnny"
Place of birth: Chicago state orinis
date of birth: January 20, 1882
Date of death: April 16, 1957 (75 years)
Known as "fox" because of his subtle mind and diplomatic ties. Torroio One of the founders of the "Chicago organization" began to work by a doorman and bouncer. Soon I had accumulated money and opened my billiard room. Where it fell its beginning to illegal play business, prostitution and bookmakers.

He took to her al Kapone to work in Chicago since that there were friction with the law! Al became in the brothel, and after the manager of his brothels, and soon after the shootout, Johnny had to move away from business and Al Capone replaced him.
After the adoption of the "dry law" in America, Johnny understood which of this you can take the benefits, by smuggling alcohol, his partner and relatives of Colozimo was against it, Johnny realized that he should be removed since he could prevent and in 1920, Kolozimo was killed.
Torroy was thinking about expanding the influence of his organization, but 2 more groups were ruled in the city and a shaky union was concluded between them. But soon, Dion about "Banayon the leader of the Northern Group deceived Johnny Torroy. Torrio ordered that Banayon killed. November 10, 1924 O "Banayon was killed. After that, the bloody war began. The bloody war began for several years. In this war in Johnny shot, but he survived, after he cured he sat down the year when everything came out of the affairs of Capon, he left himself in Italy himself .

In 1930 he returned to the United States and offered all major gang leaders to make criminal syndicate in New York combining all gangs. This proposal was made and he enjoyed great respect in the criminal environment.
In 1957 he had a heart attack, sitting at the hairdresser, waiting for a haircut. Johnny Torroio died a few hours later in the oxygen tent in the hospital

Enoch Johnson
Full name: Enoch Lewis Johnson
Nickname: "Naki"
Place of birth: Norfland New Jersey
Date of birth: January 20, 1883
Date of death: December 9, 1968 (85 years old)
A major politician from Atlantic City, almost openly the former partner of many famous gangsters. It is also famous for Lovelace and party lover. Nickname "Naki" received because of his own behalf. In 1905 he became a sheriff's assistant to her father. After took His post 1908, after him, the post of sheriff took his brother.

In 1911 he became the leader of the Republican party and Bosoma Atlantic City. He served as the main treasurer, director of the bank (many posts) as the leader of the Republican Party Naki was responsible for the election of several governors and senators.
At the time of the "dry law" in America, Atlantic City even more began to flourish in every bar and the restaurant were sold whiskey, everything was corrupt and in this city, the authorities made a relaxation for the sale of alcohol. Johnson had a percentage from each all-sold alcohol gallon in the city. Engaged in corruption, bribery.

Johnson and Capone on the Pier

Naki traveled in an expensive limousine, wore dear clothes, lived in the suite of the most expensive hotel "Ritz" (Ritz). He was generous to those who need that the townspeople loved in 1927, he entered the greatest criminal organization of alcohol and racketer traders, the so-called "big seed" (Kapone in her was therefore apparently we already know what will be in the continuation of the series). For what came under the closer surveillance of the Federal Service!
On May 10, 1939, he was accused of evading taxes. In 1941 he was condemned, he was convicted by 10 years of imprisonment. On August 15, 1945, it was conditionally relieved. Yes, and forgot to say, he always wore a red carnation, after his release he continued to wear her! Johnson died on December 9, 1968.

By the way ...
As in any activity, including criminal, gangsters had rates for certain types of services. For example, what was the gangster "Price List" in the 30s:
beating - 2 dollars;
Two baked eyes - 4 dollars;
broken nose and broken jaw - 10 dollars;
Ear gap - 15 dollars;
broken hand or leg - $ 19;
bullet in foot - 25 dollars;
knife wound - 25 dollars;
"Large work" - 100 and more dollars

Lo Piccolo was the boss at once two clans and controlled most of the suburbs of Palermo. He was wanted since 1983 - a few decades behind him was hunting, but no one was able to grab it ...

With arrest, mafiosi was withdrawn by one very interesting document - "Ten Commandments Goat Nostra" - an informal set of laws that each member of a criminal organization should follow. The document was kept in the leather portfolio among other business paper arrested.

The origin of the name Cosa Nostra is very simple - in translated from the Sicilian language, it means "our business." This criminal network, some defined as Mafia, acts on Sicily since the beginning of the XIX century, turning into a serious international organization at the beginning of the XX.

"Ten Commandments Mafiosi"

1. No one can come up and introduce themselves to someone from "our" friends. It must be represented by another friend.
2. Never look at the wives of friends.
3. Do not allow you to see the police in society.
4. Do not attend bars and clubs.
5. Your debt is always at your disposal of Cosa Nostra, even if your wife gives birth.
6. Always on the appointed meetings on time.
7. With wives it is necessary to handle respectfully.
8. If you are asked to give any information, answer truthfully.
9. You cannot assign money that other members of Cosa Nostra or their relatives.
10. The following persons cannot be included in Cosa Nostra: he whose close relative serves as a police; He whose relative or relative changes the spouse (spouse); The one who behaves badly and does not keep moral principles.

However, the laws of the criminal world assumed not only a certain code of honor and behavior, but also demanded compliance with the special dress code.

Gangster style clothing is traditionally associated with mafia clans operating in the United States in the 20s, 30th and 40s of the XX century. The term "Gangster" today was essentially an anachronism. This word has a very clear subtext associated with a certain period in history, and, by itself, not only a special meaning, but also a special style. Without a doubt, representatives of the criminal elite of those years can be safely called the legislators of the highest fashion. After all, as it is neither paradoxically, Mafia was a real bond.

Since 1920, many magnificent criminals appear in expensive costumes and sound names. Among the most famous representatives of this dangerous profession were: "Person with a scar" - Al Capon, Charles "Lucky" Luciano, George "Bugs" Moran, Jack "Legs" Diamond and Arthur "Dutchdian Schulz" Phlegnheimer. Charles "Handsome" Floyd and Lester "Kid Nelson" Gillis are added to the thirties. And finally, by the 1940s, Benjamin "Bugsy" Sigel joins the brilliant company.

Stitched to order costume is key to gangster. In his book "Inventing the enemy of the Society: Gangster in American Culture 1918 - 1934", writer David E. Ruth (David E. Ruth) argues about the fashion clans of the times of the dry law: "Gangsters become avid consumers who invest a lot of time and exorbitant expenses To always stay on the edge of fashion ... "

Tasteful furnished apartment, new luxury car, diamond rings, unchanging diamonds on a barrel for a tie, elegant belt buckle ... fifty suits, twenty five pairs of shoes ...

Choosing the material of the costume, Gangsters preferred smooth fabrics - no tweet or thick English wool! No "careless", or "tired", elegance, in the spirit of Prince Wales Eduard VIII, who was the legislator of male fashion on the other side of the ocean. As for the color, mostly it was the shades of blue, brown or gray. Black smooth matter in a small vertical strip with a noble silk brilliance was not less popular.

The costume was a classic twoy or three-breasted jacket. Is it worth saying that the landing on the figure should have been impeccable, shirts - perfectly smoothed, and shoes - studied to shine.

Shirts could be monophonic (often quite bright color) or in a thin strip, often with a white collar and cuffs. Ties for the most part were tacked dark, but with an indispensable impact of shiny fiber. In special cases, the tie could be replaced with a laconic butterfly - as a symbol of exceptional chic. As for hats, then in the wardrobe of all worthy gangster must be a hat. At number one - Hat-Fedor, she is "Borsalino" (by the name of the Italian company, producing the highest class hat from the middle of the XIX century). The classic form of BORSALINO (headdress made of soft felt, accused once with a ribbon, with soft fields and three dents on the Tulier) is inextricably linked with the image Al Capone. Today Borsalino is not only a thriving cult brand, but also a nominal word included in the intelligent dictionaries. Most of the branded boutiques of this brand focused in Italy.

  • Coordinates: www.borsalino.com.

Continuing the list of points of the "Gentlemansky Set", one should definitely mention the legendary perforation shoes - Brogia (from the English. Broguing - brazing, that is, punching holes in the skin). As a rule, the top of the shoe type "Bog" consists of several elements. A characteristic feature is a cutting sock of various configurations.

Also among the required elements of the costume - cufflinks in shirt and pins for a collar - without fail with a shining diamond. Next - a fake handkerchief in the bad pocket of the jacket, and, finally, the final chord is an unimaginable expensive pocket watch on a massive chain.

One of the most elegant and spectacular representatives of the irrevocably left era is the notorious Chicago Gangster Al Capone. Even 70 years after his death, biographers speak about him as the most stylish mafios of all time.

Such a reputation of the cap is formed precisely thanks to its luxurious costumes. A typical Gangster image was made of a chic blue triple, lined with a canary-yellow or green silk shirt and a white or cream-colored borsalino hat. The ensemble was complemented: silk tie and handkerchief, Italian (certainly underwear) gloves, pearl gray leggings and platinum with diamonds chain for hours. The image of a coat of fur with a raccoon, a ring with a diamond cost of $ 50,000 and a size of 11.5 carats, and, of course, a large cigar.

Caucon costumes have always been flawless. When the best of them cost $ 85, Capone could book twenty at $ 150 per piece. His wardrobe numbered over one and a half hundred costumes and the same number of pairs of shoes.

Too attractive and even more dangerous gangsters chose their respective companions. Femme Fatale or "Rock Woman" - the most suitable phrase. The companions of professional criminals even got their name - Gun Moll (Gangster Moll), which can be literally translated as a "combat girlfriend".

This term entered the source in the first decade of the 20th century. The etymology of the word "Moll" goes to the XVII century, when so called prostitutes and thief pockets. Nowadays, "Moll" refers to slang - a word characterizing women of free sexy morals, as well as girlfriends gangsters, surfer, bikers and rock musicians.

It should be noted that most of the wives of Mafios were the ideal keepers of the family hearth and did not have anything in common with impartial epitats to their address. This is due to the fact that the concept of "family" for immigrants from Italy has always been a key value.

The ill-fated "dry law", in 1919, stunning America, as it is known - gangster groups intensified in the country, which produced bootlegracy.

"Ruppie twentieth" or "golden twentiets" rolled around the world, proclaiming the insane era of beating through the edge of energy, filled with sex, alcohol, and jazz.

And, if for Europe this time was marked by the desire as soon as possible to forget all the burden and deprivation of the First World War, then America, without any good reason, was filed in all serious.

Women's fashion was appropriate. The twenties gave rise to a universal collective image of a woman who received the nickname "Torvan" (La Garçonne). In America, a generation of fashionable emancipated, enjoying the lives of women, leading themselves freely and was chopped, called Fleps. One of the meanings of the word "flapper" in conversational English is a girl who is a windy special, shaking, without much moral obscures.

The beauties of the crazy decade in a single impulse chose a new image for themselves. Cut short haircut, straight silhouette of dresses, long (up to two meters) thread of pearls or rhinestone, twenty-salted mouthpiece in hand with blood-red manicure. An indispensable tin "Bell" and a coat just below the knee with a mandatory fur collar. The makeup of the 20s is thrown and dramatic: dark-red lips, a thin arc eyebrows, an in-theatrical expressive eyelashes, dense smoky shadows and finally - black, like coal, eyeliner.

The length of the skirt is not in the example of the former times rapidly shortened, and by 1925 he climbed the knee above. Light flowing fabrics have entered the fashion. Decorations for evening dresses served feathers, glitters, flowers, embroidery, as well as finishing with a long fringe, which created spectacular waves during dance. Miniature handbags equipped with a small mirror inside, first of all, performed the functions of cosmetics.

On Thursday, on October 24, 1929, the lamb of the New York Stock Exchange was ended with the insane twenties. The film "Lulu" (with Louise Brooks in the lead role) noted the end of the era of silent cinema and the beginning of the "Great Depression".

The squeezed luxury and ease of being in the spirit of "Fleple" lost the place of new elegance. The female ideal gradually lost the features of a carefree adoleune and cheerful worldview. Now fashion is focused on a more mature feminine image. "The symbol of the fashion of the era of the crisis was long skirts, which sharply crawled down immediately after the collapse on the New York Stock Exchange." Extravagance re-gave way to the classic, whose name is "neoclassicism."

With the filing of Goliwood kinnodiv 30s, among which Gin Harlow, Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Carol Lombard and Mei West, became incredibly popular with the style of "Glamor", who received the name "Odeon" in France.

An ideal appearance had a woman with a slender figure, narrow waist and hips, a small breast, permanent twist on clarified hair and a slight makeup with a bright-scarlet lipstick.

Evening and cocktail dresses in the 30s were certainly long - with a deep neckline or open back, with numerous drapes and folds. Along with representatives of the aristocratic elite and bohemia, this image has chosen and the brilliant companions of Gangsters.

In the 20s and 30s, the sewing industry of finished clothes only gained momentum. The concepts of "obsession with fashionable brands" simply did not exist, because most of the clothes sewed to order. And yet there is one cult brand, to which the most demanding representatives of the criminal world feed a special thrill - this is the oldest American manufacturer of men's suits - Brooks Brothers. It is no secret that many gangsters preferred to dress for them.

The company is based on Manhattan in 1818 as a family business. Her credo sounded like this: "Making clothes from the best materials, its sale at adequate value, and cooperation only with those people who are looking for and appreciate such clothes." As a logo, a golden rune symbol was chosen - sheep-suspended on a ribbon.

Today, Brooks Brothers network has over two hundred stores in the US and 70 in other countries of the world. The oldest flagship store has not changed its address for almost two centuries - he is at Madison-Avenue. By the way, in addition to the sewing of exclusive costumes, the Brooks brothers are also engaged in the publishing house of the books on etiquette and style for ladies and gentlemen.

  • Coordinates: www.brooksbrothers.com

Unreleased people call Brooks Brothers conservative brand. But it is absolutely wrong. Throughout its history, the company introduced all sorts of innovations to the clothing market. Of the most significant - the collar on the buttons proposed by John Brooks in 1896. In addition, Brooks Brothers introduced a European novelty into American fashion - pink shirts, which for 1900 has become a real sensation.

An interesting story is related to the costumes of the black color, which brothers Brooks have not been released from 1865 to 1998. There is a bike associated with US President Abraham Lincoln, who was shot dead in the theater bed, being in black fruce, sewn to order tailors BB. And, if you believe legend, it is from that day in the company arose taboo on black suits. However, fashion historians still can not fully understand: whether it is in reality this is the attitude towards the death of the president, or is the entire thing in the traditional American fashion rules. After all, in the daytime, black costumes were worn only by representatives of the service personnel and dead.