Robert de Niro’s suits in the 1995 movie Casino were the definition of Las Vegas glam. The movie was about the mob taking over Las Vegas. As mob boss ‘Ace’ Rothstein, De Niro had more than 70 costume changes to look the part. The suits were mostly custom-made by Giorgio Armani. Rumor had it that the designer himself had a hand in the pastel blazers and crisp collars, but costume designers Rita Ryack and John Dunn were responsible for Ace’s wardrobe. A whole range of accessories, from the gems in his rings to a stellar collection of sunglasses, went into completing the visual effect.
The sharply tailored suit
Las Vegas in the 1970s and 1980s was loud and flashy. Martin Scorsese wanted to reflect the excesses of the era in the wardrobe and had a huge budget to do so.
As the movie progresses, De Niro’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic, and his wardrobe does, too. The first suit he wears is a hot-coral suit jacket with a pink shirt and white flared trousers. From there on, each suit becomes more exotic than the one before. He wore a different suit in each scene, except for the first and the last.
The constantly evolving wardrobe throughout the movie reflects Ace’s rise and fall. As his world destabilizes, his style becomes flashier and more chaotic. If Ace were playing Vegas-style casino games today at an online casino, his erratic behavior would be a red flag. You need to keep a cool head and your emotions in check when playing these games.
The bold color choices
Ace has a penchant for yellow and full suits; pocket squares and ties in yellow crop up throughout the movie. Other colors he managed to pull off in the role were pastel pink, burnt orange, and mint green. Despite wearing these colors, he still managed to look sexy and dangerous.
The movie was so influential that department stores were filled with shirts and ties in bold colors for years after its release. The precision tailoring and bold color have stuck and still shape modern tailoring today. Designers still receive requests from clients to replicate some of the bold suits when they’re looking for classy outfit ideas.
The shirt-and-tie combinations
Casino may not be one of the very best Robert De Niro movies because he has been in so many good ones, but there is no doubt that his performance as Ace is one of his most visually stylish roles. In one scene, he wore a checked jacket with a gold silk tie. In another, he wears a checked suit with a burgundy tie and pocket square.
Ace matches his tie with his suit 29 times during the movie. The shirts were on the duller side, and the ties were made of shinier satin. In menswear shows since then, echoes of the shirt-and-tie combinations have been seen. Designers in the 2000s and 2010s were inspired by the style during the resurgence of maximalist menswear.
Mob luxury as an aesthetic
The gold jewelry, silk shirts, and designer accessories all contributed to the visual language of mob glamor. The grooming was immaculate, and expensive watches were a requisite. This ‘mob boss’ chic has seen echoes in hip-hop fashion and luxury streetwear. Gangster-inspired elegance is seen in the music videos of hip-hop stars.
The concept of ‘Power Dressing’
Today’s outfits more than ever tell a story about the wearer as they do in this movie. The bold styles from the movie continue to influence fashion 30 years after it was aired, showing just what an impact they made on the fashion scene. ‘Power dressing’ is still a very real concept today, and modern menswear incorporates retro-inspired tailoring. Luxury menswear campaigns will still evoke the old Vegas aesthetic when conveying wealth and charisma. The character of Ace embodied confidence through dressing, which is still a very popular concept today.
Vintage Vegas is timeless
The movie conveyed the Vegas style of the day so effectively that it still tends to shape how people see Vegas today. Many casino resorts, bars, etc., still borrow from the retro glamor seen in Casino. It wasn’t just another movie but a lasting reference point for menswear.
