Fashion Killas: When Did Crime Become Chic?

By: Arieza Maglalang Edited by: Bella Gallus

“Mugshot shawties,” Luigi Mangione edits, and the Bling Ring. All are outlandish pop culture references, but they share another uncommon denominator: crime. Even if the media recognizes this theme, it doesn’t stop fangirls from fawning over these people and granting them “icon” status. It surely didn’t stop Anna Delvey from being a New York Fashion Week guest, sporting her bedazzled ankle monitor. So the question is: is crime now chic, or are we just seriously misguided?

As a recent fashion week show guest for Christian Cowan, Anna Delvey attended as a fashion personality. However, much of Delvey’s fame can be attributed to her arrest in 2017 for multiple counts of theft related crimes. She resurfaced in the media in 2024 by being the celebrity contestant for the hit show Dancing with the Stars. During her two week run on the show, Delvey became known for putting little to no effort into the project but still garnering support and praise. 

Circumstances like Delvey’s make it clear that certain privileges are granted to certain people. Celebrities’ arrests often become idolized through mugshots rather than condemned. Recall Nina Dobrev’s mugshot, which received praise after she was detained due to a misunderstanding with the police. Another well-known example, which became a known internet reference, was captured on Keeping Up With the Kardashians, when Kim Kardashian was shown taking selfies when her sister, Khloe Kardashian, was sent to jail for a DUI. Famous model Jeremy Meeks even got his start from his mugshot circulating on Facebook. This goes to show the power of “pretty privilege,” as a person’s physical appearance plays a big role in how much accountability they face from the public, and is a contributing factor to this crime craze.

Another symptom of this concerning, internet-bred behavior is the unwavering romanticization of murders. The Menedez brothers’ idolization is a prime example of how parasocial relationships are being enforced. While some murder cases like that of the Menedez Brothers’s offer nuances, sexual comments seem entirely inappropriate and disturbing. This is evident with Tikok users consuming content and leaving comments on fan made edits that displayed attraction for the brothers. The most recent example of this is the swarm of fangirls that have come out of the woodwork to support Luigi Mangione,the prime suspect for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO. 

These behaviors not only put these figures on a pedestal, but display a lack of critical thinking when people consume media. Does the thrill come from watching others commit the acts instead? The Bling Ring (2013), directed by Sofia Coppola, was based on the true harrowing era of a teenage friend group that drove the media into a frenzy by robbing famous socialites such as Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. To this day, the cult following the movie speaks to the pull of glamorized crime. Keeping up with fictitious shows or movies still requires boundaries to be established to ensure a society still values safety and respect.

Factors like physical appearance or bold behaviors fuel the obsession with crime. It is clear that the media is misguided on how to have a healthy balance of ostracization versus glorification. When it comes to reform and reintroducing people back into society, support shouldn't come in the form of thirsty fan girling. This creates desensitization to some extreme crimes. With that being said, the verdict is in: popular media need to take a step back and realize how unhealthy their romanticization can be, and idols need to be chosen more selectively.

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