Mick Gatto’s gangland style through the years
MICK Gatto’s style always tells a story, with his wardrobe a veritable gangster’s paradise of dress-ups and colours. Here’s a look back at the many guises of Gatto.
Behind the Scenes
Don't miss out on the headlines from Behind the Scenes. Followed categories will be added to My News.
UNDERWORLD figure Mick Gatto, has treated us to many style incarnations over the years. None off them are particularly trend or fashion driven, but all tell a story, with his wardrobe a veritable gangster’s paradise of dress-ups and colours. Here’s a look back at the many guises of Gatto.
EX BIKIE TURNS COURT WALK INTO CATWALK
A GANGLAND WIFE’S GUIDE TO STYLE
The Opera Singer, 2007
No, not the fourth tenor on his way to the Melbourne Arts Centre, just Mick walking to the Heidelberg Magistrates Court.
For performers like Pavarotti, the scarf is a practical accessory to protect their instrument, for Mick, it just adds an extra touch of gangster glam, hence why he probably opted for low key grey as opposed to Pav’s signature printed silk variety.
The film star, 2009
For the funeral of Des “Tuppence” Moran, Gatto channelled Keanu Reeves as Neo in The Matrix, wearing head-to-toe black, complete with a long woollen coat and wraparound sunglasses.
As we now know, the 1999 science fiction/action flick had nothing on the violence of Melbourne’s own Gangland War.
The politician, 2011
Without any background knowledge, you could easily assume that this picture is of a clean shaven political candidate on the campaign trail ahead of the poll, but you would be mistaken.
There was only one vote Gatto needed, and that was from the County Court judge to whom he was applying to get his drivers licence back after a drink driving violation.
The red power tie, often favoured by the pollies for the sense of ease and entitlement it conveys, totally worked and Gatto’s appeal was successful.
Like the pollies, Gatto uses coloured ties to tap into the psychology of public perception, choosing baby blue to denote calmness, trustworthiness and dependability (very Tony Abbott of him), clean stripes to display a respect for regiment and discipline, and even strays from the conventions of silver and navy to wear floral prints and paisley patterns which highlight luxury and nobility.
The money spinner, 2014
Mick looked every inch the (self) promoter and sponsor when he stepped into the ring for Anthony Mundine’s fight against Sergey Rabchenko at Hisense Arena in Melbourne.
The holiday maker, 2013
No, not a bogan dad from the ‘burbs who has won the lottery and taken his wife and the kids to Mykonos for the school holidays, just Mick crossing Spring St on his way to Parliament House in his best shorts and thongs combo.
The personal trainer, 2015
It’s a classic dad move: wearing tracksuit pants and trainers beyond the gym to give the impression of your ability to move quicker than Kevin Costner in The Bodyguard.
But what this genre of men so often forget, is that if their beer gut doesn’t give away their lack of athleticism, the stark white, hardly-worn, runners do. Here is Mick wearing his active wear, not for a workout, but to lunch at Villa Romano on Lygon St.
WHY AUSTRALIA HATED CHRISTOPHER SKASE
Originally published as Mick Gatto’s gangland style through the years