In his latest piece for Esquire, John J. Lennon explores the way inmates define their own personal style — wearing brands like Polo Ralph Lauren, Cartier, and Lacoste — in the joint. It’s a look at prison swagger and what it means.
EXCERPT
Dino Caroselli’s an old heist man from Brooklyn with mob connections. That’s him below, back in the early ‘90s in a jean suit, sitting on his Benz, gold jewelry dripping. A short time after that picture he pulled his last job, a stick up that spilled into the street and led to a shootout with cops. Dino took two slugs, one skimmed his head, the other hit his thigh; none of the cops were hit. He recovered and received 40 years. Along the way, he tacked on 30 more for an assault in prison. He’s nearly 70 now, with a 70-year sentence. Unless they change the sentencing laws to let out the elderly sooner, Dino will never get out. He still maintains his swagger, though.
That’s Dino again below, in the late ‘90s with a few of the fellas in the prison gym. Peep his Nike gear and Jordans. Jailhouse fresh. Under that is a photo of him at a recent Catholic festival in Sing Sing with his wife and other men with their families. He’s sporting Cartier frames and Polo Ralph Lauren.