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Wow-- Mugshots Used to Be Shot Like Fashion Editorials

By Rain Noe - April 2, 2013

in Fashion Design | Photography

Photo from Australia's Historic Houses Trust and The Sydney Justice & Police Museum

Photo from Australia's Historic Houses Trust and The Sydney Justice & Police Museum

Nowadays we use cameras, of both the cell phone and surveillance variety, to record crimes. But back when photography was a newfangled technology, the earliest application was merely to document what particular criminals looked like. The mugshot is still alive and well today, but like many things that are nearly 100 years old, the modern-day mugshot is a hell of a lot less classy than its original variant. (Think of Nick Nolte.)

Photo from Australia's Historic Houses Trust and The Sydney Justice & Police Museum

Photo from Australia's Historic Houses Trust and The Sydney Justice & Police Museum

Twisted Sifter came across these astonishing 1920s mugshots collected by Australia's Historic Houses Trust. Compiled by the Sydney Justice & Police Museum, most of the photographs are criminals' headshots side-by-side with a head-to-toe, with the long exposure giving the figures a ghostly quality.

Photo from Australia's Historic Houses Trust and The Sydney Justice & Police Museum

Photo from Australia's Historic Houses Trust and The Sydney Justice & Police Museum

Others are group shots, with some of the subjects apparently not enjoying their first time in front of a camera.

Photo from Australia's Historic Houses Trust and The Sydney Justice & Police Museum

Photo from Australia's Historic Houses Trust and The Sydney Justice & Police Museum

You can't help but be struck by the fashion and etiquette of the time—to order even a criminal to doff his hat was apparently considered ungentlemanly, and although these people were murderers, thieves and rapists, most of them took the time to put on a vest and tie on a tie in the mornings.

Photo from Australia's Historic Houses Trust and The Sydney Justice & Police Museum

Photo from Australia's Historic Houses Trust and The Sydney Justice & Police Museum

Is it me, or do these guys below look like they're on a modern-day catalog shoot?

Photo from Australia's Historic Houses Trust and The Sydney Justice & Police Museum

Photo from Australia's Historic Houses Trust and The Sydney Justice & Police Museum

Some of them just look straight-up crazy. Were this my cellmate, I'd probably not choose to break the ice by commenting on how high his pants were, even for the era.

Photo from Australia's Historic Houses Trust and The Sydney Justice & Police Museum

Photo from Australia's Historic Houses Trust and The Sydney Justice & Police Museum

And check out this joker:

Photo from Australia's Historic Houses Trust and The Sydney Justice & Police Museum

Photo from Australia's Historic Houses Trust and The Sydney Justice & Police Museum

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J K

11 years ago

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Nearly all Irish too. Australia took in so many Irish criminals at the time. I'm surprised they still allow them in.
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Deb K

11 years ago

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If you didn't know they were criminals, you'd think they were pretty hip!
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Paige

11 years ago

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Those ties are incredibly short. It's funny to see how long ties are now comparatively. I'm digging the guys' pose in the first picture. Very gangsta. ;)
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Tom

11 years ago

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For those in Sydney, the Sydney Justice & Police Museum is a wonderful little museum definitely worth a look. For some reason it is not well known to locals which is a shame.

Also, those are some very high pants.
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James Patrick

11 years ago

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That's boss. I guess a nice suit would be analogous to gold chains today. This actually seems more effective than having them wear a prison jumpsuit; you get to see what they'll look like if they escape custody.
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David Howard

11 years ago

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Intriguing photography and must say these are fine photographs documenting the criminal world. Nice post
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gustavo maia

11 years ago

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that's gangsta
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