4. When Zoot Suits Were All the Rage
Zoot suits became fashionable and hip in American cities in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The outsized zoots had a distinctive look, with a long coat featuring wide lapels and broad shoulder pads, and high-waisted pegged trousers that were wide legged and tight cuffed. Pointy French style shoes, plus a watch chain dangling from the belt to the knees, then back to a side pocket, were de rigueur. Finally, a pork pie hat or fedora, color coordinated and sometimes featuring a long feather, completed the ensemble. Zoots were first associated with African Americans in Harlem, then crossed over and became popularized by Jazz singers and entertainers. In addition to African Americans, Zoots became hugely popular among Italian Americans, Latinos, and Filipinos. While also worn by many whites, the zoot suit’s “ethnic” origins and aura did not sit well with many of the straitlaced and traditional, or just plain racist.
