Who wore the zoot suit?

In Los Angeles during the 1930s and 1940s, zoot suits were mostly worn by poor and working class Mexican, African American and Jewish youth. These tailored outfits had broad shoulders and cinched waist pants that tapered at the ankles.

Why did people start wearing zoot suits?

With its super-sized shoulder pads, sprawling lapels and peg leg pants, the zoot suit grew out of the “drape” suits popular in Harlem dance halls in the mid-1930s. The flowing trousers were tapered at the ankles to prevent jitterbugging couples from getting tripped up while they twirled.

When did Chicanos start wearing zoot suits?

Zoot suit fashion found its origins in the urban black scene during the 1940s.

Why did African Americans wear zoot suits?

Zoot suits were reserved for special occasions — a dance or a birthday party. The amount of material and tailoring required made them luxury items. Many kids wore a toned-down version of the “draped” pants or styled their hair in the signature “ducktail.”

Are zoot suits still illegal?

In Los Angeles, California, it is illegal to wear a zoot suit under the claim that they are “unpatriotic.” In the 1930s and 1940s, zoot suits were all the rage predominantly among young Black men and Mexican-American youth. … While women would be fined up to $500 for donning the straps, men could be fined up to $1,000.

Who wore zoot suits in ww2?

Zoot Suit Riots, a series of conflicts that occurred in June 1943 in Los Angeles between U.S. servicemen and Mexican American youths, the latter of whom wore outfits called zoot suits. The zoot suit consisted of a broad-shouldered drape jacket, balloon-leg trousers, and, sometimes, a flamboyant hat.

Did Italians wear zoot suits?

The flowing look of the suit was particularly flashy on the dance floor, and young people took note. … In the early 1940s, working-class youth, entertainers and dancers continued to wear zoot suits, and the look spread to Italian Americans, Jews, and even some teenage girls.

What does Pachuco mean in slang?

Definition of pachuco

: a young Mexican-American having a taste for flashy clothes and a special jargon and usually belonging to a neighborhood gang.

Who banned zoot suits?

The Los Angeles City Council passes a resolution banning the wearing of zoot suits in public, punishable by a 50-day jail term.

Why did the Zoot Suit Riots end?

The Zoot Suit Riots finally died down after June 8, when military officials banned all military personnel from Los Angeles and called on military police to patrol the city. The L.A. City Council subsequently passed a resolution prohibiting the wearing of zoot suits on city streets.