My VINTAGE ZOOT SUIT – c. 1940

[Benny Holiday]

I never thought I'd ever get to see an original zoot suit. Thanks a heap for posting those photos Marc, what a great find.

 

[Widebrim]

Wasn't it first a style primarily worn by minorities, until middle American teens got ahold of it (some things never change....)?

Although it's not certain who exactly invented the zoot suit (there are three main claimants), the style came out of the Harlem jazz scene of the late-1930s. From there, it drifted over to the West Coast, and caught on with Pachucos, with whom it really became a sign of rebellion. It later caught on in a limited way with White teens, and some sellers even tried to push it onto older men (Little Abner wore a zoot suit for a few panels).

European American zoot-suiters, Washington, D.C., 1942.

 

[YETI]

Wasn't there a Laurel and Hardy flick where they sported zoots?

 

[resortes805]

It was called "Jitterbugs."

 

[resortes805]

So I was planning on bidding on this suit, but alas I am pretty broke this month. Seller posted it as a 1920s suit; but it looks like a 1940s zoot suit to me.

 

[Gene]

One of those cases of love it but would never wear it!

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Although it's not certain who exactly invented the zoot suit (there are three main claimants), the style came out of the Harlem jazz scene of the late-1930s. From there, it drifted over to the West Coast, and caught on with Pachucos, with whom it really became a sign of rebellion. It later caught on in a limited way with White teens, and some sellers even tried to push it onto older men (Little Abner wore a zoot suit for a few panels).

European American zoot-suiters, Washington, D.C., 1942.

I recall reading somewhere that the zoot suit originated in Atlanta in 1939.

Wasn't there a Laurel and Hardy flick where they sported zoots?

Yes, it was called Jitterbugs

 

[Guttersnipe]

European American zoot-suiters, Washington, D.C., 1942.

I've always seen this picture ID'd as being taken in LA, during the "zoot suit riots", and the Caucasian guys as GIs trying on drapes taken off of zooters for the ammusement of their buddies. Note the fellow on the left's GI buzz cut and what appears to be a Army issue khaki shirt underneath the jacket.

 

[resortes805]

$78,000!
http://www.yehoodi.com/comment/174081/vintage-zoot-suit-auctioned-fo/

 

[Guttersnipe]

$78,000!
http://www.yehoodi.com/comment/174081/vintage-zoot-suit-auctioned-fo/

Is that for real? I've never seen anything like it. It's kinda awful...

 

[resortes805]

It looks like a costume for a production (Lil' Abner?), I really doubt anyone sported that on the streets of Harlem.

 

[Guttersnipe]

Okay, that makes sense. I was thinking it looked like a costume of some sort.