#ICONIC The Zoot Suits

  • zoot suit story history

The “Zoo Suits” are the costumes that bad guys usually wore in gangster movies from the 40s and 50s. These were also an icon for the hipster Mexican-Americans, who adopted this oversized style as a symbol of freedom and expression due to the discrimination and racism they suffered for belonging to a lower class.

These garments were banned in “Los Angeles”, which caused riots during the Second World War, as it was a way of identifying with an anti-system movement.

It was an element of luxury for its high tailoring work, and because of that it was a sign of rebellion as they wanted to show that they could also wear expensive clothes. They used to wear it along with pocket watch chains.

Written by Adrián Lorca

Spain