What Is the Definition of a Zoot Suit?
The rise and fall of the zoot suit in America most likely began in urban areas. The design of a typical zoot suit ranged from moderate to extreme. The toned-down version of the suit featured a short coat or “drapes” and wide ankle cuffs. The extreme version came with a long coat in variable lengths; this version called for narrow cuffs. After the zoot suit riots in 1942, the suit gradually fell out of public favor, however, vestiges of the old fad could be observed in the baggy pants and over-sized shirt styles worn in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
