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The Zoot Suit culture began in 1943
as an African American youth fashion closely connected to jazz culture,
and was later adopted by Mexican American youth. Zoot suiters wore an oversized suit that was a statement
of defiance. This was during WWII, when fabric was being rationed for the war
effort, and in the face of widespread discrimination. The amount of
material and tailoring required made the suits luxury items. Many of the
men wore a toned-down version of draped pants and styled their hair in
the signature “ducktail.” They
wore cuffs, featherweight shoes, and ankle chokers. The LA press was hostile and depicted
the zoot suiters as
hoodlums. Fights erupted between zoot suit gangs and men of the armed forces (PBS).
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