Lemme see that drape esse - authentic zoot suit pics

[Guttersnipe]

Love 'em or hate 'em, zoot suit were a fixture of the golden era - at least for a while - and had a significant cultural impact that lasts far past their hay day.

Here's some period pics I've found floating around the internets. Sorry for the, sometimes, poor quality. Everybody feel free to post pics of your own, but no reproductions please.

This one is pretty famous - and iconic, if you ask me!

Look at that bow tie!

 

[Guttersnipe]

African-Americans is zoot suits:

I know there was the so called "Harlem" style zoot suit. I'm not sure if any of these qualify as examples, but they sure are cool!

 

[Guttersnipe]

Don't feel left out ladies:

See girls got in on the action to!

It looks like this girl is wearing her fella's coat:

These ladies in this photo were identified as the girlfriends of zooters. They have a style unto themselves:

 

[Guttersnipe]

Tough times for the zooters

These photos are from the "yellow press" coverage of the "Sleepy Lagoon" trial and "Zoot Wars"

Sorry for the grainy quality, but what's really interesting here is this fella is wearing a striped t-shirt with his suit - very cool!

How to make a drape look not cool!

 

[thunderw21]

 

[thunderw21]

Is the zoot suit in any way related to the later Bold Look? Some of these zoot jackets look like the Bold Look, only longer.

 

[Guttersnipe]

Interesting point thundrew21

I honestly don't know the answer. But looking at some of these photos, it does seem like you can see a hint of the bold look's characteristic "wedge silhouette."

I think there is sometimes a tendency to think that fashion designers pulled the bold look "out of the ether" in 1946 so to speak, but if you look at Apparel arts from the '41-45 range, it seems to me, you can really see an evolutionary process going that direction.

Here's some examples of the drape influencing period pop-culture:

Art imitating life or life imitating art?

The nose art on a B-24E:

This guy's suit isn't exactly a drape, but it definitely has a zootish flavor:

 

[Matt Deckard]

Ol reeet!

Those are some sweet pics!

Hard to find pics of zoots... Those are all the same zoot pics I have.

 

[Mr. 'H']

This a GREAT thread!!!

:eusa_clap

 

[Mr. 'H']

See girls got in on the action to!

Ironically this is like what a female bank teller would wear today will working in a bank! :eusa_doh:

 

[John in Covina]

The details of the trousers on these guys are just great. I have to say I'd like a pair or two like these for myself.

 

[resortes805]

I can take a look and see if any I have any new period photos. Some of the ones posted (anything tinged red) are actually pics that I scanned years ago.

I recently picked up a series of vintage zoot suit advertising posters; I may be reproducing them for sale.

 

[Guttersnipe]

Here's some more images:

These two dejected looking guys just had their clothes slashed - probably by military personnel or police officers:

This a picture another, again, from the negative media coverage of the so-called "zoot riots," or "Sleepy Lagoon" murder. These are some of the many girls who were rounded up for questioning:

 

[Guttersnipe]

On a happier note:

The zoot suit meets the collegiate look:

Zooters cutting a rug:

Another dance shot (check out the guy in the striped t-shirt):

 

[Guttersnipe]

Look at the pattern on the jacket! I wonder what colors it is?

This is probably my favorite zoot suit picture I've ever found:

 

[Guttersnipe]

I'd love to see more photos, if you've them. What I've posted so far represents all I've ever been able to find in much internet goofing-off time. If you end up reproducing those advertising posters I'll buy on for sure!

I can take a look and see if any I have any new period photos. Some of the ones posted (anything tinged red) are actually pics that I scanned years ago.

I recently picked up a series of vintage zoot suit advertising posters; I may be reproducing them for sale.

 

[reetpleat]

Great pics. makes you realize two things. Firstly, the real zoot suits have very very very very little in common with the monstrosities made by certain companies that shall remain nameless, ones that claim to use actual patterns or patterns from real pieces. In their defense, perhaps, they may have used ones from much later 50s era zoot suits, which still existed kind of, and wre much more influenced by the bold look of the time, gaberdine fabrics etc. While the true zoot suiters of LA etc were wearing heavier fabrics and not such loos cuts. Over sized, yes, but snug around the torso.

The hter thing that must be realized is that while some tailors actually made and sold zoot suits, especially on the east coast, most Latino "zoot suiters" were wearing big pants pegged at the bottom, and dad's old suit jacket, narrowed in the waist.

From the looks of it, most of these jackets are not tailored long jackets. Not on the latinos anyway. And it stands to reason. Most were quite poor and even a used jacket was likely a sizable investment.

 

[reetpleat]

Oh, and as for the girl with the guy in the sweater, look at the buttons. Girl's coat. She is straight up pachuca for sure.

 

[Guttersnipe]

Good eye! When I found that I was trying to decide if I thought it was his or hers; I assumed it was his because the sleeves are so long. I totally forgot about the buttons!

Oh, and as for the girl with the guy in the sweater, look at the buttons. Girl's coat. She is straight up pachuca for sure.

 

[Widebrim]

Oh, and as for the girl with the guy in the sweater, look at the buttons. Girl's coat. She is straight up pachuca for sure.

Simón, you got that right!! And the ruca that is pictured with her man, too.