My VINTAGE ZOOT SUIT – c. 1940

[Wildblue]

That's really cool. I'm surprised how thin/tight the jacket is!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I knew these reminded me of something. I have a very similar pair of trousers in my collection, though they became less extremely pegged when I took up the legs. Still pegged, but not so much as originally.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

"We take great pride in making bewildering and outlandish garments that we think are ugly for people who can afford it." Think that would have worked on a billboard?

As the New Yorker magazine put it back then, "... the tradesmen who cater to sharpies pride themselves on filling every order and being surprised at nothing."


One advertisement (for "Solomon's Clothing Store" in Baltimore) said, "We know what you want, and we will make your suit to suit you."

 

[Widebrim]

Great find, Marc. Which leads to the question, where did you locate it?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Great find, Marc. Which leads to the question, where did you locate it?

At a vintage clothing store you're probably familiar with: RAGG MOPP, on E. Sunset Blvd next to Silverlake Junction. It was being sold as a run-of-the-mill vintage suit, and priced as such.

 

[Happy Jack]

I always thought of getting one of these "Zoots Suits"

If I found one ..I too would pick it up.. Another
part of Fashion History..though short lived


Hey wildblue.....COOL

 

[Widebrim]

At a vintage clothing store you're probably familiar with: RAGG MOPP, on E. Sunset Blvd next to Silverlake Junction. It was being sold as a run-of-the-mill vintage suit, and priced as such.

Oh, my word, I was there just two weeks ago trying to sell the owner some orphaned suit jackets...By chance, was the suit in the rear of the store, on the left, on a mannequin? I tend to think not, though, as I recall that suit having labels...At any rate, great find, and another example of the fact that you never know what you might stumble upon if you keep your eyes open.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

By chance, was the suit in the rear of the store, on the left, on a mannequin?

No, it's too small to fit on that mannequin. It was hanging with the other suits. This was about four months ago.

 

[TCMfan25]

For every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction.

I'm not sure if Sir Newton liked them either.

 

[resortes805]

Very cool Marc! Thanks for posting.

 

[Widebrim]

No, it's too small to fit on that mannequin. It was hanging with the other suits. This was about four months ago.

Thanks, I feel better now...

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Now on eBay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160640877384

 

[Patrick Hall]

If you'll pardon my curiosity, what prompted you to put the suit up for auction Marc? Seems like such a rare example of sartorial ephemera would make a great conversation piece.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

If you'll pardon my curiosity, what prompted you to put the suit up for auction Marc? Seems like such a rare example of sartorial ephemera would make a great conversation piece.

I have faith that whoever wins this suit will enjoy it even more than I do.

 

[Salieri]

If you'll pardon my curiosity, what prompted you to put the suit up for auction Marc? Seems like such a rare example of sartorial ephemera would make a great conversation piece.

Not to be a pedant or anything, but a suit could hardly be called ephemera. Ephemera are items that are intended to be discarded or disposed of - usually written or printed.

Honestly, I'm not a fan of zoot suits myself, but as it's such a rare survival I'm sure it'll do well on ebay. I know a lovely lady, not even slightly racist, who collects gollywogs quite passionately; which just goes to show...

 

[Edward]

Honestly, I'm not a fan of zoot suits myself, but as it's such a rare survival I'm sure it'll do well on ebay. I know a lovely lady, not even slightly racist, who collects gollywogs quite passionately; which just goes to show...

Carole...? lol

 

[Patrick Hall]

Not to be a pedant or anything, but a suit could hardly be called ephemera. Ephemera are items that are intended to be discarded or disposed of - usually written or printed.

No need to excuse it! Words are important enough to quibble over (and quibbling over them is fun). It seemed, given the conversation on this thread about the transient nature of zoot fashion: the quick mutations in the style and the fact that so few genuine articles are around today, ephemera was an appropriate choice. It does most often refer to things printed, but I have often seen it used in a more general sense to refer to anything that shares a similarly transient nature, which apparently zoot suits did/do!

Like you, I won't be posting a bid on this suit, but I hope it brings a great price at auction!

 

[resortes805]

What people forget about zoot suits is that it was a teenage style; most of those suits were not made to last, and where often worn to death, or refashioned into other garments.

 

[Gene]

What people forget about zoot suits is that it was a teenage style; most of those suits were not made to last, and where often worn to death, or refashioned into other garments.

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

 

[resortes805]

Even those guys were teens. Of the Sleepy Lagoon defendants, I think the oldest kid was around 20, most of them were between 16 and 18.