The Rakish Angle

[Baron Kurtz]

I do not concur.

It is perhaps the most unflattering of the 20s-50s suits. Look at how it makes him look like he has incredibly short legs ... and a massive long torso. Totally out of proportion. And that's not even a particularly 'zoot' example. As we know, one of the worst things clothing can do is make you look disproportionate - hence the problem with shoulder pads that are just too wide (bold look in hyperdrive).

I have a rather striking example of this in a french book i have from my library.

I will start a new thread so this one can get back on topic ... Tilted hats!

bk

but this, i just have to do ... I realise he is parodying the style.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I have a rather striking example of this in a french book i have from my library.

I believe you're referring to the clothing of the French Zazous. More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zazou

Not quite sure if the Zazou suits can be considered zoot suits. The similarities may be coincidental. In any case, Zazou clothes were extreme. "Men wore large lumberjack coats, while women wore short skirts, striped stockings and heavy shoes, and often carried umbrellas." Reminds me of the early '90s grunge look from Seattle.

 

[jamespowers]

So isn't the length of this coat the same length as a frock coat or a cleric of many years before? I guess they didn't mind their legs being short in those days?

Regards,

J

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Nahhhhhh, mate, the photo is from the Savoy Ballroom. It's a french book about C20th fashion. This picture is funny, let me tell you.

bk

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Ah. Still, do read about the Zazous. They were a wild and crazy bunch. Nazi Germany had fun decimating them.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Ah. Still, do read about the Zazous. They were a wild and crazy bunch. Nazi Germany had fun decimating them.

Ah, those Nazis. They could not tolerate white socks with black shoes!!! And that silly finger dance!

Zazous are (were) cool.

bk

 

[TheYell]

I think those WWII tilts--Axis and Allied--are just for portraits and personal snapshots. I don't see them in any of the battlefield or shipboard officer conferences. Perhaps a bit of swagger that was permitted off-duty troops, that became a conventional pose for the camera?

Another interesting point--Imperial Japan borrowed its uniforms from Western sources, but I can't think of any Japanese Army or Navy personnel sporting a tilted hat in photographs.

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

I think those WWII tilts--Axis and Allied--are just for portraits and personal snapshots. I don't see them in any of the battlefield or shipboard officer conferences. Perhaps a bit of swagger that was permitted off-duty troops, that became a conventional pose for the camera?

I would actually bet that it was more common for combat troops than for rear-guard or high-ranking ones.

For instance, removing the wire brim stiffener was actually prohibited by German regulations but you see all sorts of soldiers in the field having removed it and turned their cap into a "crusher" of sorts. But I doubt the soldiers in Hitler's personal honor guard would dare do such a thing.

 

[LeFonque]

Take a look at Dan Kelly brother of Australia's own Ned Kelly and a mamber of the infamous Kelly gang. Talk about a jaunty angle!

http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/ncas/resources/mediality/kelly/KFLMSOC.HTM