Kings of Vintage: The Zoot Suit Riots – fashion, rebellion and youth in Forties LA
June 29, 2010 by Lena
During the Forties, American teens were at odds with the adults. They went to clubs that served oversized menus and soda and would listen to music by Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, and Louis Armstrong. They would go dancing in ballrooms, for walks with their sweethearts and took advantage of their time as youths. They danced the jitterbug, wore saddle shoes, oversized skirts, and Zoot Suits along with wide brimmed hats. Our LA correspondent and Zoot Suit lover Vanessa Sandoval takes a look back in time.
An article published in Newsweek in 1943 tries to explain the phenomenon of the Zoot Suit. “Its origin is obscure although when its main features – the pegged trousers and the long coat – resemble those of suits of the early 1900′s. Its creation has been attributed variously to a Negro busboy in Georgia, and to costumes Clark Gable wore in Gone With the Wind.”
No one actually knows – or can prove – where the Zoot Suit started. Harlem is its acknowledged gate to popularity however, and there has flourished in all its glory the reat pleat, drape shape and stuff cuff. The Zoot Suit was a fashion statement worn by many in the African American community. Los Angeles has always been a diverse city but during the Forties, it was even more so.
African Americans heavily populated the Downtown District of Los Angeles. The jazz clubs that filled the area would have been filled with many popular African American musicians of the time. Mexicans, who had been immigrating to the country since Mexico had began its Revolution in the early 1900s, mesmerized by the music, atmosphere, and style, adopted the look as their own.
Buying into the Zoot Suit craze were not only boys in the African American and Mexican Communities but girls as well. In an image taken in June of 1943, titled “La Dora, El Paul, La Lupe, El Chubby,” we find a girl wearing a Zoot Suit with typical Mexican huarache sandals. The significance of this is immense because it serves as evidence of the interlocking of two cultures. Her ensemble is proof of the Mexican American youth creating a new look that complemented their ancestral country and their new home.
The picture is also evidence of shifting gender roles in the Mexican community during wartime. Although this phenomenon was taking place all over the country, as women headed to the workplace and their male counterparts fought the war, in traditional Mexican American homes it was a sign of a growing drift that was occurring between first generation parents and their second-generation children.
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One of our articles in my year 12 exam was on the Zoot Suit riots…I had the song by Cherry Poppin’ Daddies stuck in my head for the entire time!
I love the wedding dress in the last pic, any idea where its from?
Thanks for the history lesson about an incident that should not be forgotten.
Emma,
I actually bough the dress at David’s Bridal. I had the bolero made separately by a local seamstress.
Hi Vanessa-
Perfect timing. I was looking for a concise report on the Zoot Suit Riots to help my students understand how to write a research report. You can imagine how thrilled I was when I found this one written by you, my former journalism student! Gorgeous wedding picture….
Ms. Forney
Thank you Vanessa for taking time to write this wonderful article about the history of the Zoot Suit and its significance to the Mexican-Americ
Thank you Vanessa for taking time to write this wonderful article about the history of the Zoot Suit and its significance to the Mexican-American community. We should all feel proud that we can hold our head high and wear our tacuches without the fear of physical and mental assault. Gracias chica!
Very well done article however, in fairness, I feel it should also be pointed out why the Zoot Suit was such an affront to so many during wartime. With the deep rationing of food and materials using the extreme amount of fabric it takes to make a Zoot Suit was deeply offense to those whom supported the war effort and sacrificed so much including their loved ones. This of course doesn’t excuse the hatefully acts of some but only gives a bigger picture of events so they may be seen in context of the timem
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Thank you so much for this fascinating article. Here in the UK we are not told about this. I knew the zoot suit was controversial much as teddy boys in their drapes in the 50s (very similar), mods & rockers, hoodies etc. Kids need to rebel. But i had no idea of the extent of it. I feel i’ve learned something interesting & important. A horrifying tale though.
On a lighter note, men in zoot suits look gorgeous!