Zoot Suit: Flash, Swing, and Statement in the 1940s
Summary: An exaggerated style linked to swing culture and identity—then controversy.
In this post:
- What “zoot suit” means and where it came from
- How people used it in the 1940s
- Modern equivalents and pop-culture examples
- Related slang to explore next
What does “zoot suit” mean?
A zoot suit had wide shoulders, long coats, and pegged pants—fashion tied to swing and jazz scenes.
How it was used in the 1940s
“Sharp cats” wore them to dances; newspapers debated the look amid wartime rationing.
Modern equivalents
• flashy suit
• swing style
• dress sharp