Costume and Textiles Man's Suit in Style of Zoot Suit: Jacket and Trousers Made in United States, North and Central AmericaEarly 1960s Designed by Francis Toscani, American, 1915 - 1973 Black pinstriped wool twill Currently not on view 1974-51-6a,b Gift of Mrs. Francis Toscani, 1974 |
LabelToscani's interpretation of the "zoot suit" shows the extremes of this style, which was favored by avant-garde young men in the late 1930s and 1940s. Zoot suits featured very padded shoulders, a longer jacket with a nipped-in waist, and full-cut, tapered trousers. When showing this suit in a 1968 presentation, Toscani noted that young men of his own time had a parallel desire for more clothing options to express their own style. |
