Men's 1940's Fashion And Zoot Suit

There was an interesting feature of the Zoot Suit!  

men's suit with high-waisted, wide-legged, tight-cuffed, pegged trousers, and a long coat with wide lapels and wide padded shoulders. This style of clothing became popular among the Mexican American, African American, Italian American, Filipino American, and, to a lesser extent, Irish American communities during the 1940s.^[2][3] In Britain the "Edwardian-look" suits with velvet lapels worn by Teddy Boys are said to be a derivative of the zoot suit.^[4]

Did you know that there was Zoot Suit Riots?  Yes, Riots

over who wore Zoot Suits!  This was more about race relations

than fashion.  Because of the L-73 restriction,Mexican-American

youths who wore these oversized suits were considered unpatriotic

and draft dodgers.  Tensions rose in Los Angeles when thousands

of military men on leave poured into the area and clashes

occurred between white servicemen and civilian youth of all

colors.  Hence: the Zoot Suit riot!  

Here is a two piece Palm Beach style suit with

yellow silk necktie.  This type of clothing became

beloved among American men in 1930-40's.  The suits

were comfort and casual.  Rather than hiding the natural

lines of the body, the new athletic style conformed and

flattered the male shape.

Of course, we have here the Army Uniform:

President Eisenhower wore this iconic jacket.  This

version was very similar to the WAC's uniform, 

which men like due to the comfortable and stylish jacket.

This jacket style is being worn now by the US Border

Patrol and National Park Service.

We just have to mention the WAVES suit, 

which combined naval uniform traditions with

restrained feminine style.  The suit is well-known for it's rounded collars above pointed lapels and adapted square knot Navy tie.  Discharged WAVES continued to wear their uniforms

after the war.  They could remove insignias and modify the buttons

to be worn as business suits.

Women became essential to building ships, bombs, aircraft.

Here is Bell Aircraft coveralls, worn by Evelyn Delong Paris, as she

worked on B-29s.

Bravo Women!!