What are zoot suits?

A zoot suit is an exaggerated style of men's suit that was popular in the 1940s, according to Penn Current. It features high-waisted, wide-legged, pegged trousers and a long coat with wide lapels, padded shoulders and jacket arms reaching the fingertips.

A zoot suit was often styled with pointed, French-style shoes, a key chain extending to the knees, and a fedora or pork pie hat, sometimes featuring a long feather. Zoot suits were especially popular among young African American, Chicano, Filipino American and Italian American men, says Penn Current. The suit's rise in popularity coincided with the emergence of swing music and dance styles like the jitterbug.