16. Popular musician Cab Calloway wore one and it became a fad among African-American, Chicano, Filipino American, and Italian-American youth. What was this suit called?
From Quiz Back to the 1930s Again (American)
Answer:
Zoot suit
A zoot suit was men's suit with high-waisted, wide-legged, tight-cuffed, pegged trousers, and a long coat with wide lapels and wide padded shoulders. Later a pork pie hat with a long feather, pointy shoes, and long gold colored chains were used as enhancements. Cab Calloway, a popular musician, band leader, and singer was given credit for introducing the style that young minority men began to imitate. It was regarded in some quarters as an emblem of pride. However, there were elements of hooliganism attached to the zoot suiters.
When World War Two came on the horizon, the making of garments was streamlined and zoot suits could only be purchased from 'underground' tailors. In addition, newly recruited servicemen felt that zoot suiters represented an unpatriotic element and riots ensued between servicemen and zoot suiters that were racially inspired.
I'm the hippiest number in town and I'll tell you why,
I'm the snappiest dresser right down to my inch wide tie,
And to get you wise I'll explain it to you,
A few of the things that a face is supposed to do.
I wear zoot suit jacket with side vents five inches long,
I have two-tone brogues yeah you know this is wrong.
But the main thing is unless you're a fool,
Ah you know you gotta know, yeah you know, yeah you gotta be cool.
So all you tickets I just want you to dig me,
With my striped zoot jacket that the sods can plainly see,
So the action lies with all of you guys,
Is how you look in the other, the other, yeah, the other cat's eye.
Well don't you see, well don't you see, well don't you see now,
Well don't you see now, come on baby, 'cause don't you see now, oh baby,
Well don't you see now, you drive me wild, hmm hmm hmm, you're crazy-looking now.