FAQ About The Cultural Influence of Zoot Suit Fashion

During the 1940s, both the government and media often depicted Zoot Suits negatively. The media portrayed Zoot Suit wearers as delinquents and their extravagant clothing as unpatriotic during times of material shortages due to World War II. The government responded by prosecuting wearers under wartime restrictions, and reports often criminalized the fashion, further stereotyping its wearers in a racial and cultural context.