Oversized clothing is not a new thing: The Zoot Suit

[trof]

"The Zoot Suit with the Reet Pleat"
A real Hep Cat, Daddy-O


Initially an African American youth fashion, closely connected to jazz culture, the zoot suit was co-opted by a generation of Mexican American kids, who made it their own during World War II.

The oversized suit was both an outrageous style and a statement of defiance. Zoot suiters asserted themselves, at a time when fabric was being rationed for the war effort, and in the face of widespread discrimination.

Zoot suits were reserved for special occasions -- a dance or a birthday party. The amount of material and tailoring required made them luxury items. Many kids wore a toned-down version of the "draped" pants or styled their hair in the signature "ducktail."
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/zoot/

[Aristus]

1. In L.A. in 1944, some sailors on leave got wind of a rumour that

some Mexican-American gang-members had raped a white girl, went downtown and started a throw-down with anyone wearing a Zoot suit.

Hence the song 'Zoot Suit Riot'.

[trof]

2. That's what the website is about.

A PBS program. Wish I'd seen it.

[Archae]

4. I did.

Of course, the Hispanics got all the blame for the riot.

[JimmyJazz]

3. Thanks for the earworm...

I wear a zoot suit with side vents five inches long...

[trof]

5. Get out!

Show me some DRAPE!

[JimmyJazz]

6. Arg! Do you know how many google images I sorted through

trying to find one picture of Roger Daltrey from the Monterey Pop festival where it looks like he's wearing the drapes?????

A cookie to the first person that finds one!

[nytemare]

7. Nice Zoot suits in "Swing Kids"

I was partial to the music as well.