Zoot Suit Riot

A forgotten fad inspires today’s hottest designers

Ebony March Shopping

Zegna

This fall, suits for men and women take an audacious turn, changing from the streamlined shapes of the 1950s and ’60s to the swingin’ and exaggerated silhouettes of the 1940s zoot suit. With its high-waisted, wide-legged pants that taper at the ankle, and long, double-breasted coat with wide lapels and padded shoulders, this onetime cultural phenomenon is making a comeback in collections by Calvin Klein and Trina Turk — with a few stylish modifications, of course.

Dazzle in White House | Black Market’s ponte button accent shift dress. This double-breasted stunner stays true to the zoot suit’s core, but narrows in all the right places to hug her womanly shape. Its fit-and-flare design does away with the pleated trousers that make its predecessor iconic.
73199 El Paseo, Stes. E, F, G, Palm Desert.
760-341-0802; www.whitehouseblackmarket.com

Italian tailoring gives contemporary menswear an upgrade, as seen at Zegna. Double-breasted blazers look hip and youthful in creamy neutrals, and trousers have a relaxed fit that tapers and cuffs at the ankle.
Ermenegildo Zegna Outlet Store
Desert Hills Premium Outlets
48400 Seminole Dr., Cabazon.
951-849-6641; www.premiumoutlets.com