A Guide to the Best of Southern California : FASHION : Zoot Yourself
Hey, ese, know where to get a zoot suit? Only one sure place to find them, vato--El Pachuco. And they’ve got plenty of them--for sale ($350 and up) or rent ($55 and up)--along with tandos, calcos, lisas (hats, shoes and shirts), chains and ties. All you have to do is put your hand in your pocket, thrust your hips forward and you’re “ready for the boogie tonight,” like the song says.
Owner Phyllis Estrella came up with the idea for El Pachuco after seeing the play “Zoot Suit.” She wanted to suit up in the characteristically high-waisted baggy trousers (drapes, in pachuco slang) and long coat, but couldn’t find anyone to make the pieces. So, she and her family began manufacturing the suits themselves for shipment to would-be pachucos and pachucas all over the country. Hard-core zoot-suiters can join the store’s VIP club--that’s Very Important Pachuco--and, for $25, get an ID card, T-shirt, comb and calendar.
El Pachuco, 801 S. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton; (714) 526-3743.
Sign up for The Wild
We’ll help you find the best places to hike, bike and run, as well as the perfect silent spots for meditation and yoga.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
