Gouster
Encyclopedia
Gouster was a form of dress
that was adopted by Black high school
students and street gang members in the mid and late 1960s in Chicago
. The dress consisted of baggy pants and long collar shirts. Some young men wore Kangaroos or what was described as "Old Men Comforts". Others would purchase Borsalino
hat
s and cashmere
coat
s, to create more of a "gangster
" look.
Gousters had a reputation for being cool, not flashy. During this period, men would have their clothes tailor-made with pleated pants, simply referred to as "pleats". Later, gousters started to purchase Italian
knit shirts to complement their pleated pants.
Many high schools were termed "Gouster Schools" due to the large percentage of students that dressed in the fashion. "Gouster Schools" were, in many cases, contrasted with "Ivy League Schools", where a majority of students wore the more "preppy" "Ivy" style, characterized by Brooks Brothers
shirts, pants without pleats and saddle shoe
s or penny loafers. Socially, the fashion groups remained distinct, with Ivys and Gousters choosing to not hang out with each other. An earlier use of gouster on Chicago's south side referred to older black men who dressed in fashons of the late '40s. As late as 1960–61 you could see individuals and groups of these older men in the businesses and social hangouts along 63rd Street.
Clothing
Clothing refers to any covering for the human body that is worn. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies...
that was adopted by Black high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
students and street gang members in the mid and late 1960s in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The dress consisted of baggy pants and long collar shirts. Some young men wore Kangaroos or what was described as "Old Men Comforts". Others would purchase Borsalino
Borsalino
Borsalino is the name of a hat company known particularly for its fedoras. Established in 1857, Borsalino produces felt from Belgian rabbit fur at its factory in Alessandria, Italy....
hat
Hat
A hat is a head covering. It can be worn for protection against the elements, for ceremonial or religious reasons, for safety, or as a fashion accessory. In the past, hats were an indicator of social status...
s and cashmere
Cashmere wool
Cashmere wool, usually simply known as cashmere, is a fiber obtained from Cashmere and other types of goats. The word cashmere derives from an old spelling of Kashmir. Cashmere is fine in texture, and strong, light, and soft. Garments made from it provide excellent...
coat
Coat (clothing)
A coat is a long garment worn by both men and women, for warmth or fashion. Coats typically have long sleeves and are open down the front, closing by means of buttons, zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners, toggles, a belt, or a combination of some of these...
s, to create more of a "gangster
Gangster
A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Some gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from mob and the suffix -ster....
" look.
Gousters had a reputation for being cool, not flashy. During this period, men would have their clothes tailor-made with pleated pants, simply referred to as "pleats". Later, gousters started to purchase Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
knit shirts to complement their pleated pants.
Many high schools were termed "Gouster Schools" due to the large percentage of students that dressed in the fashion. "Gouster Schools" were, in many cases, contrasted with "Ivy League Schools", where a majority of students wore the more "preppy" "Ivy" style, characterized by Brooks Brothers
Brooks Brothers
Brooks Brothers is the oldest men's clothier chain in the United States. Founded in 1818 as a family business, the privately owned company is now owned by Retail Brand Alliance, also features clothing for women, and is headquartered on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, New York City.-History:On April 7,...
shirts, pants without pleats and saddle shoe
Saddle shoe
The Saddle shoe is a low-heeled, oxford, casual shoe characterized by a plain toe and distinctive, saddle-shaped decorative panel placed mid foot...
s or penny loafers. Socially, the fashion groups remained distinct, with Ivys and Gousters choosing to not hang out with each other. An earlier use of gouster on Chicago's south side referred to older black men who dressed in fashons of the late '40s. As late as 1960–61 you could see individuals and groups of these older men in the businesses and social hangouts along 63rd Street.