Oxford bags

[citation needed] The bagginess allegedly allowed plus fours to be hidden underneath – but the argument is undermined by the fact that the trousers (especially in the early years) were not sufficiently voluminous for this to be done with any success.

Other theories include claims that the style was invented by Harold Acton of Christ Church or by Bob Boothby of Magdalen; but there is evidence of the term, at least, being used at significantly earlier dates.

[3] In the late 1920s, venues such as the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem were playing swinging jazz, inspiring new dance moves such as Jitterbug and Lindy Hop, which demanded extreme movement from dancers, who therefore adopted Oxford bags.

During the 1940s, swing became a staple of dance halls in the western world and movie stars such as Frankie Manning and Fred Astaire wore Oxford bags on screen.

The style was worn as a practical measure to enable fans to make the energetic and elaborate dance moves associated with the Northern soul scene.