There were major changes in German hosiery trends during the 1960s. As major changes were taking place, we still see a variety of hosiery. Ankle socks became the principal hosiery worn by German boys in the 1960s. We still see German boys wearing kneesocks during the 1960s, especially the early 60s. They were much less common by the late-60s. Knee socks were very common through the 1950s, but began declining in popularity during the 1960s, in part because short pants began to become less popular. Ankle socks were becomong increasinfly prevalent. We do not commonly see see long stockings by the 1960s in West Germany, although they were still worn in East Germany during the aerly 60s. Some younger boys beginning in the late 1950s began wearing tights during the winter instead of long stockings. Tights are still worn by younger children in Germany. Older boys also wear tights, but usually for winter sports. A British reader visited Germany in the 1960s. He tells us, "Maybe also most German boys preferred kneesocks with shorts as I did even out of school. You can remember that when I went to Germany I wore my school kneesocks (neatly pulled up and gartered!) with my sandals even in the height of Summer even though the German boy that I stayed with wore short socks with his but that may have been his Mum's choice. When we went to meet the Mayor he wore white kneesocks. (Which I found very odd!) So even there kneesocks seemed the done thing for formal occaisions. At home my Mum would have insisted on short socks with sandals out of school which I hated but then again she would not have allowed sandals for formal wear anyhow even though they were allowed at school - with kneesocks!"
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