Figure 1.--German children in the 1940s still wore long stockings, especially younger children in cold weather. They were also more common in less fashionable rural areas. They rapidly fell out of fashion during the 1950s. The photograph here is undated, but we suspect was taken in the 1940s. A reader writes, "I think this image may be post-World War II--perhaps, 1946 or 1947 although it could easily be as early as 1936-37. I base this estimate on the shorter length of the shorts and the color of the stockings, which are beige or very light tan rather than the more common medium tan or brown. The scene is obvious rural. The NAZI regime discouraged the wearing of long stockings for boys, of course, but in conservative, traditionally-minded rural areas of Germany such ideas were often ignored. The design of the halter-style suspenders for the shorts (which look hand-made) and the hightop shoes might suggest the early 1930s, however. The shorts are too short for the 1920s."

At the turn of the 20th century, long stockings were still common. As in other countries, black was the most common color for long stockings. Three-quarter socks were worn, but not as commonly as in France. For many years older boys wore long stockings while younger boys might wear shorter socks. These were generally repalaced with kneesocks in the 1910s. Younger boys continued to wear long stockings during the colder winter months, often with short pants. Germany can be quite cold in the winter and tus those boys that wore shorts all year round might wear long over-the-knee stockings when it was cold. Conventions seem rather ill defined in the 1920s and early 30s. A good example are the brothers in a middle-class family during the 1920s. Conventions only begin to become more established in the 1930s. It became increasingly less common for older boys to wear long stockings. Kneesocks gradually were more popular with older boys, but they might wear knickers rather than shorts during the winter. After World War II, long stockings began to disappear. We still see them in the late 40s and early 50s. The snapshot here was probably taken in the 1940s (fifure 1). We rarely see long stockings by the 1960s. 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. Older boys also wear tights, but usually for winter sports. Kneesocks were very common through the 1950s, but began declining in popularity during the 1960s.

The 1900s

At the turn of the 20th century, long stockings were still common. As in other countries, black was the most common color for long stockings. Three-quarter socks were worn, but not as commonly as in France. For many years older boys wore long stockings while younger boys might wear shhorter socks.

The 1910s

We see German children wearing a range of hosiery in the 1910s, including three-quarter socks, knee socks, and long stockings. Both boys and girls wore these different types of hosiery, Most were solid colors. We see white hosiery. We are less sure about the colors of the colored hosiery. There does not seen to have been much gender differentiation. We begin to see more boys wearing three-quarter and kneesocks in the 1910s. Three-quater socks in particular were very common. We note white socks with thib colored stripes of various colors and styles. Long stockings were also very commonm, but they seem to be more seasonal than in the 19rh century and 1900s. Children tend to commonly wear long stokings in the cold winter months. We see long stockings in warmer weather as well, but not as commonly as during the winter. Long stockings were also common when children dressed up for formal occassiions such as a studio portrait. Germany can be quite cold in the winter and thus those boys that wore shorts all year round might wear long over-the-knee stockings when it was cold.

The 1920s

German hosiery conventions seem rather ill defined in the 1920s and early 30s. We see boys wearing short pnts, knee pants, knickers and long stockings. Most boys wore short pants. Teenagers might wear lnoclers and older teen agers might wear long pants. Knee pants by the 1920s were mostly worn with suits. We see boys commonly wearing both knee socks and long stockings with short pants. Seasonality was a factor, but not the omly factor. Family preferences and formality were also factors. Knee socks became increasingly common as the decade progressed, but long stockings were still quite common. We still see mny boys wearing black long stockings, although tan shades had begun to appear by the end of the decade. Long stockings were common with knee pnts suits because of the formality factor. Sailor suits were won with both knee socks and long stockings. Ankle socks were not common. A good example are the brothers in a middle-class family during the 1920s.

The 1930s

Hosiery conventions only begin to become more established in the 1930s. We still see both kneesocks and long stockings being worn. Here there were variations from family to family, although we also see variations within the same family. The variations wre often, but not aslways age bassed. It became increasingly less common for older boys to wear long stockings. Kneesocks gradually were more popular with older boys, but they might wear knickers rather than shorts during the winter. We do not commonly see ankle socks, but we are not etirely sure what kind of hosiery boys wearing long pants wore. The keesocks boys wore were normally solid colors, although we do see some boys wearing patterened kneesocks or kneesocks with colored bands at the top. Long stocks were virtually all solid colors, usully light brown or grey shades. Black long stockings might be worn for formal occasions.

The 1940s

German children in the 1940s still wore long stockings, especially younger children in cold weather. They were also more common in less fashionable rural areas. They rapidly fell out of fashion during the 1950s. The photograph here is undated, but we suspect was taken in the 1940s. A reader writes, "I think this image may be post-World War II--perhaps, 1946 or 1947 although it could easily be as early as 1936-37 (figure 1). I base this estimate on the shorter length of the shorts and the color of the stockings, which are beige or very light tan rather than the more common medium tan or brown. The scene is obvious rural. The NAZI regime discouraged the wearing of long stockings for boys, of course, but in conservative, traditionally-minded rural areas of Germany such ideas were often ignored. The design of the halter-style suspenders for the shorts (which look hand-made) and the hightop shoes might suggest the early 1930s, however. The shorts are too short for the 1920s." After World War II, long stockings began to become less common, although we still see the in the late-40s.

The 1950s

We see German boys wearing a wide variety of hosiery in the 1950s. The decade was in many ways a transition period for both hosiery as well as other garments. The knee socks and long stockings common before World War II were still being wirn, especially in the warly 1950s. We still see boys, especially younger German boys wearing long stockings in the learly 50s, but less so by the late-50s in West Germany. Children in East Germany continued wearing long stockjings into the 1960s. It is at this time that tights appear in West Germany. We note boys increasingly wearing ankle socks which would become the prinmcipal hosiery in the 1960s. A factor here is that we see more boys wearing long pants, especially by the late-1950s. Thus the long stockings and knee socks were not as needed for warmth as when the boys wore short pants. Tights appeared in West Germany during the very-late 1950s. They did not beconme an important type of hosiery until the 1960s.

The 1960s

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. Kneesocks 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 erly 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.

The 1970s

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Created: 7:09 AM 1/29/2006
Last updated: 7:43 PM 1/27/2010