Figure 1.--Long stockings were commonly worn with skirted garments. This was mostly in the 19th century, but tunic suits were popular in the early-20th century. In some cases knee socks and long stockings were inter-changeable and in other cases mothers has specific reasons for chosing the long stockings. Here we see an example, probably in the early-1920s. A reader writes, "Are these 2 brothers and a sister or 3 brothers? I cannot tell whether the person wearing long stockings is wearing a skirt or knit short trousers." Yes the image is not real clear. I'm not entirely sure. My guess is three boys. Short skirts for girls I don't think were very common in Germany.

German boys wore long stockings with a wide variety of garments. This changed chronologically with changing popular fashions over time. Younger boys, mostly in the 19th century, wore long stockings with skirted garments. This continued into the 20th centuyry, mostly because of the popularity of tunics. Long stockings were commonly worn with suits. This included both standard suits and juvenile suits. This was because suits were once a standard boy's garment. Also long stockings were not only worn for warmth, but for formality, normally meaning a suit. This was especially the case in the 20th century when suits were becoming less common. They were worn with short and long pants during cool and cold weather. It is easy to tell if boys wearing short pants and fairly easy to tell if boys wearing knee pants and knickers are wearing long stockings. It is not possible to tell, however if boys in lomgpants are wearing long trousers. For this we need persinal accounts. A British reader in the 1950s tells us his friend Mathias in a boarding school wore long stockings with long trousers during the 1950s. Boys wore them to school and for play. While worn with short pants, they were not commonly worn with lederhosen. I'm not sure why this was. It could be because lederhosen were oftenm made quite short and the long stockings were not long enough. Or it could be because lederhosen were popular for roughing it and outdoor wear and boys saw short socks and kneesocks as more suitable for this purpose as you did not have to worry about stocking supporters and keeping the long stockings up. While less worn with lederhosen tha other types of short pants, we have noted that some boys did wear them with lederhosen. Long stockings were also not commonly worn with athletic gear. This was a major difference with tights when they appeared in the late 1950s. Tights were sometimes worn for sports, such as football (soccer) during the winter.

Skirted Garmens

Younger boys, mostly in the 19th century, wore long stockings with skirted garments. This continued into the 20th centuyry, mostly because of the popularity of tunics. Here we see boys wearing tunic suits with both long stockings and knee socks, probably in the early-1920s (figure 1).

Suits

Long stockings were commonly worn with suits. This included both standard suits and juvenile suits. This was because suits were once a standard boy's garment. Also long stockings were not only worn for warmth, but for formality, normally meaning a suit. This was especially the case in the 20th century when suits were becoming less common.

Pants

German boys wore long stockings with all kinds of pants. We can tell this from the photographic record, with the exception of long pnts. They were worn with short and long pants during cool and cold weather. It is easy to tell if boys wearing short pants and fairly easy to tell if boys wearing knee pants and knickers are wearing long stockings. It is not possible to tell, however if boys in long pants are wearing long trousers. For this we need persinal accounts. A British reader in the 1950s tells us his friend Mathias in a boarding school wore long stockings with long trousers during the 1950s. Boys wore them to school and for play. While worn with short pants, they were not commonly worn with lederhosen. I'm not sure why this was. It could be because lederhosen were oftenm made quite short and the long stockings were not long enough. Or it could be because lederhosen were popular for roughing it and outdoor wear and boys saw short socks and kneesocks as more suitable for this purpose as you did not have to worry about stocking supporters and keeping the long stockings up. While less worn with lederhosen tha other types of short pants, we have noted that some boys did wear them with lederhosen.

Athletic Wear

Long stockings were also not commonly worn with athletic gear. This was a major difference with tights when they appeared in the late 1950s. Tights were sometimes worn for sports, such as football (soccer) during the winter.

Footwear