Figure 1.--These rural children were photographed at play in the Black Forrest area around 1953. It almost appears that the boys' entire outfits are made from wool: the stocking caps, long-sleeve sweaters (the stripped one has a zipper), and the long stockings. The wool stockings are well worn and have a hole in them which has been darnded. I'm less sure about the pants, but at least one of the boys seems to wear wool pants as well. The girl wears light-colored cotton stockings and the boy wears dark wool long stockings. Notice that the girl wears her hair in braids--a very popular style at the time for girls.

Long stockings have been made in several different materials. Long stockings before World War I were commonly wool and not infrequently knitted by mothers and grandmothers. After World War I, cotton socks as well as stockings became more common. This was especially true in urban areas. I am not sure if there were any gender connotations here. I believe that cotton long stockings like wool long stockings were commonly worn by both boys and girls. It is usually possible to tell from a photograph if long stockings were cotton or wool. The wool long stockings are generally much bulkier than the cotton ones. There were areas of Germany where sheep rearing was important and here wool continued to be used for stockings even after cotton had become more common in the rest of Germany. Cotton stockings were more popular with the children because they were more comfortable to wear and not itchy like wool long stockings. Cotton stockings which became common in the 1920s also were more commonly done in lighter colors than the wool stockings, often light browns and grays. There were also white stockings, but these were mostly worn by girls. Boys practically never wore silk stockings and or after Wold War II Perlon (i.e. Nylon) stockings appeared. These were worn by older girls and women. They were not worn by boys, and by girls only from about 13 onwards.

Wool

Wool long stockings are of course the warmest type. They no doubt kept boys warm on the coldest days, especially as during the early 20th century German boys often wore kneepants and short pants even in the Fall and sometimes the Winter. Wool is not, however, the most comfortable fabric to wear next to the skin. Thus wool long stockings could be uncomfortable inside the home or when the weather outside warmed up. Long stockings before World War I were commonly wool and not infrequently knitted by mothers and grandmothers. It is usually possible to tell from a photograph if long stockings were cotton or wool. The wool long stockings are generally much bulkier than the cotton ones. There were areas of Germany where sheep rearing was important and here wool continued to be used for stockings even after cotton had become more common in the rest of Germany. Cotton long stockings were generally made in darker colors.

Cotton

Cotton is not produced in Germany. It all had to be imported which made it more expensive. Unlike wool stockings, cotton stockings were not knittedf at home. They were always purchased in stores. After World War I, cotton socks as well as stockings became more common. This was especially true in urban areas. I am not sure if there were any gender connotations here. I believe that cotton long stockings like wool long stockings were commonly worn by both boys and girls. Cotton stockings were more popular with the children because they were more comfortable to wear and not itchy like wool long stockings. Cotton stockings which became common in the 1920s also were more commonly done in lighter colors than the wool stockings, often light browns and grays. There were also white stockings, but these were mostly worn by girls. A German reader tells us that the cotton stockings were much more comfortable to wear than the wools ones, especially the hand-knitted ones which could be very scratchy.

Silk

Boys practically never wore silk stockings. Some boys from affluent families may have worn them for formal occassions, but we do not believe that this was common. A German reader writes, "I think boys very rarely had stockings knitted from silk or perlon/nylon, although girls, beginning at about age 12 or later, wore them. Only boys from wealthy families for very formal occassions wore silk stockings."

Nylon

After Wold War II Perlon (i.e. Nylon) stockings appeared. These were worn by older girls and women. They were not worn by by boys, and by girls only from about 13 years onwards.

Blended Fabric

Cotton long stockings or mixtures of cotton and silk became available during the 1930s. Later cotton and nylon mixtures became available, but I think this photo is too early for nylon. Children complained less about wearing cotton stockings because they didn't scratch the thighs like woolen stockings, especially home-knitted long stockings. The new long stockings were much thinner and lighter in weight and were not uncomfortable to wear during changeable weather. They were also more elastic and form-fitting and didn't bunch up around the ankles and knees as much. German readers also report that the Leibchen for supporting long stockings greatly improved during the 1930s.

Created: August 5, 2002
Last updated: 7:50 PM 4/3/2011