Figure 1.-- Here we see the four boys in an Argentine family. The younger boys wear white ankle socks while the older boy at the left wears long stockings. This portrait looks to have been taken in the late-1920s or early 30s. At the time their portraits seemed to think long stockings were more appropriate for older boys. Notice that he akso wears old-fashioned high-top shoes.

Argentine children have worn a wide range of hosiery over time. We see long stockings, knee socks, three-quarter socks, and ankle socks as well as other types. The popularity of the different types of hosiery as well as the conventions for wearing them have varied over time. We believe that this badically followed Europen fashion trends and conventions. We notice dark long stockings in the early-20th century. This seems to be more a German than an Italian style. Boys wore both black and dark colors. We do not notice them wearing white long stockings. We do not notice Argentine boys wearing long stockings very commonly after the early-20th century. Long stockings were not as common as in northern Europe and North America, probably because of the important Italian and Spanish influence in Argentina. Socks were more common in those countries we think for climatic reasons. We do note girls wearing white stockings. Boys did wear stockings, especially for formal occassions, mostly dark stockings. It is just that they were less common than socks. We note Argentine boys wearing both three-quarter socks in the early-20th century and knee socks after World War I. There were more changes after After World War II, ankle socks become more common and ventually the main type of hosiery. We do see Argentine children wearing knee socks. We also note some children not wearing socks and going barefoot. This was widely seen as a sign of poverty. We do not see three-qurter socks very commonly, but this may reflect our limited archive. We believe that they were worn in the early-20th century. There were a range of also gender and age conventions which varied over time. Both girls and younger boys wore white socks, but not older boys. We alson notice some olderboys wearing long stockings with short pants suits rather than socks.

Types

Argentine children have worn a wide range of hosiery over time. We see long stockings, knee socks, three-quarter socks, and ankle socks as well as other types. We do not see boys waring tights, but girls wear them. The variety of hosiery is greater than elsewhere in Latin America, except perhaps Chile, in part because of the climate. The substantial European influence is also a factor. We see few boys going barefoot in Argenytina, again in part because of the cimate. Ankle socks today are standard for boys. We see many boys wearing three-quater socks in the early-20th century, often done in white. The two younger boys here area good example (appendix 1). We notice knee socks during the inter-War period when they were most popular in Europe. And unlike mich of the rest of Latin America we also see boys wearing long stockings in the late-19th and early-20th century. The prevalence of the various types sem to follow trends in southern Europe, especially Italy and Spain. Assessing hosiery types becomes more difficult after World War II as long pants become increasingly prevalent, especiall by the 1960s.

Chronology

The popularity of the different types of hosiery as well as the conventions for wearing them have varied over time. We believe that this badically followed Europen fashion trends and conventions. We notice dark long stockings in the early-20th century. This seems to be more a German than an Italian style. Boys wore both black and dark colors. We do not notice them wearing white long stockings. We do not notice Argentine boys wearing long stockings very commonly after the early-20th century. Long stockings were not as common as in northern Europe and North America, probably because of the important Italian and Spanish influence in Argentina. Socks were more common in those countries we think for climatic reasons. We do note girls wearing white stockings. Boys did wear stockings, especially for formal occassions, mostly dark stockings. A good example is an unidentified boy in 1932. It is just that they were less common than socks. We note Argentine boys wearing both three-quarter socks in the early-20th century and knee socksafter World War I. There were more changes after After World War II, ankle socks become more common and ventually the main type of hosiery. We do see Argentine children wearing knee socks. We also note some children not wearing socks and going barefoot. This was widely seen as a sign of poverty. We do not see three-qurter socks very commonly, but this may reflect our limited archive. We believe that they were worn in the erly-20th century.

Conventions

There were a range of also gender and age conventions which varied over time. Both girls and younger boys wore white socks, but not older boys. We alson notice some olderboys wearing long stockings with short pants suits rather than socks.

Created: 3:05 AM 7/12/2007
Last updated: 12:43 AM 1/13/2015