Figure 1.--Here is a snapshot from a Russian home in the 1930s. The boys seem to be brothers at home? It looks like a record player (phonograph) that they are examening. Perhaps the children have been told not to touch it--which is why their hands are behind their backs. The children are wearing short pants and light-colored long stockings. Click on the image to learn more about Soviet apatments.

We are just beginning to develop information on chronological trends associated with hosiery in Russia. We currently have limited information on Russian hosiery over time. We have no information on hosiery during the early 19th century. Many children in the late 19th and early 20th century wore long stockings. We see many Russian boys wearing both kneesocks and long stockings in the inter-war era of the 1920s and 30s. We note Russian boys wearing sandals after World War II. Some wore them without socks, but with socks seems to have been more common. Long stockings were still commonly worn by primary-age children into the 1960s. Long stockings rapidly disappeared after 1969 when tights were introduced. Younger boys commonly wear tights during the cold winter months. They are commoly worn to school or at home in the evening, rather like American boys wear pajamas at home in the evening. Kneesocks were also commonly worn during the inter-War era and during the 1950s, but gradually declined in popularity. By the 1970s most boys were wearing ankle socks, except for younger boys wearing tights.

The 19th Century

We currently have no information on hosiery during the early 19th century, primarily because photography was not yet invented. We have some photigraphic images from the late 19th century. Many children in the late 19th century seem to have worn long stockings.

The 20th Century

Russian boys in the early 20th century wore long stockings. We see many Russian boys wearing both kneesocks and long stockings in the inter-war era of the 1920s and 30s. We note Russian boys wearing sandals after World War II. Some wore them without socks, but with socks seems to have been more common. Long stockings were still commonly worn by primary-age children into the 1960s. Long stockings rapidly disappeared after 1969 when tights were introduced. Younger boys commonly wear tights during the cold winter months. They are commoly worn to school or at home in the evening, rather like American boys wear pajamas at home in the evening. Kneesocks were also commonly worn during the inter-War era and during the 1950s, but gradually declined in popularity. By the 1970s most boys were wearing ankle socks, except for younger boys wearing tights. Here are information is somewhat limited by the fact we do not know what kind of hosiery boys in long pants were wearing. Unlike Western countries there were no mail order catalogs during the Soviet era which can be used as sources of information on underwear and hosiery.

Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Russian pages:
[Ballet] [Children's literature] [Choirs] [Fashion magazines] [Movies] [Royalty] [School uniform] [Youth groups]

Navigate the Boys Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main Russian hosiery page]
[Return to theMain country page]
[Australia] [Canada] [England] [France] [Germany] [Ireland] [Italy] [Mexico] [New Zealand] [Poland] [Russia] [Scotland] [United States]

Created: 11:19 PM 3/30/2006
Last updated: 12:45 AM 3/31/2006