Figure 1.--Younger Russian boys commonly wear tights to school during the winter. We also see boys wearing tights at home after school, much like American boys wear pajamas. A Canadian reader writes, "I believe that the older boy at the left is wearing what we formerly called "slacks" or "skipants". They were used for skiing. They look too large and baggy for tights. For sure, the boy at the right is wearing tights." Click on the image for a fuller discussion.

We have noted Russian boys wearing a variety of hosiery. The types of hosiery has varied over time. Russian hosiery conventions are somewhat different thn in much od western Eurioe, but somewhhat similar to Germany. Poor boys, especially serf boys, often went barefoot in Russia. Boys going barefoot was very common in rural Russia, especially during the summer. This begn to change with the Revolution. Since World War II it is no longer common to see Russian boys going barefoot. Russian boys have worn various types of socks of different length. Many boys wore kneesocks in the mid-20th century. Since World War II ankle socks have become increasingly common. We have noted some boys wearing kneesocks, but ankle socks seem much more common. This is a little difficult to follow because boys wearing long trousers often wear asnkle socks, but it is difficullt to assess just what type of hosiery that they are wearing. HBC doesn't have good information on these countries, but hope interested readers will provide some information. A Russian reader tells us that long stockings began to be worn in Russia during the 1880s. This was when knee pants began to be more commonly worn by boys insttead of the long trousers boys wore earlier in the 19th century. Russian boys like German boys wore long stockings well after they went out of style in many other European countries. It is apparently still quite common for boys under age 8-10 to wear tights.

No Hosiery

Poor boys, especially serf boys, often went barefoot in Russia. Boys going barefoot was very common in rural Russia, especially during the summer. This begn to change with the Revolution. Since World War II it is no longer common to see Russian boys going barefoot. We also note boys wearing sandals during the Summer without socks. Sandals became popular Summer wear after Word War II. While some boys wore them without socks, it was more common to wear them with socks.

Socks

Russian boys have worn various types of socks of different length. Many boys wore kneesocks in the mid-20th century. They seem especially common for children from the more affluent, cultured Russian fasmilies. Since World War II ankle socks have become increasingly common. We have noted some boys wearing kneesocks, but ankle socks seem much more common. Kneesocks were often used for boy models in fashion magazines. Boys also wore kneesocks for dressy Young Pioneer uniforms. This is a little difficult to follow because boys wearing long trousers often wear ankle socks, but it is hard to tell just what type of hosiery that they are wearing.

Stockings

Boys in other countries such as the Baltic countries and Russia also wore long stockings. HBC doesn't have good information on these countries, but hope interested readers will provide some information. A Russian reader tells us that long stockings began to be worn in Russia during the 1880s. This was when kneepants bgan to be more commonly worn by boys insttead of the long trousers boys wore earlier in the 19th century. While they were commonly worn with short pants in Germany and Poland, this was less true in Russia where short pants were not as commonly worn--except briefly during the summer. Some younger boys, however, did wear shorts year round with long stockings. Some boys wore shorts to school with long stockings. We believe that long stockings were very commony worn in Russia. They were pratical for the cold Russian weather. A Russian reader tells us, however, that long stockings were not just a cold weather fashion, but were also worn by boys in other seasons. Conventions varied, long stockings were worn for dressy occassions, to school, for play, and other activities. A Russian reader reports that long stockings were commonly worn through the 1960s, but that after tights appeared about 1969 they rapidly replaced long stockings. They were little seen in Russia after 1972.

Tights

Russian boys like German boys wore long stockings well after they went out of style in many other European countries. It is apparently still quite common for boys under age 8-10 to wear tights. A Russian contributor to HBC reports that almost all Russian boys wear tights till 6-7 years as a part of their daily clothes. Often around in the house they have only tights without pants. Many Russian homes are not well heated and the tights feel good on cold winter days. When they go outside they wear pants with tights underneath. In the winter nowadays they wear long pants. In the spring when the weather begins to warm, some younger boys may wear tights with short pants. After age 6-7 years most boys stops wearing tights, but a considerable number continue to wear tights till 9-11 years--usually because their mothers insist. Only few older boys wear tights, even at home. Boys in Russia now view tights as more appropriate for girls.

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Created: 7:22 PM 2/16/2006
Last updated: 7:06 PM 5/14/2012