Figure 1.--This wonderful Art Nouveau drawing of two fashionably dresses French girls in leggings appeared in a French fashion magazine, but I do not know which one. We are not sure about the date, but would guess the mid-1920s. Notice the differences in the leggings worn by the older and younger girl. Also notice their white gloves. One reader believes that George Barbier may the illustrator.

We have noted gaiters being worn by men in 16th century Elizabehan England, often in leather. It was a protective garment for the wealthy. Presumably they were also worn on the Continent. They were very utlitarian garments as men at the time wore rather short piffed trouser-like garments and tights-like hosiery. The first images I have noticed specifically for children are from the 1870s, but they almost cerainly were worn earlier. They were worn by both boys and girls. Presumably leggings came into style as boys began to commonly wear kneepants, but we cannot confirm this yet. Mothers apparently concluded that boys in kneepants needed the leggings for warmth. There are many portaits of American boys wearing leggings during the late 19th century. Many were wearing learher keggings. We are less sure about how common leggings were in Euroopean countruies during the late 19th century. We notice Montgmery Wards offering leggings in 1922 catalog. We also note that both boys and girls are wearings leggings at the turn of the 20th century amnd we note numerous offerijgs for leggings in French fashion magazines and vcatalogs diring the 1920s. They were worn with a variety of garments through thr 1940s, but were little worn by the 1950s.

The 16th Century

We have noted gaiters being worn by men in 16th century Elizabehan England, often in leather. It was a protective garment for the wealthy. Presumably they were also worn on the Continent. They were very utlitarian garments as men at the time wore rather short puffed trouser-like garments and tights-like hosiery.

The 19th Century

The first images I have noticed specifically for children are from the 1870s, but they almost cerainly were worn earlier. They were worn by both boys and girls. Presumably leggings came into style as boys began to commonly wear kneepants, but we cannot confirm this yet. Mothers apparently concluded that boys in kneepants needed the leggings for warmth. There are many portaits of American boys wearing leggings during the late 19th century. Many were wearing learher keggings. We are less sure about how common leggings were in Euroopean countruies during the late 19th century.

The 20h Century

We also notice leggings in the 20th century. A good example is an unidentified American boy about 1905. We notice Montgmery Wards offering leggings in 1922 catalog. We also note that both boys and girls are wearings leggings at the turn of the 20th century amnd we note numerous offerijgs for leggings in French fashion magazines and vcatalogs diring the 1920s. They were worn with a variety of garments through thr 1940s, but were little worn by the 1950s.

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Created: July 23, 2003
Last updated: 11:52 PM 3/9/2008