Figure 1.--These American boys in a 1945 sweater magazine all wear kneesocks. Actually by the 1940s, most American boys were wearing ankle socks. Two of these wear kneesocks with top patterns. By the 1950s, however, kneesocks with top patterns were no longer seen. |
Patterned-top kneesocks first appeared in England during the 1920s as boys increasingly wore short pants. They also appeared in America, but the completely patterned kneesocks were more popular with American boys who mostly wore them with knickers. They were occasionally worn by French boys. The style declined in popularity during the 1940s and were little seen by the 1950s.
HBC has first noticed patterned-top kneesocks in England during the 1920s as boys increasingly wore short pants. They may have appeared in the 1910s, but if so were not widely worn. They also appeared in America during the 1920s. Short opants were, however, much less popular in America. Most boys wearing kneesocks wore them with knickers, but the completely patterned kneesocks were more popular with American boys. The style declined in popularity during the 1940s and were little seen by the 1950s in England or America.
The patterns on the top patterned kneesocks varied widely. Some were Arrgyle like patterns, other had other styalized geometric designs. Stripes were common for school uniforms and scouting, but patterns were never used as part of a uniform. Some patterned-top kneesocks worked stripes into the design.
The patterned-top kneesocks were always turn-over-top socks. The less expensive shorter socks without the turn-over-tops rarely had top patterns.
No information on color is available at this time.
Both boys and girls in America wore kneesocks with top patterns from the 1920s through the 40s. I know British boys wore the top-patterned kneesocks during this period, but I am unsure about girls.
British knee socks in the 1920s-30s sometimes had a pattern at the top as did the ones worn by American boys in knickers. British boys commonly wore kneesocks with top patterns. School and scout kneeasocks commonly had stripes instead of a pattern.
American boys also wore kneesocks with top patterns. Kneesocks with completely patterned kneesocks were most common for the boys wearing knickers. Boys wearing short pants more commonly wore the solid color ones or the ones with top patterns.
Patterned knee socks were much less common in European countries like France and Germany where boys would normally wear solid colored kneesocks, especially with short pants. French scouts wore kneesocks with top stripes.
I do not believe that patterned-top kneesocks were commonly worn in Germany, but have few details at this time.
I do not believe that patterned-top kneesocks were commonly worn in Italy, but have few details at this time.
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