Figure 1.--English boys from affluent families might wear white kneesocks with strap shoes. They might also have long hair until going off to boarding school.
|
Figure 1.--English boys from affluent families might wear white kneesocks with strap shoes. They might also have long hair until going off to boarding school. |
White kneesocks currently have a dressy look. They were worn, however for both dress wear and for play. The use of white kneesocks differed somewhat from country to country. Small boys still in dresses might wear white stockings for socks in the late 19th century, but once breeched they almost always wore dark stockings. After the turn of the century, white stickings and socks were worn by boys after breeching--although the age varied. While white kneesocks could be worn with for both play and dress outfits, often dark stockings were considered more suitable for especially formal occasions.
Some boys worn white kneesocks for informal wear or even for play. This was particularly common in the 1920s or 30s, before the concept of play clothes had been fully accepted. There was a class concept involved. It was primarily children from affluent families that wore white kneesocks for play or informal occasions--usually with colored strap shoes or sandals. Often boys British or European boys would wear short pants with white kneesocks while still at home and might also have long over the ears hair. They would be dressed like this until about 8 years old. At this age their hair would be cut and they would be sent off to a boarding prepschool.
White kneesocks currently have a dressy look. They were worn, however for both dress wear and for play. The use of white kneesocks differed somewhat from country to country. Small boys still in dresses might wear white stockings for socks in the late 19th century, but once breeched they almost always wore dark stockings. After the turn of the century, white stickings and socks were worn by boys after breeching--although the age varied. Boys might wear them with velvet suits, although this became less common by the 1930s.
While white kneesocks could be worn with for both play and dress outfits, often dark stockings were considered more suitable for especially formal occasions. Some boys for First Communion, for example, might wear dark stockings rather than white kneesocks.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Main white kneesock page]
[Main knee sock page]
[Introduction]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Biographies]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[Countries]
[FAQs]
[Boys' Clothing Home]