White Knee Socks: Country Trends--United States


Figure 1.--We have found many images of American boys wearing white long stickings, many during the early-20th century. We have, however, found very few photographs showing American boys wearing white knee socks. One of the few exceptions is Catholic boys during their First Communion. Here we see three boys in white First Communion outfits, probably about 1950.

Small American boys wore white knee socks in the 1920s, often as part of Fauntleroy-style velvet suit outfits. The lace collars worn before World War I had gone out of style, but ruffled collars were still worn. White knee socks were not just worn with Fauntleroy suits, were also worn with other outfits such as Buster Brown suits. They were also worn during the summer with white sailor suits. Sock lenth varied somewhat many of these dressy outfits were worn with a kind of 3/4s length. The socks did not come all the way to the knee, but were worn much higher than ankle socks. White knee socks look very dressy to us now, but for dressy occasions dark stockings were considered more appropriate. When The Kennedys went to see the Pope in 1939, for example, Teddy was dressed in a collarless Eton suit--a style becoming increasingly popular for small American boys. He wore his Eton suit with dark long stockings and not white knee socks. Some mothers dressed boys in white kneesocks and strap shoes for play. Red strap shoes were often chosen. These shoes were worn in much the same ways modern boys wear tennis shoes. Eton suits, or suits with collarless jackets that came to be called Eton suits, appeared in the United States during the late 1920s. They were worn with a variety of collar styles. Some were worn with Eton collars, but this was generally deemed to severe for small boys in America. Eton suits for formal occasioins came to be commonly worn with Peter Pan collars. Generally Eton suits were worn with grey, blue or black knee socks. For special events such as weddings they were worn with white knee socks. Other page boy outfits at weddings or formal velvet holiday suits often entailed white knee socks. White knee socks were sometimes worn with ethnic outfits, such as the kilt costimes worn by boys participating in Irish dancing competitions. Unlike Scottish Highland dancing, the boys doing Irish dance choose solid color kilts in a variety of colors. They also chose solid-colored knee socks instead of the argle socks worn by Higland dancers. The Irish costumes incolved many different colored knee socks. Many are dark colors to contrast with the kilt, but other boys chose bright colors and a few chose white knee socks. Knee socks are now commonly associated in America as girls clothes. Many Catholic and other schools requiring school uniforms have the girls wear knee socks, often white knee socks. We also note boys wearing white kneesocks as part of uniforms or costumes. An example is a Missouri school band in 1923.

Chronology

we note uiite a few younger boys wearing white stoickings in the early 20th century. White knee sofks when knee socks becan becoming more poular in the 1920s were not nearly as common.

Length

Sock lenth varied somewhat many of these dressy outfits were worn with a kind of 3/4s length. The socks did not come all the way to the knee, but were worn much higher than ankle socks. These socks are more saccurately called three-quarter socks. By the time knee socks became more popular in the 1920s, we see fewer boys weating white socks. A complication here is that the white socks boys wore were not generally turn-over-top socks. And sometimes boys turned down and cuffed the socks making them look more like three-quarter socks. A good example is George Dorsey in 1923.

Conventions

White knee socks look very dressy to us now, but for dressy occasions dark stockings were considered more appropriate. When The Kennedys went to see the Pope in 1939, for example, Teddy was dressed in a collarless Eton suit--a style becoming increasingly popular for small American boys. He wore his Eton suit with dark long stockings and not white knee socks. Some mothers dressed boys in white kneesocks and strap shoes for play. Red strap shoes were often chosen. These shoes were worn in much the same ways modern boys wear tennis shoes. For special events such as weddings they were worn with white knee socks. Other page boy outfits at weddings or formal velvet holiday suits often entailed white knee socks.

Gender

Knee socks are now commonly associated in America as girls clothes. Many Catholic and other schools requiring school uniforms have the girls wear knee socks, often white knee socks.

Age

The boys wearing white knee socks were generally younger boys. We rarely see boys older than about 7 years old wearing white knee socks.

Outfits

Small American boys wore white knee socks in the 1920s, often as part of Fauntleroy-style velvet suit outfits. The lace collars worn before World War I had gone out of style, but ruffled collars were still worn. White knee socks were not just worn with Fauntleroy suits, were also worn with other outfits such as Buster Brown suits. They were also worn during the summer with white sailor suits. e note some bpys from affluent fsamilies wearing navy blue or black suits with navy or blsck knee socks. Eton suits, or suits with collarless jackets that came to be called Eton suits, appeared in the United States during the late 1920s. They were worn with a variety of collar styles. Some were worn with Eton collars, but this was generally deemed to severe for small boys in America. Eton suits for formal occasioins came to be commonly worn with Peter Pan collars. Generally Eton suits were worn with grey, blue or black knee socks.

Ethnic Outfuits

White knee socks were sometimes worn with ethnic outfits, such as the kilt costimes worn by boys participating in Irish dancing competitions. Unlike Scottish Highland dancing, the boys doing Irish dance choose solid color kilts in a variety of colors. They also chose solid-colored knee socks instead of the argle socks worn by Higland dancers. The Irish costumes incolved many different colored knee socks. Many are dark colors to contrast with the kilt, but other boys chose bright colors and a few chose white knee socks.

Costumes/Uniforms

We also note boys wearing white kneesocks as part of uniforms or costumes. An example is a Missouri school band in 1923.







HBC





Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main white kneesock country page]
[Return to the Main white kneesock page]
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Cloth and textiles] [Clothing styles] [Countries] [Topics]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]





Created: 12:10 AM 5/29/2009
Last updated: 12:03 AM 2/7/2015