Figure 1.--American boys in the early 1920s still commonly wore long stockings. This illustration from the 1922 Montgomery Wards catalog shows a boy putting on his long stockings in the morning. Click on the image to view the catalog page and for information on the stockings advertised.

I am not sure about the stockings worn in the early 19th Century. When boys were wearing mostly long pants, as was the case in the early 19th century, long stockings were not needed. By the 1870s, as knee pants became increasing popular, boys were wearing long, mostly wool stockings. They were the same long stockings as worn by girls. These long stockings continued to be worn by children, including older boys and girls, throughout the 19th Century. Long stockings continued to be worn in a few countries even after World War I (1914-18) when knnepants went out of style. Some European boys even wore them with short pants. They did not begin to decline in popularity until the 1910s. Even in the 1910s and early 1920s, however, knickers were still commonly worn with long stockings. Long stockings rapidly declined in popularity after the mod 1920s as both boys and girls turned more to knee socks. This was especially true in America--although they were still available as late as the mid to late 1940s. They continued to be more commonly worn in several European countries such as Germany, Poland. Switzerland, and the Scandinavian countries as cold weather wear. A new style appeared in those countries which competed with long stockings--tights.

The 19th Century

Boys wore long stockings with first knee pants and then knickers and short trousers for a period of about 100 years—-broadly speaking from about 1860 to 1960. This varied somewhat from country to country. Before and after this period, the fashion was we think almost unknown, although the prevalence of long trousers and the paucity of photographic images makes this difficult to assess. It seems that in central Europe, boys did not wear long stockings and knee pants much before the 1860s and kneepants did not become really prevalent until the 1880s. After this date, trousers became shorter and the wearing of long stockings became very common, in American virtually manditory. The knee pants became very fashionable, commonly chosen by fashoion concious mothers. The long stockings were just as fashionable.

Early 19th Century

I am not sure about the stockings worn in the early 19th Century. When boys were wearing mostly long pants, as was the case in the early 19th century, long stockings were not needed. Affluent boys more commonly wore pantaletes with short socks.

Mid-19th Century

Knee pants appeared in the mid-19th century, although long pants were more common. Kneepants suits began to be worn in the 1850s, but mostly by younger boys from affluent families. Affluent boys still more commonly wore pantaletes with short socks. HBC has no information on long stockings, however, during this period.

Late 19th Century

By the 1870s, as knee pants became increasing popular. American boys almost always wore long stockings with kneepants--except when going barefoot. Other countries had different conventiions. French boys, for example, often wore three-quarter length socks. Long stockings were mostly wool stockings. More expensive stockings might be made of cashmere or even silk. Boys wore the same long stockings as worn by girls and women--only the sizes varied. Most long stockings were black. There were other colors, but black by far were the most common. These long stockings continued to be worn by children, including older boys and girls, throughout the late 19th Century.

The 20th Century

Long stockings were commonly worn in Europe an North America during the early 20th century. Long stockings were seen as appropriate for formal occassions. There were variations among countries. Knee socks became popular in England. Long stockings continued to be very common in Germany and Scandinavia. Long stockings were also very common in America and Canada. Black stockings were very common. We see some boys wearing white stockings, but these were more common for girls. We see long stockings being worn with both knee pants and knickers. Long stockings continued to be worn in a few countries even after World War I (1914-18) when kneepants went out of style. Some European boys even wore them with short pants. They did not begin to decline in popularity until the 1920s. American boys still commonly wore long stockings in the early 1920s. Black was still the most common color, but brown was also worn. White stockings were available, but not commonly worn by boys. Long srtockings were rapidly declining in popularity after the mid-1920s as both boys and girls turned more to knee socks, but this varied from coyntry to country. American boys by 1940 mostly wore either ankle socks or kneesocks. Long stockings, however, had not entirely disappeared. They were still available as late as the mid- to late- 1940s in America and into the 60s in Europe.

Early 20th Century (1900-19)

Long stockings were commonly worn in Europe an North America during the early 20th century. A factor here was climate. They were more common in cold northern Europe than warm southern Europe. Age and seasonns were also a factor. Younger children commonly wore socks during the summer, but older children normally wore long stockings. Another factor was formality. Long stockings were seen as appropriate for formal occassions. There were variations among countries. Knee socks became popular in England. Long stockings continued to be very common in Germany and Scandinavia. Long stockings were also very common in America and Canada. Black stockings were very common. We see some boys wearing white stockings, but these were more common for girls. We see long stockings being worn with both knee pants and knickers. A German reader writes, "Nearly all schoolboys in class photographs wore long stockings with knee pants from about 1905 to 1935, at least if the weather were cool. It seems that it was considered proper to wear long stockings with better and dressier clothes." HBC has not noted this beginning in 1905, but rather was well established in the late-19th century, but we are heavily influenced by American trends.

Inter-war Years (1920-39)

Long stockings continued to be worn in a few countries even after World War I (1914-18) when kneepants went out of style. Some European boys even wore them with short pants. They did not begin to decline in popularity until the 1920s. American boys still commonly wore long stockings in the early 1920s. Black was still the most common color, but brown was also worn. White stockings were available, but not commonly worn by boys. Long srtockings were rapidly declining in popularity after the mid-1920s as both boys and girls turned more to knee socks. This was especially true in America. American boys in the early 1920s were still wearing knickers with long stockings. Montgomery Wards refused to them as school hose, perhaps because they were worn by boys going back to school as the weather got cooler. It was becoming less common to see boys wearing long stockings during the warm summer months. By the mid-1920s, however, kneesocks had to a large extent repaced long stockings. Whike long stockings did not dissapear they came to be worn by a minority of boys. Many younger boys wre then with short pants, often with tan stockings. They were mostly worn for warmth. Some boys, however, wore them for formal occasions, usualy white or black stockings, because they thought the stockings had a smart look.

Mid-20th Century (1940-69)

American boys by 1940 mostly wore either ankle socks or kneesocks. Long stockings, however, had not entirely disappeared. They were still available as late as the mid- to late-1940s in America and into the 60s in Europe. An American reader reports, "In the late 1940s and early 50s, little boys were still wearing long brown stockings. I know from experience. Hand-me downs were prevalent in my family due to economics. There are also `baby' pictures in the family album that show both my brother and I in long white stockings, about late-46 or early-47." Long stockings continued to be more commonly worn in several European countries such as Germany, Poland. Switzerland, and the Scandinavian countries as cold weather wear. We note German boys still commonly wearing long stockings, especially in the early 1950s. A good example is unidentified German family. A new style in the 1960s appeared in those countries which competed with long stockings--tights.