Figure 1.--This German boy in 1930 wears neutral (tan.beige) long stockings with a dark blue sailor suit. The neutral tones becane very popular in the 1920s. Notice that there was not attemot here to match the stockings abnd suit. The convention we think that the stockings were flesh tones and did not need to match the suit.

We see children in the mid-19th century wearing white sotickings. Boys rarely wore anything but dark colored long stockings in the late 19th century. It was not until after the mid-1920s that lighter colored long stockings became common. A variety of neutral colors like light tan, brown, brownstone, ect. These are notably colors that approximate or at least are closer to flesh tones than the black or dark colors worn earlier. We are not sure why these colors became so popular so quickly after World war I. Notably these tones appear at the same time that boys began wearing short pants with long stockings. We think that earlier that flesh tine stockings would have been seen as inmodest. White and black colored stockings were also available in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, but it was the neutral, tan, and light browm shades that wre the most popular. And they seem to have appeared in many different countries at about the same time, although they persisted to different dates. The tan stockings were the ones commonly worn for every day activities, such as school or for play on a cool day. Dark and white stockings became seen as dressy wear. The neutral shades might be worn with suits, but for really formal events, mothers usually chose either black or brown. Some mothers might hve chosen these neutral shades to go with brown outfits, but as they were essentially flesh tomes, they could be worn with outfits of any color.

Chronology

Long stockings were commonly worn fron the mid-19th to the mid-20th century. They went through different phases when certain colors dominated. We see children in the mid-19th century wearing white stockings. Boys rarely wore anything but dark colored long stockings in the late 19th century. We are not entirely sure to what extent these neutral shades were available in the 19th century, but the photographic record suggests that they were not very commonly worn. We do note a variety of colors offered in the 19th century, but not tan and beige. We beliece they would have been seen as inmodest. We see some boys wearing long stockings that seem to be tan or beige in the early-20th century, but they do not seem very common. It was not until after the mid-1920s that lighter colored long stockings became common. Notably this was about the sane time that boys began wearing short pants and girls shorter skirts. There appeara to have been some difference in popularoty from country to country, but not in the general tine line. White and black colored stockings were also available in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, but it was the neutral, tan, and light brown shades that were the most popular. When long stockings died out in the 1940s anhd 50s, it was these neutral shades that were being worn.

Specific Shades

A variety of neutral colors like beige, light tan, light brown, brownstone, flesh, ect. We are not entirely sure to what extent these were actually different shades or or just different names for light-brown.

Shift to Neutral Shades

Boys have worn different colors of long stockings. We note that in the late 19th and early 20th century that black was by far the dominant color worn. This changed rapidly after World War I and neutral colors, escially brownish shades like tan and beige were commonly worn. Grey was also worn, but the browish shades were more common. We are not quite sure why this changed occurred. Not all fashion changes can be easily explained. We do not know why the change occurred. One reader writes, "After having read the HBC texts on black or white stockings, I wonder why tan or beige stockings became so popular? Like the white ones, beige stockings also showed the dirt. Do you have an idea who initiated first this fashion in the 1920s. HBC's interpretation is that beige stockings were perceived as more natural like when the boy or the girl had bare legs. The more natural look appears to have been the most popular. A HBC reader comments, "I think the reason for changing from black stockings to tan or brown stockings in the 1920s was chiefly a relaxation of formality. The tan stockings were more "modern" and casual in appearance without being as informal as knee socks or anklets. Also, washing machines and more efficient means of laundering made lighter colored stockings more practical. They showed soil much more readily but it was now possible to change them oftener."

Reason for the Shift

These various neutral shades are notably colors that approximate or at least are closer to flesh tones than the black or dark colors worn earlier. We are not sure why these colors became so popular so quickly after World war I. Notably these tones appear at the same time that boys began wearing short pants with long stockings. We think that earlier that flesh tine stockings would have been seen as inmodest.

Countries

These neutral shades were worn in many different ciyntries where long stovkings were popular. They seem to have appeared in many different countries at about the same time, although they persisted to different dates. We do not know if there was any difference in the neutral shades worn from country to country. This is impossible to tell from the photographic record. The intensity (lightness/darkness) seems very similar. We have begun to build pages on several countries, including America, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, amd other countries.

Usage

The tan stockings were the ones commonly worn for every day activities, such as school or for play on a cool day. Dark and white stockings became seen as dressy wear. The neutral shades might be wiorn with suits, but for really formal events, mothers usually chose either blavk or brown. Some mothers might hve chosen these neutral shades to go with brown outfits, but as they were essentially flesh tomes, they could be worn with outfits of any color.

Age

Gender