** long stockings : United States color gender trends








U.S. Long Stockings: Color--Gender Trends


Figure 1.--We knoow from American clothing catalogs that children wore different colors of long stockings. Unfortunately, the photographic record in black and white makes it difficult to assess color. We can only be sure about white and to some extent black. Here a girl wears white stockings and here younger brother black stockings. The AZO portrait is undated, but looks like the 1910s.

Both American boys and girls wore long stockings during the second half of the 19th and early 20th century. Long stoickings were baically universal for bogth genders. There was little gender differencs, but there were some. And these varied over time. One of the most significant differences and these vasried over time. Boys and girls for the most part wore the sane colors. Black was especially important and widely worn by both boys and girls. There were some gender differences as to the color worn. White stockings were very common for both boys and girls in thwe 1860s. White stockings subsequently declined in populasrity during the 1870s-90s. Little boys still in dresses might wear white stockings, but not older boys wearing Fauntleroy suits, sailor suits, and suits. Even boys in kilts did not wear white stockings. Even during the summer when boys wore light-weight white sailor suits, they were worn with dark stockings, never white long stockings. Girls wore a greater variety of stockings colors, but even for girls white long stockings were not very popular in the late-19th century. Unfortunately the black and white photographic record maskes it difficult to assess the colors of stockings boys and girls were wearing. We know from catalogs that stockings werre sold in different coloes, buit we are less sure as to who is wearing the various colors. Only white stockings we can be sure about. White stockings returned to populsarity at the turn of the 20th century. They were primarily worn by girls. We are not sure just when or why white stoickings suddently becamne so popular, but by the turn-of-the 20th century we see many children wearing white long stockings. While they were especially populasr for girls, we see many younger boys wearing white long stockings as well. One interesting fashion detail is that boys did not commonly wear white long stockings when they became popular agsain. White was especially popular for girls. One report from the 1930s indicated that the girls were wearing bright colored stockings, but HBC has not yet been able to confirm this.

Boys

Boys wore long pants in the early-19th century. In fact long pantys skeletin suits wre the first mle long trousrs--but only worn by boys. There was no need for long stockings. This changed at mid-century when shortend length pants appeared, at first for younger boys. At first we mostly see younger boys (1850s-60). This changed as gradually black and other dark colors became standard (1870s). Little boys still in dresses might wear white stockings, but not older boys wearing Fauntleroy suits, sailor suits, and rgular suits.We se boys wearing white stockings in the early-70s, but not by the end of the decade. This continued for two decades as older boys began wearing mostly knee pants with dark long stockings (1880s-90s). Knee pants became basically universal for boys and were wornm with long stockings. Even boys in kilts did not wear white stockings. Even during the summer when boys wore light-weight white sailor suits, they were worn with dark stockings, never white long stockings. Knee pants and long stockings were somewhart less common in rural areas and among working-class children, but they were nearly universal in the cities. There were a variety of colors, but by far black was the most common. Navy blue may have also been worn, but it is impossible to differentiate between the two in the photographic record. One interesting fashion obsrvation is that boys did not commonly wear white long stockings when they became popular again round the turn-of-the 20th century. The exception here was youngr boys until about 8 years of age, a few years into ekementary (primary) school. White was not standard. As yoiu can see here, most boys wore black or other dark long stockings (figire 1). But we do see some youngr boys being dressing up with white long stockngs, often with all white outfits (1900s-10s). This might include the shoes. Many of the all white garmnts were tunic suits garment popular in the early-20th century, but also worn withfancy white Fauntleroy blouses.

Girls

Girls in the early 19th century wore Empire dresses witj long shorts just as boy wore long pants skelton suits. And just as boys begn wearing shortend length pants, by nids century, gurks wre wering shorteben-lngth skirts, commonly weith pantalettes. Girls wore stockings with a greater variety of colors than boys, but even for girls white long stockings were not very prevalent in the late-19th century. Unfortunately the black and white photographic record maskes it difficult to assess the colors of stockings girls were wearing. We know from catalogs that stockings werre sold in different coloes, buit we are less sure as to who is wearing the various colors or how prvalent the various colors wre. Only white stockings we can be sure about in the photographic record. White stockings returned to populsarity at the turn of the 20th century. They were primarily worn by girls. We are not sure just when or why white stoickings suddently becamne so popular, but by the turn-of-the 20th century we see many children wearing white long stockings. While they were especially populasr for girls, we see many younger boys wearing white long stockings as well. White was especially popular for girls. One report from the 1930s indicated that the girls were wearing bright colored stockings, but HBC has not yet been able to confirm this. Just as all white outfuits became popular for younger boys in the early-20th century, all white garments became popular for girls. In tghe case of girls, it was not just younger girls. Girls of all ages wore these white outfits. The girl here in a white dress is a good example (figure 1). Notice the white shoes.







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Created: 5:05 AM 6/29/2009
Last updated: 8:58 PM 2/23/2022