Figure 1.--Here is a tin-type of an American boy wearing a Glengary cap with a collar-buttoning jacket and knee pants. Light vplored stovkings are tinted red. The fact tat the stockings appear light means that they would haved been a light-red, even pink shade. The question arises as to how accurate these tinted portraits are. The portrait is undated. The pose suggests the 1850s or early 60s, but because it was not cased we think it was provably taken in the 60s.

There were long stockings done in colors like red in the 19th century, although we are not sure about the shades of red or how common they were. Nor or we sure just when during the century red stockings first appeared. We see mostly white stockings in paintings suring the early-19th century. A major problem we have here is the black and white photography of the day which leave us unable to identify colors, except perhaps black and white. Photography is our primary source of information and photographs began to appear in the 1850s. Red would have shown up as a dark color. We do have some information showing that red stockings were worn in the 19th century. We have both literary references and tinted portraits.

Shades

There were long stockings done in colors like red in the 19th century, although we are not sure about the shades of red.

Prevalence

We are not sure how common red stockings were.

Decades

Nor or we sure just when during the century red stockings first appeared. We see mostly white stockings in paintings suring the early-19th century.

Photography

A major problem we have here is the black and white photography of the day which leave us unable to identify colors, except perhaps black and white. Photography is our primary source of information and photographs began to appear in the 1850s. Red would have shown up as a dark color.

Literary References

We suspect that the red was a kind of muted shade, but we are not sure. I also recall from Little Lord Fauntleroy that Cedie had red stockings before moving to England. We think that some colors like red were worn in the late 19th century. We note in the beginning of Mrs. Burnett's book Little Lord Fauntleroy that Cedric wore red stockings.

Tinted Images

We have found several tinted portraits showing red stockings. Tinted portraits are of course not color photographs. Thus they are not definitive proof that children wore red long stockings. We suspect, however, that studiod would not have colored the stockings red unless the boy pictured or at least sime boys did not wear red stockings. We note a shoe advertisement showung a girl wearing red stockings at about the same time. This is a much more professional job than some of the tinted tin-types we have found. Almost certainly the colors here are accurate depictions. We are not sure about the shade of red and how common such colors wore. The black and white photography of the day provide few insights here.

Created: 8:52 PM 6/8/2010
Last updated: 8:52 PM 6/8/2010