Figure 1.--Here we see an unidentified American boy dressed up for an unknown special occassion in 1917. He wears astandard knickers suit, but mother had added a ruffled collar blouse, small bow, white long stockings, and strap shoes.

We note American boys wearing white long stockings with a variety of different outfits. Sailor suits and tunic suits were two garments white long stockings were commonly worn with white stockings, primarily because they were very popular garments when white long stockings became fassionable. Most boys did not wear white long stockings with d=sailor suits, but the suits were so common that we see quite a number of boys wearing them with white long stockings. The same is true of tunic suits. We also note these stockings being woirn with Oliver Twist suits. We also see boys wearing Fauntleroy suits with white long stockings, but black long stockings were more common because the classic velvet Fauntlroy suits were more common in the lte 19th century. These were some of the main garments we note boys wearing with white long stockings. There were others. We note boys wearing white long stockings with regular sack suits as well. We suspect this was done for special occassions. We also note boys wearing white long stockings for events like First Communion, often with blouses and knee pants.

Sailor Suits

Given the popularity of the sailor suit and the large number of boys wearing them, it was only natural that some dressy sailor suits were worn with long white stockings. Many dressy sailor tunics were worn with long white stockings, but some boys also wore kneepants sailor suits with them. Often the boys might wear dressy, non-standard sailor suits a the boy pictured here. Most boys did not wear white long stockings with sailor suits, but the suits were so common that we see quite a number of boys wearing them with white long stockings.

Tunic Suits

Tunic suits were another outfit that was hugely popular in the early 20th century. We see a number of boys wearing white long stockings with their tunic suits. Like sailor suits, most boys did not wear white long stickings with tunic suits. Tunics were so popular, however, that quite a number of boys wore them with white long stockings. They were of course worn with the dressy white tunic suits, not the play suits. A good example is Bradley Elliott about 1910. The tunic suit was popular at abouit the same time boys were most likekly to wear long white stockings.

Fauntleroy Suits

The Fauntleroy suit was still in fashion during the very early 1900s, but was going out of style. The classic Fauntleroy suit was primarily worn with black or dark stockings matching the velvet suit, primarily because these dark long stockings were so common at the time Fauntleroy suits were worn. Black long stockings continued to be popular after the turn of the 20th century, but white stockings became popular foir girls abd younger boys as well. Thus byb about 1900, some Fauntleroy suits were being worn with long white stockings.

Oliver Twist Suits

Another popular outfit for younger boys in the early 20th century was the Oliver Twist suit, especially by the 1910s. They were normally made with knee pants. We see some boys wearing them with white long stockings.

Sack Suits

Te sack suit was the stndard suit style for men and boys during the lte-19th and 20th century. We see some boys wearing knee pants, knickers, and short pants suits with white long stockings. This was not very common as white long stockings were generally worn by younger boys who are not yet waring these suits. We note some boys wearing white suits with white stockings for First Communion,. A good example is Arthur Rando in the 1910s. White stockings were not exclusively worn with white suits, but it was a standard convention.

Other Outfits

There were others. We note boys wearing white long stockings with regular sack suits as well. We suspect this was done for special occassions. We also note boys wearing white long stockings for events like First Communion, often with blouses and knee pants.

Created: 7:12 PM 7/14/2008
Last updated: 5:37 AM 6/8/2009