Figure 1.--A Russian fashion magazine in 1981 showed this boy's outfit worn with white tights. |
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Russian boys wore tights of many varied colors. The colors seem to have been similar to the colors of the long stockings boys wore before tights appeared. There does, however, appear to have been a much wider range of colors for tights. Very young boys did not care much what color tights they wore and some images show them wearing bright colors or white tights. Older boys developed clear preferences. The most common colors for school age boys were the more subdued, low-saturation colors such as dark brown, light brown, beige and gray. These were the same colors that long stockings that boy had worn before the 1960s. When tights became available in the 1960s the same colors were worn. These colors were worn for school, playground, and home. Some vry young pre-school boys might wear the brighter colors or white like girls might wore. After the began school, however, they wanted the more subdued colors that the older boys wore. A Russian reader confirms that, "Russian boys preferred plain colors like black, brown, or gray. Some mothers chose bright colors or white for younger boys." Black tights were also worn by Russian boys. Black tights were considered appropriate for dress wear. Black tights might be worn for visits, birthday and New Year parties etc. I'm less sure about white. A Russian fashion magazine here shows a boy wearing white tights (figure 1). I'm not sure, however, how common this was.
Russian boys wore tights of many varied colors. The colors seem to have been similar to the colors of the long stockings boys wore before tights appeared. There does, however, appear to have been a much wider range of colors for tights. These were the same colors that long stockings that boy had worn before the 1960s. When tights became available in the 1960s the same colors were worn. These colors were worn for school, playground, and home.
Very young boys did not care much what color tights they wore and some images show them wearing bright colors or white tights. Older boys developed clear preferences. The most common colors for school age boys were the more subdued, low-saturation colors. Some very young pre-school boys might wear the brighter colors such as red or royal bright blue or white like girls might wear. After the began school, however, they wanted the more subdued colors that the older boys wore.
Older boys wore dark blue tights. Younger boys might wear royal blue tights. Like blue tights were worn like wight tights for special occassions.
Black tights were also worn by Russian boys. Black tights were considered appropriate for dress wear. Black tights might be worn for visits, birthday and New Year parties etc.
Older boys prefered muted colors such as dark brown, light brown, and beige. A Russian reader confirms that, "Russian boys preferred plain colors like black, brown, or gray. Some mothers chose bright colors or white for younger boys."
Grey was another color acceptable to older boys.
I'm less sure about white. A Russian fashion magazine here shows a boy wearing white tights, but note that he is a pre-school boy (figure 1). I'm not sure, however, how common this was. A Russian reader writes, "When I was a boy in the 1980s, mothers already didn't use white tights with shorts for special occassions, especially school events. I remember, when I was in a third class (10 years old) the teacher told us to come to school neatly dressed for a school portrait. We all wore dark blue uniforms with either short or long pants. One boy came in went in white tights and dark-blue shorts. As I remember, we all laughed at his outfit. By this time it was common to wear tights at home or under long pants, but we all considered it childish to wear tights (especially white tights) with short pants to school."
A Russian reader writes, "As I remember, I had no real preference about the color of my tights. Normally I wore darker shades for everyday: black, blue, brown, and red tights. Mother had lighter colored tights (white and light-blue ) for special occassions."
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