Figure 1.--Here we see another unidentified image, also probably from the early 21st century. We are not at all sure where this photograph was taken. The boys look American, but the background looks rather European to us. We have noted German boys wearing tights for playing soccer in cold weather. We have noted European boys wearing long stockings with short pants into the 1950s, but we have not noted them wearing tights wih short pants, especially for casual wear during the Summer. We are not sure how common this is or just where the boys are from.

Here we see another unidentified image, also probably from the early 21st century. We are not at all sure where this photograph was taken. The boys look American, but the background looks rather European to us. We have noted German boys wearing tights for playing soccer in cold weather. We have noted European boys wearing long stockings with short pants into the 1950s, but we have not noted them wearing tights wih short pants, especially for casual wear during the Summer. We are not sure how common this is or just where the boys are from. We would rule out Britain as well as southern Europe (Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Greece, and the Balkan countries). We would guess that this and some similar photographs were probably taken in northern Europe, probably Germany, but we are not at all sure. Perhaps HBC readers will know. A Russian reader writes, "I am sure that the photographs here are not Russian. I think it is rather unusual for the boys to wear tights like this. The boys are wearing short panrs with sheer colored tights (kolgotki). I have seen Russian boys wearing long stockings and tights with shorts, but not commonly in recent years and these images seem to be taken recently." An American reader writes, "Like you, I suspect that these are German boys although the jean shorts and the rather sloppy tee-shirts have an American look--and very recent too. But American styles are being copied in Europe so this would be explainable. It's interesting that one of the boys wear purple tights which seem to match his purple tank-top. I do occasionally see college students on American campuses wearing running tights (usually black) under short shorts on chilly days, but I think these photos are probably northern European. A HBC reader writes, "The image looks very similar to Rostock, Germany on the Baltic Sea which is in the old East Germany. The boys look similar to boys I saw there. They alllooked very American. But when I was there they were wearing long pants due to rain." This is interesting. Thissuggests that there may be enduring differences between clothing styles in East and west Germany. We will be interested to hear from our German readers on this.

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Created: 8:02 PM 4/20/2005
Last updated: 6:50 PM 4/22/2005