Figure 1.--As far as we can tell, the conventions for wearing tights were similar in America and Canada. Tights were mostly worn by girls. Were we see an unidentified Canadian boy wearing white tights and strap shoes in 1960. The jacket to us, however, with the wide lapels looks to us more like the50s. He looks to be about 6-years old. We do not think this was very common. We wonder if this was perhaps more common among French Canadians than English-seaking Canadians. The studio backdrop seems very basic and old-fashioned. A reader writes, "It is possible that the short suit was second hand from a relative which would explain the 1950s looking lapel in 1960 (assuming the date is correct). Also I would guess that the boy is aged 5 or 6. He definitely looks to be dressed for a formal event. I wonder if he is French Canadian or from a more rural area which may have been more conservative." Also note the wide tie, another 1950s indicator. Click on the image for a further discussion.

We have limited information about Canadian boys wearing tights. Despite the climate, it does not appear to have been common unlike other norther countries. Until 1965, there were no reasonably priced tights available for children in Canada. Also, you have to think that a pair of long stockings was relatively inexpensive. Tights need complicated methods of knitting, they were costly and only dancers were able to afford to wear them. You have to understand that it was easy to darn a stocking and mix with another in good condition. If tights were torn on one leg, the whole pair had to be thrown away. These economic factors have to be considered when assessing clothing, especially children's clothing. Tights for kids didn't exist before Helanca who used synthetic products. Some Canadian reader have forwarded their personal experiences concerning tights. One Candian HBC reader reports that he wore tights as a young boy in the 1980s. Unlike Europe where they were sometimes dress wear, in Canada they were mostly worn as cold-weather wear.

Popularity

We have limited information about Canadian boys wearing tights. Despite the climate, it does not appear to have been common unlike other northern countries. As in America, it was mostly girls who wore tights.

Gender

As far as we can tell, tights were mostly worn by girls in Canada. The same pattern as in the United States.

Chronology

We suspect that the chronology for tights in Canada would be very similar to that in the United States to the south. The two economies are very closely related even before the North American Free Trade Agreement (1990s). One source suggesrs that until about 1965, there were no reasonably priced tights available for children in Canada. The photograoh here was susposedly dated 1960 (figure 1). We can not, howevr verify the date. The jacket style seems appropriate for the 1950s to us.

Etnicity

We do not know if the popularity of tights varied among English and French speaking Canadians. Long stockings seem to have been more popular and persisted longer within the French-Canadadian than wider English community. This may have also affected tights, but we can not yet confirm that. Hopefully ourvCanadian readers will tell us more.

Cost

Also, you have to think that a pair of long stockings was relatively inexpensive. Tights need complicated methods of knitting, they were costly and only dancers were able to afford to wear them. You have to understand that it was easy to darn a stocking and mix with another in good condition. If tights were torn on one leg, the whole pair had to be thrown away. These economic factors have to be considered when assessing clothing, especially children's clothing.

Material

Tights for kids didn't exist before Helanca who used synthetic products.

Personal Experiences

Some Canadian reader have forwarded their personal experiences concerning tights. One Candian HBC reader reports that he wore tights as a young boy in the 1980s. Unlike Europe where they were sometimes dress wear, in Canada they were mostly worn as cold-weather wear. The boy here seems to be eraring tights for formslity (figure ). But he may have worn socks during the summer.

Created: February 20, 2004
Last updated: 1:29 AM 11/27/2011