French Boys Clothes: Garments--Hosiery


Figure 1.--.

French boys in the early 19th century wore white socks with skeleton suits and with tunic suits. We continue to see white hosiery at mid-century. In the late 19th century, three-quarter stockings were commnonly worn. Unlike neighboring Germany, long over the knee stockings do not appear to have been very common. In the early 20th century three-quarter length stockings remain common, although knee socks begin to grown in popularity as short pants began to replace knee pants. Knee socks do not appear to have been as common as in England. Although commonly worn in the inter-War years with boy short pants and knickers. They were worn more seasonally than in England, perhaps reflecting the warmer French climate. After World War II (1939-45), kneesocks became increasingly seasonal. We note some boys wearing white knee socks which were seen as suitable for formal occassions. Ankle sovks became increasingly common after the 1950s. We do not note French boys wearing tights. HBC has not noted any reference to French boys wearing tights. Since the 1970s, French hosiery has been largely part of the developing pan-European styles.

Chronology

French boys in the early 19th century appear to have worn white socks with skeleton suits. We are not sure about the type of socks because skeletoin suits were worn with long pants. The same is true with the tunic outfits also worn in the early-19th century. Our information is very limited, but white socks seem common. The association with white hosiery seems to have persisted throughout the 19th century and into the 20th century. We note both boys and girls wearing white hose at mid-century. Unfortuntely we have been unable to find any French Dguerreotypes to assess hosiery trends (1840s-50s). We do note French children wearing white stockings once CDVs beclomec available (1860s). We believe that they were white long stockings. In the late-19th century, three-quarter stockings were commnonly worn. Unlike neighboring Germany, long over the knee stockings do not appear to have been very common in France. This may have varied regionally. Trends in northern France such as Alsace might have some German influences, escpecially as Alsace-Loraine was occupied by Germany (1871-1918). And girls may have worn long stockings for formal occassions. In the early 20th century three-quarter length socks were very common. They were worn with both knee pants and bloomer knickers. Knee socks begin to grown in popularity as short pants begin to replace knee pants, especially by the 1920s. Kneesocks were widely worn, but do not appear to have been as popular as in England. As in Germany, but unlike England, boys might wear white knee socks for formal occassions. We also see them being worn to school, especially at some private Catholic schools. We see knee socks being worn with both short pants and knickers. Ankle socks began to appear (1930s). Although knee socks were worn in the inter-War years, they were worn more seasonally than in England. After World War II (1939-45), knee socks became increasingly seasonal. HBC has not noted any reference to French boys wearing tights. By the 1970s we mostly see ankle socks.

Types

French boys have worn the same types of hosiery as other Europeans boys. There have been some differences. French children did not wear long stockings as much as in many other countries, especially in the south. Three-quater length socks seem more common than in other countries. Also kneesocks seem to have been more seasonal wear than in many countries. Children in the Winter tended to wera knee socks whivh unlike the long stockings did not covrer the knee. But if the winter was hard, especialy in mountanous areas or northern France, boys nightmore commonly wear long pants. The girls throughout the year wore dresses, even during the Winter. Only since 1960 have they begun to wear long pants or shorts. French boys do not appear to have worn tights.

Ankle socks


Three-quarter socks

In the late 19th century, three-quarter stockings were commnonly worn. Available images always seem to show that these were solid-colored dark socks, especially for older boys. Younger boys might wear white socks. This was especilly the case for dressy outfits.

Long stockings

French boys even on the late-19th century were not all wearing long stockings, as was often the case in America. French boys also wore long stockings, but it was quite common for French boys wearing kneepants to wear three-quarter length stockings rather than long stockings. HBC notes that French fashion magazines commonly show French boys wearing three-quarter length socks rather than long stockings in the late 19th century. HBC believes, however, that French boys also wore long stockings, but it was more on a seasonal basis and they it was not nearly as common to wear them year round as was the case in sime other countries. Our information on long stockings in France, however, is very limited at this time. In some countries long stockings were worn not only as a cold weather garment, but also as part of a dressy or formal outfit. HBC is not sure that this convention was a accepted in France as was the case in other countries. Unlike neighboring Germany, long over-the-knee stockings do not appear to have been very common. There was some exceptions and regional differences. This was , especially true in areas such as Alsace-Lorain near Germany which were annexed by German in 1870. For the most part, however, long stockings do not appear to have been commonly worn in France.

Kneesocks

In the early 20th century three-quarter length stockings remain common, although kneesocks begin to grown in popularity as short pants begin to replace kneepants. The new Scout movement may have been an influence here. Kneesocks do not appear to have been as common as in England. A variety of colors and patterns were worn. White kneesocks appearto have been popular for dressy occasions. Although commonly worn in the inter-War years, they were worn more seasonally than in England. After World War II (1939-45), kneesocks became increasingly seasonal.

Tights

HBC has not noted any reference to French boys wearing tights. Tights were worn in Germany and several neigboring countries beginning in the 1950s. HBC has litle information on French boys wearing tights. HBC did note that during the late 19th and early 20th century when American boys mostly wore long over the knee stockings that French boys commonly wore three-quarter length socks. While boys in Germany, Switzerland, Scadanaviam, and other countries wore tights for warmth. HBC has not noted this in fashion trend in France. We are not sure at this time why France differed from neighboring countries like Germany and Switzerland. The only factor that HBC can see may be that the climate in southern France is warmer than Germany and Scandanavia and thus warm weather wear like tights may have been less needed. Even in southern France, however, mothers occassionally ddressed younger boys in tights. While French boys do not appear to have commonly wore tights, we have noted a few images of boys wearing them.









HBC






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Created: March 31, 2001
Last updated: 6:30 AM 10/8/2011