Figure 1.--This CDV shows two unidentified French childen (writing on the back is indistinct) about 1865. The boy wears a cut-away jacket with bloomer knickes. The girls wears a dress with [antalettes. Both are wearing white long sgockings. The studio was Eug. Maurice in Blois.

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). The Daguerreotype was developed in France, but not nearly as common as in America. We do note French children wearing white stockings once CDVs became 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.

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Created: 7:58 AM 10/8/2011
Last updated: 7:58 AM 10/8/2011