Figure 1.--This little Berlin boy was photographed wearing a velvet suit with some sailor features. Notice what look like white stockings. A reader reports that they have indistinct stripes. The dealer reports that the portrait was taken in 1892. It looks a little older to us. The owner tells us that "1892" is printed on the back in small letters. As it is printed that presumably means that the portrait could have been taken in 1892 or later, but not earlier.

Most German boys we have noted wearing kneepants in the mid-19th century wore long stockings, although because the kneepants were often quite long, it is difficult to assess the length of the stockings. We simply do not know how long the stockings were in many 19th century portraits. We notice white and stripped stockings at the time. We assume the boys were wearing long stockings, but given the long length of the kneepants, the stockings did not need to be very long. By the turn of the 20th century we can see boys weating both socks and stockings. We also note dark long stockings more commonly. We see white stckings in the 1860s. We are not sure what colors followed , but black stockings were standard by the 1890s. Boys also began wearing three-quarter stockings and kneesocks as well. The three-quarter socks were worn seasonally. There seems to have been an age factor. We do not yet notice the boys wearing ankle socks. And commercial tights were not yet developed.

Chronology

Most German boys wore long stockings with knee pants. This is because the popularity of knee pants and long stockings overlapped. Knee pants were most pronounced when long stockings were commonly worn. While knee pants appeared at mid-century, they did not become common for older boys until the 1890s. we have noted wearing kneepants in the mid-19th century wore long stockings, although because the kneepants were often quite long, it is difficult to assess the length of the stockings. We simply do not know how long the stockings were in many 19th century portraits. It is likely that at least some boys of the yonger boys weating long pants also wore long stockings, but this e can not yet substantiate. We notice white and stripped stockings at the time. We assume the boys were wearing long stockings, but given the long length of the kneepants, the stockings did not need to be very long. By the turn of the 20th century we can see boys weating both socks and stockings. Hosiery becomes more pronounced in the 20th century, but the popularity of knee pants declined sharply after World War I.

Hosiery Types

The photographic record clearly shows thst long stockings were very commonly worn with knee pants. We see whole school classess with almost all of the boys wearong knee pants and long stockings. This is in prt because long stockings were so common for children. While long stockings seem the most popular type of hosiery worn with knee pants, we also note dark long stockings more commonly. We see white stckings in the 1860s. We are not sure what colors followed , but black stockings were standard by the 1890s. Boys also began wearing three-quarter stockings and kneesocks as well. The three-quarter socks were worn seasonally. Knee socks became increasingly popilar in the 1920s and three-quarter socks declined in popularity. We do not yet notice the boys wearing ankle socks. And commercial tights were not yet developed.

Ages

There seems to have been an age factor in the choice of hosiery.

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Created: 7:17 PM 12/1/2005
Last updated: 5:26 AM 12/6/2008