Figure 1.--This snapshot shows three unidentified boys, presumbly brothers, sitting in their wagon, for much of the decade one of an American boy's most treasued possessions. The older boys wears knickers with long black stockings which were standard throughout the decade. His little brither wears coveralls. The snapshot is undated, but look like the 1910s.

American boys continued wearing shortened-length pants in the 1910s a convention begun in the mid-19h century following European fashion trends. There was, however, a major departure from European trends, one is the earliest such departure. American boys generally shifted from the knee pants worn in the 1900s to knickers in the 1910s. Both knickers and knee pants had been worn in Europe, but they were not very common in America for boys. This began to change in the late-1900s decade. This was about the same time that Baden Powell's Boy Scouts appeared. The British Scouts began to popularize short pants and knee socks in the 1910s, but this does not seem to have had a major impact on the hosiery that Americas boys wore. American boys continued to wear mostly long stockings. Knickers declined in Europe, although some older boys wore them, mostly with knee sicks. We this do not see knickers nearly as commonly in Europe. This was the first major departure for fashions between American and Europe. At about the same time another major difference occurred, American boys in rural areas began to commonly wear overalls. This is very notable in school photography. We are not sure what kind of hosiery these boys wore because the overalls were a kind of long pants. Going barefoot was common in rural areas as long as the weather stayed warm. but as they often had to walk some distance, was not as common as one might think. Younger boys in urban areas might wear coveralls where we also could not see the hosiery. Many boys in rural areas came to school barefoot during the warmer months. Younger boys might wear three-quarter socks with knee pants outfits, especially during the summer. Most American boys, however, continued wearing long stockings. We see some boys wearing knee socks with above-the-knee knickers showing their knees, but this was not very common. Black long stockings were close to universal and widely worn by boys and girls. Girls and younger boys might wear white long stockings when dressing up. Most boys , however, mostly wore black long stockings. Most school photographs show boys coming to school in knickers and long stockings. Knickers and long stocking were almost universal.

Pants

Hosiery is often a difficult garment to reserach because itis often covered up by long pants and long-skirted dresses. This changed for children in about a hundred year period--the secvond half of the 19th century and the first-half of the 20th century. American boys continued wearing shortened-length pants in the 1910s a convention begun in the mid-19h century following European fashion trends. This is imprtant becuse as a result of the shortenened-length pants, the photographic record shows the hosiery that the children were wearing.

American Trends

There was for the first time in American fashion history a major departure from European trends. One of the earliest such departurev from Europen fashions was thatAmerican boys generally shifted from the knee pants worn in the second half of the 19th century and very early-20th century to knickers in the 1910s. Both knickers and knee pants had been worn in Europe, but knickers were not very common in America for boys. This began to change in the late-1900s decade. This was about the same time that Baden Powell's Boy Scouts appeared. The British Scouts began to popularize short pants and knee socks in the 1910s, but this does not seem to have had a major impact on the hosiery that Americas boys wore.

Hosiery Types

American boys continued to wear mostly long stockings. Knickers declined in Europe, although some older boys wore them, mostly with knee sicks. We this do not see knickers nearly as commonly in Europe. This was the first major departure for fashions between American and Europe. At about the same time another major difference occurred, American boys in rural areas began to commonly wear overalls. This is very notable in school photography. We are not sure what kind of hosiery these boys wore because the overalls were a kind of long pants. Going barefoot was common in rural areas as long as the weather stayed warm. but as they often had to walk some distance, was not as common as one might think. Younger boys in urban areas might wear coveralls where we also could not see the hosiery. Many boys in rural areas came to school barefoot during the warmer months. Younger boys might wear three-quarter socks with knee pants outfits, especially during the summer. Most American boys, however, continued wearing long stockings. We see some boys wearing knee socks with above-the-knee knickers showing their knees, but this was not very common. Black long stockings were close to universal and widely worn by boys and girls. Girls and younger boys might wear white long stockings when dressing up. Most boys , however, mostly wore black long stockings. Most school photographs show boys coming to school in knickers and long stockings. Knickers and long stocking were almost universal.

Created: 7:28 AM 12/1/2017
Last updated: 5:22 AM 6/13/2025