Figure 1.--Here we see an American boy in the 1910s wearing an all white summer outfit. Notice the white three-quarter socks and white high-top shoes. |
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After the turn of 20th century when children also began wearing three-quarter stockings on a seasonal basis. We do not see very many American children wearing three-quarter socks before the turn-of-the 20th century. There was some variation in length. Here we do not see these variations as significant. Thus we have created a general category --three-quater socks. Basically they were socks that were shorter than knee socks, but higher than ankle socks. Both boys and girls wore them. There were, however, gender differences. While girls of all ages wore three-quarter socks, we only see younger boys wearing them. Three-quarter socks were much more common in Europe. American children, however, mostly wore long stockings even in the summer. Although going barefoot was also cpmmon in the summer. Fashion articles provide some information about hosiery. Haper''s Bazar in a 1877 article "Small Boy's Clothes" suggested that socks which at the time were three-quater length should be only worn by younger children. After the turn-of-the century we see quite a few American children wearing three-quarter socks, especially in the 1900s and 1910s and to a lesser extent the very early 1920s. Three-quarter socks were usually white, although some had colored trim. While the period photographs show the patterns they provide few clues as to the color. Both boys and girls wore them. Boys commonly wore them with knee pants, but rarely with knickers. These were the types of pants commonly worn in the early 20th century. Three-quarter sopcks were in large measure, but not entirely, seasonal wear. We see them mostly during the summer. During the cooler months children mostly wore long stockings.
Three quater socks were worn in the 19th and early-20 century. Trends varied substantially from countrt to country. We see many European boys wearing three-quarter socks during both the 19th and early-20th century. The American pattern is very different. We rarely see American boys wearing three-quarter socks in the 19th century. Most boys wore long stockings, unless going barefoot. This included quite young boys. But we do begin to see them after the turn-of the 20th century. We are not sure why this discrepancy appedared. After the turn-of-the century we see quite a few American children wearing three-quarter socks, especially in the 1900s and 1910s. A good example are the Keck children in the 1910s. A we coninue to see them commonly, but to a lesser extent in the 1920s, especially the very early 1920s. By the 1930s we mostly see ankle socks or knee socks, but long stockings were also worn.
After the turn of 20th century we see American children also began wearing three-quarter stockings on a seasonal basis. Three-quarter socks were much more common in Europe. American children, however, mostly wore long stockings even in the summer. Although going barefoot was also common in the summer. Three-quarter sopcks were in large measure, but not entirely, seasonal wear. We see them mostly during the summer. During the cooler months children mostly wore long stockings.
There was some variation in length. Here we do not see these variations as significant. Thus we have created a general category --three-quater socks. Basically they were socks that were shorter than knee socks, but higher than ankle socks.
Both boys and girls wore them. There were, however, gender differences. Both boys and girls wore them.
While girls of all ages wore three-quarter socks, we only see younger boys wearing them. Fashion articles provide some information about hosiery. Haper''s Bazar in a 1877 article "Small Boy's Clothes" suggested that socks which at the time were three-quater length should be only worn by younger children.
Three-quarter socks were usually white, although some had colored trim. While the period photographs show the patterns they provide few clues as to the color.
Boys commonly wore both knee pants and knickers with long stockings. We see boys after the turn-of-the 20th century sometimes wering light-weight knee pants with three-quarter stockings during the summer. This included white sailor suits, but rarely dark sailor suits. We also see boys wearing tunic suits with three-quarter socks. This commonly meant bloomer knickers.
These were the types of pants commonly worn in the early 20th century.
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