Uniforms Garments: Long Socks--Plain Grey Kneesocks
Figure 1.--The other type of plain greylong socks are kneesocks. This is more of an American term, but by the 1980s many American terms were becoming used in England. And this term was being used for the long socks made only to come to the knee. These were much shorter than the turn-over-top socks. They came just to below the knee even if fully pulled up. Boys at this school wiore the plain grey jneesocks which by the end of the day had fallen down to their ankles.
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The other type of plain greylong socks are kneesocks. This is more of an American term, but by the 1980s many American terms were becoming used in England. And this term was being used for the long socks made only to come to the knee. These were much shorter than the turn-over-top socks. They came just to below the knee even if fully pulled up. As there was no extra length to form a cuff, garters could not be used. These socks were made with elastic to hold them up. This worked at first, but after a few washings the socks lost their elasticity. Often they come below the knee when worn. They were much less expensive than the turn-over-top socks and were purchased in the chain stores rather than the school outfiters. All of the major chains had them. These were the socks normally used in state primaries, but prep school boys also worn them, especially the younger boys. Also quite a number of prep schools did not make an issue of the socks as long as they were grey. Boys at schools where turn-over-top socks were worn usuallt wore their socks at the knee, held there by garters. The kneesocks withot the cuffs and garters would unless very new normally faw down by the end of the day as can be seen here (figure 1).
