Figure 1.-- Long stockings were still worn in Canada during 1941 by both boys and girls. Lmeesocks were also commonly worn. This Eaton's Spring-Summer 1941 catalog page offers additional hosiery. It combines ads for long stockings with those for knee socks. The Eatons page here offered five different types of hosiery. |
Another Eaton's Spring-Summer 1941 catalog page offers additional hosiery. It combines ads for long stockings with those for knee socks. The Eatons page here offered five different types of hosiery. They were mostly long stockings, but we note kneesocks as well. One thing that seems a bit unusual is the designation "knicker socks". Note that these stockings are made in sizes up to 10 and 10 ½ (long enough to fit teenage boys and girls).
This Canadian retailer began publishing mailorder catalogs in 1881, at least that is we
begin noticing them. We have catalogs from the 1970s, although we do not know about the company's current status. The 1970s catalgs were full of clothes which look like American styles. Timothy Eaton, founder of the huge all-Canadian department store chain bearing his name, was an Irish immigrant born on a tennant farm in northern Ireland. He was born in 1834 and followed his brothers to Canada in 1854. His brothers had opened a small dty goods store in St. Marys. Timothy Eaton began his business with a small dry goods business in Toronto during 1869. He built a giant retail store in Ontario’s capital city along with a country-wide mail-order business and a big new branch store in Winnipeg, by the time of his death in 1907. The Winnipeg branch was the first of many branches. Eaton Company business establishments eventually spread all across Canada when Timothy’s family successors extended the Eaton empire. Timothy masterminded the company during the crucial period of its early
development, spanning nearly 40 years. It was Timothy who implemented the concept of the "Department Store", in Canada, a concept which were already flourishing in London, Paris, and New York.
HBC has noted several images of Canadian boys wearing long stockings. This appears to have been quite similar to American patterns in the late 19th century. HBC has noted that some Canadian boys continued wearing long stockings in the 20th century when many American boys began wearing short socks and kneesocks. In particular Canadian boys appear to have worn longstockings for dress occasions. This appears to have been more prevalent among French Canadians than English Canadians.
Knickers rapidly disappeared in America during the early 1940s. This process was also ar work in Canada, but does not seem to have transpired as rapidly. The fact that knickers were worn longer in Canada is one reason that long stockings persisted longer there.
Here is a hosiery ad from the Eaton's Spring-Summer 1941 catalog on page 66. We notice two ads on page 75.
It seems remarkable to me that Eaton's was advertising long stockings for both boys and girls for the Spring and Summer season of 1941 and in a mixture of cotton and wool. These stockings are "comfy" and "warm," reflecting, I suppose, the fact
that spring in the northern regions of Canada such as Quebec, the
Maritimes, and the Alberta mountains can be quite chilly."
Eaton's published catalogs in both French and English. Thus we note both English and Frenc ads from the same company. The ad here is in an English catalog. We have archived some French-laguage ads on HBC, including ads from the same company. It is interesting to compare the ads in French and English-language catalogs. We re not sure if Eaton's just translated the text or actully gave some thought to appealing to the two coomunities.
I suspect that climate was not the only consideration for the appeal of
long stockings. Many mothers in conservative areas wanted their sons
to wear short trousers (the Canadians continued to refer to them as
"knee pants" long after this term had disappeared in the United States)
throughout the year. We notice, for instance, that "knee pants" (i.e.
shorts) continued to be advertised in Canada for boys up through the
age of 12 even in the winter catalogs, which was not the case in the
U.S. Long stockings were considered to be dressier than ankle or knee
socks and thus especially appropriate for church, school, and other
somewhat formal situations. Older boys sometimes wore knickers or the
more form-fitting breeches during this period and may, perhaps, have
worn them with long stockings although the catalogs advertised knee
socks as appropriate for below-the-knee trousers.
Note that these stockings are made in sizes up to 10 and 10 ½ (long enough to fit teenage boys and girls).
The Eatons page here offered five different types of hosiery. They were mostly long stockings, but we note kneesocks as well.
The Eaton's ad copy read, "Here are the stockings for children’s everyday wear—practical good-wearing quality and finely ribbed from top to toe. These are knit from durable one-ply cotton yarns. Stock up now—ored a full summer supply for the children—at these economical Eaton Prices. Colors: White, Mid Fawn. Dark Brown, Black
State size and color wanted when ordering.
420-222 Sizes 6, 6 ½, 7, 7 , 7 ½ . Price, per pair 19 cents. Sizes 8, 8 ½, 9, 9 ½, 10. Price, per pair 23 cents.
Knicker Hose 38 cents pair."
These are the usual knee socks (but with plain legs and patterns only in the cuffs), and shown, not with knickers, but with short pants. I guess they could be
worn with either short pants or knickers, and since this is a spring ad, the shorts might have been more seasonal. But long stockings were also worn, apparently, in the spring. Note the boy with long stockings and shorts. The Earon's ad copy read, "A favorite type of hose for boy’s wear—fine Richelieu ribbed Knicker Hose, knit of a double 3-ply Marl Cotton yarn with knit-in elastic and contrasting pattern in the turn-down cuffs. This is the sturdy hose you will want for the boys—stands up to “rough-and-tumble” wear! Canadian-made stockings of dependable quality. Colors: Grey, Brown, Blue.
Sizes 7, 7 ½, 8, 8 ½, 9, 9 ½, 10. Be sure to give size and color. 420-277. Price, pair 38 cents. 3 pairs $1.10.
The Eaton's ad copy read, "Misses’ and children’s finely-knit hose with a 1-ply Rayon yarn plated on sturdy 1-ply mercerized cotton. Durable cotton heels and toes. Stretchy 1/1/ ribbing in legs to give a shapely fit and plain-knit seamless foot for comfort. Canadian-made stockings of dependable quality and offered here at a moderate price. Colors: White, Beige, Masque (rose beige). Sizes: 6, 6 ½, 7, 7 ½, 8, 8 ½, 9, 9 ½, 10. Be sure to state size and color wanted when ordering.
Price, per pair 35 cents, or e pairs for $1.00."
The other style of hosiery here is "campus socks". These are knee socks in various colors but apparently aimed more at girls than at boys. So the variety here is interesting for Spring and Summer, 1941. The Eaton's ad copy read, "59 cents.
Popular for misses’ wear, these three-quarter length hose are knit from serviceable double 2-ply Mercerized Cotton yarns with fine cluster ribbing to toe. Snug ribbed cuff. Colors: White, Beige, romper Blue, Red, Medium Green. Sizes 8, 8 ½, 9, 9 ½, 10, 10 ½.
Price, per pair 59 cents. 2 pairs for $1.15."
The Eaton's ad copy read, "made to stand up to lots of hard wear. Closely ribbed in 1/1 rib. Legs knit of 1-ply cotton yarn with double 1-ply cotton yarn in the plain-knit seamless foot. Colors: Dark Fawn or Black. Sizes 6, 6 ½, 7, 7 ½, 8, 8 ½, 9, 9 ½, 10, 10 ½. 420-224. Price, per pair 35 cents. 3 pairs for $1.00. [HBC note: This stocking seems to be the basic school stocking for both boys and girls up to the age of about 14 or 15.]
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