Figure 1.--We see numerous European novelty postcards in the 1920s and 30s showing children wearing leggings in winter scenes. The card is not dated, but looks like the 1930s. the girl seems to be some "little princess" richly dressed with fur mittens and cap, and high boots. It is somewhat impractical to make such high boots because fast-growing children will wear them for only a very short time. We think these post cards were more nostalgic than actual representations of popular fashions, but it is interesting how commonly we see them in winter scenes.

We also notice leggings in the 20th century. We note that both boys and girls are wearings leggings at the turn-of-the 20th century. We are not sure how well reflected they are in the photographic record. Children when having a formal portrit taken during the winter, usually took off their coats and other heavy garments. We do not see them commionly in the snapshots that begin to appear with the introduction of the Kodak Brownie (1900). They were a reltively expensive item, especially if made of leather, and thus mostly worn by children from well-to-do families. A good example is an unidentified American boy about 1905. We notice Montgmery Wards offering leggings in 1922 catalog. We note numerous offerings for leggings in French fashion magazines and catalogs during the 1920s. They were often depicted in European postcards showing winter scenes during the early-20th century. This seems to be more of a nostalgic depiction than an accurate depiction of popula fashions, but is a little difficult to tell. A Canadian reder tells us that Shirley Temple by popularising short skirts for little girls helped to revive leggings for a time. Younger boys in the 1930s also began wearing shorter cut short pants. Some children wore long stockings, but never Shirley. This may have led to the decliomning im[prtance pf long stockings in merica during the 30s. One alternative to long stockings was leggings. This may have also helped to npopularize snowsuits. Leggings were worn with a variety of garments through the 1940s, but were little worn after the 1950s. One innovation in which leggings were more commonly worn were snow suits for younger children. We see quite a few of these in the 1920s and 30s and even into the 50s.

The 1900s

We also notice leggings in the 20th century. We note that both boys and girls are wearings leggings at the turn-of-the 20th century. We are not sure how well reflected they are in the photographic record. Children when having a formal portrit taken during the winter, usually took off their coats and other heavy garments. We do not see them commionly in the snapshots that begin to appear with the introduction of the Kodak Brownie (1900). They were a reltively expensive item, especially if made of leather, and thus mostly worn by children from well-to-do families. A good example is an unidentified American boy about 1905.

The 1910s

The 1920s

We see fashionably dressed American and European boys and girls wearing leggings in the 1920s. Leggings do not seem very commpn, but we see children from well to do families wearing them. We notice Montgmery Wards offering leggings in 1922 catalog. We note numerous offerings for leggings in French fashion magazines and catalogs during the 1920s. They were often depicted in European novelty postcards showing winter scenes during the early-20th century. This seems to be more of a nostalgic depiction than an accurate depiction of popula fashions, but is a little difficult to tell. One innovation in which leggings were more commonly worn were snow suits for younger children. We see quite a few of these in the 1920s and 30s and even into the 50s.

The 1930s

A Canadian reder tells us that Shirley Temple by popularising short skirts for little girls helped to revive leggings for a time. He writes, "This film icon brought a radical change in children's fashion. The main aspect beyond the curls was the lenght of dress for girls which probably affected the the lenght of short pants for younger boys as well. This presented a problem during the winter. The problem was how to keep little legs warm in winter. And Shirley almost always wore ankle socks. Long stockings were still worn at the time, but Shirley never wore them. Increasingly Ameeican began tosee hose suspenders and long stockings as ugly and old fashioned. Shirley's dresses were often very short. This didn't make a difference in California or some regions located in south United States, bit in colder regions it was necessary to civerva child's legs, either with knee socks or long stockings. Knee socks were common in Britain where it rarely gets really cold. But in countries with colder climates (Germany, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Poland, the Baltics, Russia, the northern United States, Canada, and Japan), long stockings were still worn. Another option was cloth or leather leather gaiters/leggings instead of long stockings. Children could wear them outside when the weather was bad. This was largely the children from well-to-do families." We are not sure just to what extent Shirley initiated as to followed on going fashion trends. It is, however, surly the case that anything Shirley wore, both her clothing and hair styles, becme enormously popular in America. Little curls commonly wore short skirts. Younger boys in the 1930s also began wearing shorter cut short pants. Some children wore long stockings, but never Shirley. This may have led to the declining importance of long stockings in America during the 30s. One alternative to long stockings was leggings. This may have also helped to popularize snowsuits. We also continue to see novely postcards in Europe showing winter scenes with children in leggings.

The 1940s

Leggings were worn with a variety of garments through the 1940s.

The 1950s

Leggings were little worn after the 1950s with the exception of snowsuits. We also see some pre-school boys wearing peaked caps, overcoats and leggings. This was how a by wearing an Eton suit may be dressed duringthe winter. It was a way a boy from a well-to-do family might be dressed.

The 1960s

A reader writes, "When miniskirts and sweater dresses by Mary Quant appeared in 1965, high boots looking somewhat like leggings became a logical extension with colored tights. This fashion was adopted by young adult women for at least 10 years. But even on today, there is still occasionnal come-back from designers of Paris, London, New-York. As somebody said, in a matter of fashion, children are always a step ahead!"

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Created: 8:47 PM 8/7/2010
Last updated: 8:47 PM 8/7/2010