Figure 1.--This German boy probably in the 1920s had his portait taken for his first day of school. Notice the long stockings and strap shoes. A German reader tells us that long stockings in Germany were most common among affluent families.

One aspect of social class that I am not entirely sure about is social class. And the topic is complicated because there seem to be differences from country to country. A German reader tells us that in Germany long stockings were a style associated with affluent families. This may have also been the case in other European countries. We note many Belgian boys, for example, doing their First Communion and Confirmation in new short pants suits and long stockings. Our German reader writes. "Here in Germany, long stockings were most closely associated with affluent families. I assume that in North America that short pants with long stockings were worn more by affluent children than working class children." HBC is not sure that this was the case. One complication is not so many American boys wore short pants. Many boys did wear knickers and in the 1920s they were commonly worn with long stockings. This includes both children from affluebt and woirking-class families. Boys in the 1930s more commonly wore knickers with knee socks, but I don't notice a social class factor here. It is true that boys from affluent families were more likely to wear short pants suits than boys from working=class families, but we see knee socks most commonly being worn with short pants suits. Here the fashion influence I think was Britain where boys mostly wore knee socks rather than long stockings. We have seen boys wearing long stockings and short pants suits, but this was often Catholic boys involved with some kind of church event. Here there was also a social class aspect in that most American Catholics were working class before World War II.

Belgium

We note many Belgian boys, for example, doing their First Communion and Confirmation in new short pants suits and long stockings.

Canada

We are not positive about social class trends in Canada. We do know that the upper-class was primarily constituted of British (English and Scottish) Canadians. And here the fashion influence was primarily Britain. Which meant that the boys were more likely to wear knee socks than long stockings. I'm less sure about the girls. French Canadians were more likely to be working-class. And long stockings were commonly worn by French Canadian chikldren. A Frebch Canaduan reader tells us here the Catholic Church was a factor and Church officials approved of long stockings for modesty reasons. Here their concern may have been more with girls than boys.

Germany

I am not sure about social class conventions in Germany. A German reader tells us that in Germany long stockings were a style associated with affluent families. This may have also been the case in other European countries. Our German reader writes. "Here in Germany, long stockings were most closely associated with affluent families." Another German reader, however, writes."I have never heard of that before and I have spoken with a lot people coming from families with 'modest means'. They all wore long stockings. And there is no indication in my period photogrphic collection that chidren from affluent families wore them more than less well-to-do families."

Poland

Russia

United States

Our German reader writes, "I assume that in North America that short pants with long stockings were worn more by affluent children than working class children." HBC is not sure that this was the case. One complication is not so many American boys wore short pants. Many boys did wear knickers and in the 1920s they were commonly worn with long stockings. This includes both children from affluebt and woirking-class families. Boys in the 1930s more commonly wore knickers with knee socks, but I don't notice a social class factor here. It is true that boys from affluent families were more likely to wear short pants suits than boys from working=class families, but we see knee socks most commonly being worn with short pants suits. Here the fashion influence I think was Britain where boys mostly wore knee socks rather than long stockings. We have seen boys wearing long stockings and short pants suits, but this was often Catholic boys involved with some kind of church event. Here there was also a social class aspect in that most American Catholics were working class before World War II.