Figure 1.--We have no information about this boy. Nor do we understand just what he is wearing. We suspect he is American or English, but we are not sure. The photograph was probably taken in the 1900s decade. We mostly see dark long stockings in the late-19th century and early-20th century. Black long stockings were especially common. Sudenly we see more white long stockings after the turn of the 20th century. This included younger boys.

Long stockings came back into style in the late 19th century as boys commonly wore knee pants. They mostly wore dark stockings, even with dressy Fauntleroy suits. White long stockings for boys became more common after the turn of the century. They were gnerally seen as a dressy style. Older boys ore dark long stockings for formal wear, but the white stockings were seen as suitable for younger boys attending formal occassions. Both boys and girls wore them with dressing up. We see boys in many European countries and America wearing them. A good example is Russian brothers about 1905. White long stocking night be worn with Fauntleroy suits. An example is an unidentified American boy. Even more popular were the tunic suits worn by youner boys. A good example is Lawrence Ivan Maicie. We also note them worn with sailor suits and sailor blouses. Sometimes they were worn with fancy sailor blouses. All white outfits were a popular dressy style. A good example is another American boy. We notice quite a few boys wearing white long stockings as part of First Communion outfits. A good example is a Missouri boy in 1917. The pantaletes worn with white long stockings were no longer commonly seen with the exception of the very early 1900s. This was epecially the case in the 1900s, but somewhat less so in the 1910s. We do see a younger brother wearing white long stockings in 1919. White long stockings wer more common with girls. A good example is the Oelschlagen children about 1915. White long stockings were commonly worn with strap shoes or sandals. After World War I (1914-18), boys still wore white long stockings when dressing up, but must less commonly than before the War. The War was a major diving line in fashion and this is one of many such examples. After the War, knee socks began to replace long stockings in general, although long stockings were commonly worn in the 1920s and even later. Beige long stockings began to appear for younger boys, older boys generallywore dark long stocking. White long stockingsin particular began to be seen as a girl's style. Almost always boys weaing white long stockings would wear some sort of shortned pants, including bloomer knickers (worn with tunics), kneepants, knickers, and short pants. They were most commonly worn by younger boys. Another example is a younger brother in 1925. The boy seen here wears white long stockings with a short pants sailor suits, probaly in the lat 1920s. Many boys this age at the time were still wearing long stockings, but white long stockings were much less common. We see boys wearing white long stockings less commonly after World War I, but we do see some boys still wearing them. They were worn for formal occassions such as weddings or First Communion. A good example is a Brooklyn boy. White long stockings were much more common for girls.

Created: 10:53 PM 8/3/2024
Last updated: 10:53 PM 8/3/2024