Figure 1.--This CDV portrait portrait shows an inidentified American boys who looks to be about 5 years old. He wears a cit-away jacket suit with stripe detailing. Note that the striping is repeated on the knee pants. He had white long stockings to complete his outfit, The portrait is undate, but looks like the mid-1860s to us. The photographer was J.W. Smith (successor to Fernando Dessaur on Eighth Avenue in New York.

Our information on white long stockings is limited for the early-19th century. Photography was not yet invented. Paintings show children commonly wearng white stockings, but as skirts and pants were long, we can not see just how long the stockings were. Yonger boys in the 19th century might wore white long stockings with dresses. We see a number of examples of this during the mid-19th century, especially the 1860s with the advent of te CDV. We note a lot of boys wearing white stockings in the mid-19th century. We are not sure about how common they were in the 1850s. Long panys were very common in the early-19th century through the 50s. We do see some children wearing them, but actual imges are limited. The posing conventions for Dags and Ambros often show primrily the head and torso. In ddition shortened-length pants were not yet common, but we see a few examples. A good example is two unidentified siblings we believe in the 1850s. We note English fashion tests showing chikldren wearing stripped long-stockings at mid-century. We are not sure how accurate this depictiion is as it is primarily illustrated with drawings rather than period photographs are pintaungs. We do not see anything like this in America. We do not a lot of white stockings in the 60s. It is not until the 70s that we begin to see striped stockings in any numbers. This can be very closely followed with the vast numbers of CDV images that became available in the 60s. It is hard to tell from the photographic record how common white stockings were until the 1860s ad the CDV. . Most boys wore long pants and thus hosiery is not very apparent in available portraits. We see white stockings very commonly in the 1860s. This is when knee pants first appeared in large numbers. We begin to see many younger boys wearing kbee pants in the 1860s snd white long stocking were very common. We see white long stockings in the early-1870s. A good example is the Van Husen boys. We also notice bloomer knickers. A good example is Tom K. Christie in 1867. We are not sure how long the stockings were at mid-century. So we do not know if they were really long stockings, however, as early knee pants were quite long. Colored stockings, especially striped stockings, became more common in the 70s. We do not see boys wearing white stockings very commonly in the late-19th century. We see very few portaits in the photographic record. Boys commonly wore dark long stockings and in the 189s black was the predominant color.

The 1800s

Our information on white long stockings is limited for the early-19th century. Photography was not yet invented. Paintings show children commonly wearng white stockings, but as skirts and pants were long, we can not see just how long the stockings were.

The 1850s

Yonger boys in the 19th century might wore white long stockings with dresses. We see a number of examples of this during the mid-19th century, especially in America where Dags and Ambros were taken in large numbers. We note a lot of boys wearing white stockings in the mid-19th century. We are not sure about how common they were in the 1850s. Long pants were very common in the early-19th century through the 50s. We do see some children wearing them, but actual imges are limited. The posing conventions for Dags and Ambros often show primrily the head and torso. In addition shortened-length pants were not yet common, but we see a few examples. A good example is two unidentified siblings we believe in the 1850s. We note illustrted English fashion texts showing children wearing stripped long-stockings at mid-century. We are not sure how accurate this depictiion is as it is primarily illustrated with drawings rather than period photographs or portrait pintings. We do not see anything like this in America.

The 1860s

We see large numbers if boys weating white long stockings in the 1860s with the advent of the CDV. We do note a lot of white stockings in the 60s. It is hard to tell from the photographic record how common white stockings were until the 1860s ad the CDV. Most boys wore long pants and thus hosiery is not very apparent in available portraits. We see white stockings very commonly in the 1860s. This is when knee pants first appeared in large numbers. We begin to see many younger boys wearing kbee pants in the 1860s snd white long stocking were very common. A good example is Tom K. Christie in 1867. We are not sure how long the stockings were at mid-century. So we do not know if they were really long stockings, however, as early knee pants were quite long. We see the Johnson boys im Illinois wearing white long stockings in 1867. We also notice Julian and Charlie in 1864-67 wearing white stockings. These boys are a little older than most of the boys wearing shortened-length pants in the 1860s.

The 1870s

We still American boys wearing white long stiockings in the early-1870s. It is not until the 1870s that we begin to see striped stockings in any numbers. Many were white stiockings with colored bands. The increasing popularity of striped stockings can be very closely watched with the vast numbers of CDV images closely followed by cabinet cards that became available in the 60s. And we see far fewer white long stockings, especially after the early-70s. We see white long stockings in the early-1870s. A good example is the Van Husen boys. We also notice bloomer knickers. Colored stockings, especially striped stockings, became more common in the 70s. We notice one Minnesota boy with white stockings in 1879, but they seem to have a dark band or bottom, it is a little difficult to tell.

The 1880s

We do not see boys wearing white stockings very commonly in the late-19th century. We see very few portaits in the photographic record.

The 1890s

Boys commonly wore dark long stockings and in the 1890s black was the predominant color.

Created: 8:34 PM 9/26/2012
Last updated: 9:13 AM 9/2/2013