** Russian tights : chronology








Russian Tights: Chronology


Figure 1.--A Russian reader reoport that Russian boys from about 5-11 years of age commonly wore tights with short pants during the 1970s. This particular photograph was taken in Moscow about 1974. Tights became less common in the 1980s. I'm not sure about the color, but they look like a dark brown.

Russian boys like German boys wore long stockings well after they went out of style in many other European countries. Boys wearing tights was much more common in the old Soviet Union. The fashion desires of modern Russian boys now have more of an impact on what is sold. Tights esentially replaced long stockings which continued to be worn in Russia through the 1960s. Tights for children first appeared in Germany during the late 1950s and early 60s. This appaers to be the case in the GFR (West Germany). Thus was the result in part of the dvelopment of new synthetic fibers. Tights did not immediately appear in Russia, but by the late 1960s had begun to be seen. A Russian reader reports that in the Soviet Union only long stockings were worn before 1969. Both tights andlong stockings were worn from 1970-72, but mostly tights after 1972. After about 1981, boys no longer wore tights. Our reader report that as far as he knows the same chronology applies to DDR tights. It is possible that the German influence may have brought tights to Russia. East Germany then occupied by the Soviet Union and was a major trading partner. Our information on the chronology and origins of DDR tights, however, is still limited. A Russian reader reports that by 1971-72 it was quite common to see boys dressing up in shortpants suits with tights instead of long stockings. Some boys up to about age 11 wore sailor suits. A Russian reader reports that this was especially common for special occassions like birthdays and Christmas. [HBC did not know that Russian families in the Soviet Union during the 1970s ommonly celbrated Chrstmas.] This continued to be common until about 1978. For some reason this fashion suddenly vanished in 1979-81. A Russian reader reports that fashion vanished ENTIRELY in 1979-81. After 1981 you NEVER could find a boy dressed in short pants and tights, even in the provinces outside Moscow and the other major cities. So "less common" is incorrect. It disappered absolutely.

The 1950s

Russian boys like German boys wore long stockings well after they went out of style in many other European countries. Boys wearing tights was much more common in the old Soviet Union. The fashion desires of modern Russian boys now have more of an impact on what is sold. Tights esentially replaced long stockings which continued to be worn in Russia through the 1960s. Tights for children first appeared in Germany during the late 1950s and early 60s. This appaers to be the case in the GFR (West Germany). Thus was the result in part of the dvelopment of new synthetic fibers.

The 1960s

Tights did not immediately appear in Russia, but by the late 1960s had begun to be seen. A Russian reader reports that in the Soviet Union only long stockings were worn before 1968-69. After that tights rapidly replaced long stockings which were more complicated to wear. We do not have a great deal of information, but one HBC reader, Victor, has provided us some information on his experienves. A Moscow department store, Detskiy Mir, specilizing in childrn's clothes and toys played a major role in bringing tights to the Societ Union. Garnik Oganyesyan on a trip to East Germany in the late 1960s saw children there wearing brightly colored tights and thought they would be a vast improvement over the od-fashioned long stockings thsat Soviet chldren were still wearing.

The 1970s

Both tights andlong stockings were worn from 1970-72, but mostly tights after 1972. A Russian reader reports that by 1971-72 it was quite common to see boys dressing up in shortpants suits with tights instead of long stockings. Tights. Another Russian reader writes, "I was born in 1976 and I never wore long stockings. Older people tell me that they were common for boys to wear a a kind of vest over the camisole to which stockings were attached. As far as I know this all disappeared in the late 1960s or early 70s when children began to wear the much more convenient tights." The photograoh here shows a Russian boyvabout 1974 wearing a jacket and short pants with tights. Some boys up to about age 11 wore sailor suits. A Russian reader reports that this was especially common for special occassions like birthdays and Christmas. [HBC did not know that Russian families in the Soviet Union during the 1970s ommonly celbrated Chrstmas.] This continued to be common until about 1978. For some reason this fashion suddenly vanished in 1979-81.

The 1980s

After about 1981, one HBC reader reports boys no longer wore tights. Our reader report that as far as he knows the same chronology applies to DDR tights. It is possible that the German influence may have brought tights to Russia. East Germany then occupied by the Soviet Union and was a major trading partner. Our information on the chronology and origins of DDR tights, however, is still limited. HBC does notice Russian fashion magazines in 1981 still picturing Russian boys wearing tights with short pants. A Russian reader reports that fashion vanished ENTIRELY in 1979-81. After 1981 you NEVER could find a boy dressed in short pants and tights, even in the provinces outside Moscow and the other major cities. So "less common" is incorrect. It disappered absolutely. Not all of our Russian readers agree with this assessment.

The 1990s

Russian readers tells yus that both boys and girls wore tights in Russia during the winter. HBC has, however, few details. Hopefully our Russian readerswill provide more information here.

The 2000s

A HBC reader in 2004 writes, "Currently boys older than 6-7 years old do not wear tights in Moscow or in St. Petersbourg, but in small towns and especially in rural areas boys still wear tights under long or short pants, like 20-30 years ago, till they are 12-13." Another reader also informs us that Russian children still wear tights, although it is less common to wear them with short pants. Thus while they may not be commonly worn to school, many boys still apparently wear them at home. One factor here may be that Russian himes are not as well heated as homes in the Europe and America.

The 2010

We continue to see Eussian children wearing tights in the 2010s. The conventions seem to be similar to the 2000s. They are worn by girls and younger boys in the winter for warmth. This is difficult to follow as most Russian boys, even the younger ones now wear long pants during the winter. And we see some boys wearing white tights for dressy occassions. A good example of a boy wearing tights is a Russian boy wearing dark grey tights (January 2011). We think that some boys wear tights rather like footed pajamas.






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Created: August 23, 1998
Last updated: 6:35 PM 1/11/2011