Figure 1.--Tights come in a wide variety of colors. These Germans tights, except for the red, are rather muted.
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Figure 1.--Tights come in a wide variety of colors. These Germans tights, except for the red, are rather muted. |
The colors of tights have varied widely. Initially tights were available in white, black, and browns. Gradually a wide variety of colors. Some have even been made in mixed colors. Boys have genrally preferred the more muted colors and perhaps blue. Girls have been more willing to wear bright colors. White and black have common been worn for more formal events. Color conventions have varied over time and among countries.
The initial tights were white, black, and muted colors like browns and tans. Gradually a wide variety of colors appeared. HBC is unable at this time, however, to assess the time lone of color trends in tights. It looks like bright colors became popular in the 1970s and 80s, but more muted colors came back into style by the late 1990s. There were differences among countries so it is difficult to set an overall time line.
The colors of tights have varied widely. Initially tights were available in white, black, and browns. Gradually a wide variety of colors. Tights have since been made in virtually evert imaginable color and shades. Children, especially girls, seemed to like the bright colors in the 1970s and 80s. Even sp some of the standards like white and black were among the most popular. Tights are still available in a wide range of colors, but some of the more muted colors by the 1990s seem to have become more popular.
Some have even been made in mixed colors. While not as common as solid colors, some tights appeared with various color mixtures--for use as informal attire for girls in a playful mood. The mixed-color tights were mostly worn by girls. A wide variety of color combinations were worn.
Both boys and girls have worn a wide variety of colored tights. There are, however, some definite gender preferences. Interestingly, these preferences have generally cut across national borders and over time. Boys have generally preferred the more muted colors and perhaps blue. In the case of blue boys might wear a bright shade--althoug a muted or darker shade was generally preferred. Girls have been more willing to wear bright colors. Although there are certain classic colors (white, black, and various dark greens and browns, as well asctan), girls have experimented with many bright colors. Boys are much less willing tonexperiment.
There is also a major gender difference over white tights. Mothers often like children to wear white tights--especially for formal occassions. Girls often comply, even older girls some times. Boys are much less willing to do so. Younger boys might comply--if unwillingly. So boys of 5-6 years sometimes wear white tights, but it is rare to see older boys wearing them, even in countries where it is more common for boys to wear tights. THere are a few exceptions, such as baket or theatricals--but generally boys did not want to wear whitle tights. Similarly boys have objected to white long stockings and, in some countries, white kneesocks.
Figure 2.--Red is not normally a color for tights worn by boys. There are, however, no definitive conventions for tights so such color choices vary from country to country and among families as well as over time. Note the stripes at the ankles on the tights that this German boy wears. |
White and black tights have commonly been worn for more formal events. Generally these two basic colors, especially white, have been most widely worn for formal events. Girls might wear pastel colors to match new Easter or Spring dresses, but mostly children wore white or black tights for special events. It is interesting that although boys do not wear tights in many countries, in the countries where they are worn that these conventions are fairly standard. Mothers often like boys and girls to wear white tights for formal occasions. Girls do not mind, but boys who generally do not like the idea of wearing tights anyway, particularly object to white tights.
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