Figure 1.--This image illustrate a 1936 Bell Telephone advertisement. HBC is not sure why long stockings were chosen rather than kneesocks. Note the light color of the stockings and the boys' two tone shoes.

Kneepants were more common than knickers in the 19th century and were commonly worn with long over-the-knee stockings. As knickers began to replace kneepants after the turn of the 20th century, boys continued wearing long stockings. Almost always these were dark-colored stockings. There were some exceptions to this. Boys still in dresses might wear white stockings. After the turn of the century, some boys wore their Fauntleroy suits with white stockings. Most Fauntleroy suits had kneepants, but there were some worn with knickers. Regular suits began to be increasingly worn with knickers rather than kneepants in the 1910s. British boys commonly wore them with kneesocks, but most American boys wore long stockings through the 1910s. Only in the 1920s did kneesocks begin to become more important. Even so, some boys were still wearing their knickers with long stockings in the 1930s.

Chronology

Chronological trends varied somewgat bu country. Kneepants in most countrie were more common than knickers in the 19th century and were commonly worn with long over-the-knee stockings. As knickers began to replace kneepants after the turn of the 20th century, especially after World War I (1914-18) some boys continued wearing long stockings. Long stockings were especially popular in America. The popularity, in America, declined markedly after the mid-1920s. HBC has noted long stockings with knickers through the 1930s. Long stockings did not completely dissapear until the early 1950s--but by then they were being worn with short pants.

Color

Boys almost wore dark colored with kneepants and knickers through the 1910s. There were some exceptions to this. Boys still in dresses might wear white stockings. After the turn of the century, some boys wore their Fauntleroy suits with white stockings. But most boys wore dark stockings. This only changed in the 1920s when lighter colored long stockings began to be worn--often tan an other light brown shades.

Suit Types

Most boys wore knickers as part of variously style single breasted and double breasted suits as well as other styles like Norfolks. Some younger boys styles were also worn with knickers such as Fauntleroy and sailor suits, kneepants and by the 1920s short pants were more common. Regular suits began to be increasingly worn with knickers rather than kneepants by the 1910s.

Country Trends

British boys commonly wore knickers with kneesocks. Mant turn of the 20th century show British boys wearing knickers with kneepants cuffe above them. Most American boys wore long stockings through the 1910s. Only in the 1920s did kneesocks begin to become more important. Even so, some boys were still wearing their knickers with long stockings in the 1930s. French boys commonly wore three-quarter length stockings with both kneepants and knickers. Only in the 1920s did knnesocks become more important. HBC has not noted French boys wearing long stockings with knickers. Nor have we noted this fashion in Germany.

Image

HBC is unsure as to why mothers chose long stockings rather than kneesocks. Through the 1910s long stockings were standard in America, but beginning in the 1920s kneesocks began to be widely worn. It is easy to see why bots preferred kneesocks. They were less cimbersome and more comfortable.

But why did some mothers insist through the 1930s that boys wear long stockings rather than kneesocks. There would not seem to be much difference in terms of warmth. So it appears to be a fashion decission. HBC is not sure at this time just what fashion scense that appealed to mothers. We believed that long stockings may have been preceived as being a formal fashion as opposed to more casual kneesocks. A HBC reader wonders whether "the long stockings at that time had more to do with the lack of elasticity in knee socks. Long stockings which were held up with stocking supporters looked neater. I do not know if this is correct. It is just a thought." HBC believes that this is a possibility. Boys were forever letting their kneesocks fall down giving a rather slovenly appearance. HBC hopes to eventually find contemporary sources which addressed this subject.