Figure 1.--Here we see a French postcard-back portrait. It is undated, but was probably taken about 1910. The boys wear matching sailor suits with white cut-away lace over the V sailor collars. Their little sister wears a white dress and hair bow. The children look to be about 3-8 years old.. They all wear the same dark three-quarter socks and high-top shoes. Click on the image for a fuller diuscussion.

French boys wore different types of hosiery with sailor suits. This varied over time. Long stockings were worn as shortened-length pants became improtant in the later oart of the 19th century. Over time socks became more important. French boys might wear long stovkings, but mostly for formal occassions or cold weathet. Socks were much more important. Three-quarter stockings were most common in the late 19th century. Long stockings, however, were much less common than in America and many European countries such as Germany and Scandanavia. And this was in sharp contrast to America where long stockings were important into the 20th century. After World War I, knee socks became increaingly important in France.

Created: 2:49 AM 7/24/2021
Last updated: 5:47 PM 7/26/2021