Figure 1.--Knee pants and long stockings were standard boys wear in the 1890s. Not only were they increasingly common, but older bioys including teen agers were wearing them, especiaslly by the late 1890s. And kneepants were worn at knee-length rather than the longer lengths seen earlier. Girls also wore long stockings.Thus for a smart look it was becoming increasingly important for boys and girls to wear stocking supporters to hold up their stockings. Manufacturers responded to this need, although te variety of stocking supporters was still rather limited.

We have relatively limited information on stockings and how they were held up in the ealy 20th century. Thus we have relatively limited information on hosiery during the early 19th century and no information at all on stocking supporters. The first stocking supporters we note are in the late 19th century. We are not sure how long stocking were held up in the mid-19th century. During this period long stockings were mosttly worn by younger boys and girls. We assume makeshift arrangements were used like pins. Our information on the mid-1850s is limited by the relative rarity of advertising. Another factor is that lithography allowing the printing of illustrations was still quite basic. The first ad for a stocking supporter we have archived on HBC comes from a 1886 advertisement. This corresponds to the growing popularity of kneepants and long stockings. Knee pants and long stockings were standard boys wear in the 1890sand were being worn by teenagers as well as younger boys. Girls also wore long stockings. Thus period catalogs offer stocking supporters, especially by the 1890s. As far as we can tell, the selection was still quite limited.

The 1800s

We have relatively limited information on stockings and how they were held up in the ealy 20th century. Thus we have relatively limited information on hosiery during the early 19th century and no information at all on stocking supporters. The fact that many boys were wearing long pants meant that stockings did not need to be very long and it was not that important to hold them up.

The 1850s

Boys mostly wore long pants in the 1850s. We do notice younger boys wearing fancy suits like Zouave suits with bloomer knickers. These were normally worn with long stockings, often stripped stockings. We are not sure how long stocking were held up in the mid-19th century. During this period long stockings were mosttly worn by younger boys and girls. We assume makeshift arrangements were used like pins. Our information on the mid-1850s is limited by the relative rarity of surviving advertising. Another factor is that lithography allowing the pribting of illustrations was still quite basic.

The 1860s

We begin to see some boys weating kneepants in the 1860s. Long pants were still more common, but kneepants were worn in the 1860s. Often they were very long kneepants often made with hems at calf level. As a result, the stockings did not have to be very long. We do not know of any stocking supporters made in the 1870s.

The 1870s

The 1880s

Knee-length kneepants became common in the 1880s and more boys were wearing kneepants. The popularilty of kneepants and long stockings created a need for devices to hold up long stockings which were also worn by girls. The first stocking supporters we note are in the late 19th century. This corresponds to the growing popularity of kneepants and long stockings. We notive the Double-Ve Waist. This is the earliest stocking supporter we have archived on HBC. Almost certainly earlier examples, but examples of waists before 1885 are much harder to find than after 1885. The first stocking sypporters we find are garter waists also referred to as waists.

The 1890s

Knee pants and long stockings were standard boys wear in the 1890s. Not only were they increasingly common, but older bioys including teen agers were wearing them, especiaslly by the late 1890s. And kneepants were worn at knee-length rather than the longer lengths seen earlier. Girls also wore long stockings.Thus for a smart look it was becoming increasingly important for boys and girls to wear stocking supporters to hold up their stockings. Manufacturers responded to this need, although te variety of stocking supporters was still rather limited. Thus period catalogs offered stocking supporters providing us a good record of what was available at the time. Of course they were also sold in stores. We notice a Double- Ve Waist in 1892. We noticed this same style in the 1880s. We notice the EZ-Waist. We also note Daisey hose supporters in 1895. There were H & W Underwaists offered in 1896.

Created: 10:17 PM 7/2/2005
Last updated: 9:37 PM 11/14/2008