Boys' Irish Step Dancing Costume Garments: Kneesocks


Figure 1.--This boy wears blue kneesocks to match his jacket. A few boys wear kneesocks to match their kilts. This boy wears turn over top kneesocks.

Irish dancing kilts are always worn with kneesocks, even in hot summer weather. Ankle socks are never worn. The colors vary. Like the kilt and jacket, they can be bright colors. A wide variety of colors are worn. Often the kneesocks match the jacket and contrast with the kilt. Occasionally they may be the same color as the kilt. Boys dancing in Ireland or England are likely to wear turn over top socks with a cuff. American boys are less likely to wear the turn over top style as they are less available. Mostly colored kneesocks are available that just pull up to the knee with no material to turn over for a cuff. Kneesocks in America are mostly worn by girls and tey do not wear turn over top socks. A few American boys may even wear cable knit socks.

Usage

Irish dancing kilts are always worn with kneesocks, even in hot summer weather. I have never known boy dancers to wear ankle socks, although girls do wear heavy white socks that are higher than normal ankle socks, but well below the knee.

Colors

The colors vary. Like the kilt and jacket, they can be bright colors. A wide variety of colors are worn. Often the kneesocks match the jacket and contrast with the kilt. Occasionally they may be the same color as the kilt.

Types

Several different types of kneesocks are worn by the dancers. The various types concern the length, weave, and weight of the socks.

Length

Boys dancing in Ireland or England are likely to wear turn over top socks with a cuff. American boys are less likely to wear the turn over top style as they are less available. Mostly colored kneesocks are available that just pull up to the knee with no material to turn over for a cuff. Kneesocks in America are mostly worn by girls and they do not normally wear turn over top socks.

Weave

Boys kneesocks are normally flat weaves. The vast majority of boys use these flat weave kneesocks as part of their costume. Most come with turn-over-tops. A popular style of kneesocks in America has a cable knit running verically up the sock. These are mostly worn by girls as girls since the 1960s have more commonly worn kneesocks. I believe it a largely American style of kneesock. They are never made with turn over tops. As these cable knit kneesocks are widely available, a few boys wear them, but theu are less common than the flat knit kneesocks.

Weight

The dancers wear various weight socks. A few boys wear rather sheers socks. These seem to be mostly dark colored socks normally with turn over tops. Most common is a mid-weight sock. These are socks rather like the ones worn by British school boys, although the grey color is not commonly weorn. A few boys wear the heavy socks often worn by pipers and membes of pipe bands. These heavy socks are also not vet common and are normally white. This contasts with the girls who all mostly wear the very heavy socks.

Flashes and Garters

It is important of course that a dancers' kneesocks stay up while dancing. Give the intensity and forcefull motions involved in Irish dancing, this maens that the boys must wear garters. Often simple black estatic garters are used. Many boys add flashes in colors coordinated with their kilt or blazer.






Christopher Wagner






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Created: August 5, 2000
Last updated: September 26, 2001