Figure 1.--This unidentified American boy wears a white knickers suit for his First Communion, we think about 1930. A reader writes, "Since the knicker suit has a knit band on the bottom I think the date is probably the 30s. I will see about the knit band but I think they did not come out until the late-20s or early-30s." HBC thinks that the knit bands may have appeared in the very late-20s, but I think our reader is correct they were primarily a 30s fashion. We are not entirely convinced, however, that this is a knit band, but it may well be. Could it be turn-down knee socks cuffs. Or could it be a version of the regular fabric band that knickers had at the leg hem?

This unidentified American boy wears a white knickers suit for his First Communion, we think about 1930. A reader writes, "Since the knicker suit has a knit band on the bottom I think the date is probably the 30s. I will see about the knit band but I think they did not come out until the late-20s or early-30s." HBC thinks that the knit bands may have appeared in the very late-20s, but I think our reader is correct they were primarily a 30s fashion. We are not entirely convinced, however, that this is a knit band, but it may well be. Could it be turn-down knee socks cuffs. Or could it be a version of the regular fabric band that knickers had at the leg hem?

Identity

We know this is an American boy, but he is unidentified. He loks to be about 8 years old.

Location

We do not know where in America the portrait was taken.

Chronology

The portrait is undated. We think it was taken about 1930. Wither the elaric cuff or knee socks would suggest the 1930s rather than the 20s.

Suit

This boy wears a white knickers suit for his First Communion. We think it is a single breasted suit, but the portrait provides little details on the jacket, He has a white shoulder ribbon. A reader writes, "Since the knicker suit has a knit band on the bottom I think the date is probably the 30s. I will see about the knit band but I think they did not come out until the late-20s or early-30s." HBC thinks that the knit bands may have appeared in the very late-20s, but I think our reader is correct they were primarily a 30s fashion. We are not entirely convinced, however, that this is a knit band, but it may well be. Could it be turn-down knee socks cuffs. Or could it be a version of the regular fabric band that knickers had at the leg hem? A reader writes, "This is a puzzling photograph. At first I thought the knitted cuffs of the knickers were exposed here, but on closer inspection, I think the boy is wearing white knee socks with the cuffs of the socks turned down. It would be very unusual to see the knitted cuffs of knickers so fully exposed, and note that they do not hug the upper calf of the leg (just beneath the knee) with the necessary firmness to hold the knickers in place. Also the blousing is not very full so that it would hardly cover up the cuffs of knickers even in a standing position. Also, if the photo is from the early or middle 1920s, strap-and-buckle closure would be much more common than knitted cuffs, especially in a light-weight suit of white. Knitted cuffs of knickers don't become common until the middle or late 1930s. I think the cuffs of the knickers are concealed underneath the cuffs of the white knee socks, which are probably worn with round garters to hold them in place. The socks look almost like modified long white cotton stockings, which is the real oddity here. Most boys of the period would have actually worn long stockings with such knickers, but this boy has been allowed to wear knee-length socks that look like long stockings (except for the cuffs that show).

Elastic Leg Cuffs

Knickers were normally closed swith a buleled band. We see many boys wearing knickers with a knit elaticuzed band in the 1930s. We do not know precisely when they were introduced. An examples is a Sears knickers suit in 1930.

Knickers Hosiery

American boys generally worn knickers with long stockings through the 1910s. We see some boys wearing knee socks ikn the 1920s. It was, however, not until the 1930s that we see large numbers of boys wearing knee socks with knickers. Long stockings were generally solid colors. Sporty colored patterened knee socks became very popular for knickers in the 30s. We have begun to assess the accompanying clothes worn with knicker suits. We do not yet have a specific hosiery page, but hope to soon have one..

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Created: 9:16 PM 11/5/2009
Last edited: 9:16 PM 11/5/2009