Figure 1.--This family snapshot is undated, but we believe was taken during the 1930s. Hosiery conventions were not well defined in the 1920s and early 30s. Younger boys still wore long stockings in the 1930s, but most older boys increasingly wore kneesocks. A HBC reader comments, "I'm not convinced that that photo is from the 1930s. Shorts that short didn't become the dominant fashion until the 1950s." He may well be correct, the kneesocks also do not look quite right for the 30s.

Men and boys in the 18th century appear to have worn white or less commonly colored stockings with knee breeches. In the early 19th century we have noted white socks worn with long pants skeleton uits. German boys commonly wore long stockings as kneepants becme more common in the late 19th century. At the turn of the 20th century, long stockings were still common. As in other countries, black was the most common color for long stockings. Three-quarter socks wer worn, but not as commonly as in France. For m,any years older boys wore long stockings while younger boys might wear sjhorter socks. These were generally repalaced with kneesocks in the 1910s. Younger boys continued to wear long stockings during the colder winter months, often with short pants. Germany can be quite cold in the winter and tus those boys that wore shorts all year round might wear long over-the-knee stockings when it was cold. Conventions seem rather ill defined in the 1920s and early 30s. A good example are the brothers in a middle-class family during the 1920s. Conventions only begin to become more established in the 1930s. It became increasingly less common for older boys to wear long stockings. Knee socks gradualluy were more popular with older boys, but they might wear knickers rather than shorts during the winter. After World War II, long stockings began to disappear, but some younger boys beginning in the late 1950s began wearing tights during the winter instead of long stockings. Tights are still worn by younger children. Older boys also wear tights, but usually for winter sports.

The 18th Century

Men and boys in the 18th century appear to have worn white or less commonly colored stockings with knee breeches. The hosiery worn in Germany seems similar to that worn in the rest of Europe.

The 19th Century

Our information on German hosiery duriung the 19th century is limited, especially the early- and mid-19th cenbtury before phoography becanme commonplace. In the early 19th century we have noted boys white socks worn with long pants skeleton auits. We are not sure, however, what the length of the socks were. we believe that they were rather like three-quater socks. Our information is limited because of the small number of available images as well as the fact boys tended to wear long pants. And girls who were probably wearing the same hosiery also had their legs covered with long dresses ad pantalettes. We also know little about the mid-19th century. Unlike America there are very few German Daguerreotypes or other early photographic formats. We know much more about the late-19th cetury. German boys commonly wore long stockings as knee pants becme more common in the late-19th century. White long stockings wee common in the 1860s and 70s for both boys and girls, at least the younger boys wearing knee pants. We also notice striped stockings in the 1870s. Older school-age German boys tended to wear long pants until relatively late in the 29th century. Thus it is not readily apparent just what kind of hosiery the boys were wearing. By the late-19th century it is easier to tell because so many boys were wearing knee psnts. Long stockings were vwry common, but we notice some boys wearing three-quarter socks, mostly younger boys.

The 20th Century

At the turn of the 20th century, long stockings were still common. As in other countries, black was the most common color for long stockings. Three-quarter socks were worn, but not as commonly as in France. For m,any years older boys wore long stockings while younger boys might wear sjhorter socks. These were generally repalaced with kneesocks in the 1910s. Younger boys continued to wear long stockings during the colder winter months, often with short pants. Germany can be quite cold in the winter and tus those boys that wore shorts all year round might wear long over-the-knee stockings when it was cold. Conventions seem rather ill defined in the 1920s and early 30s. A good example are the brothers in a middle-class family during the 1920s. Conventions only begin to become more established in the 1930s. It became increasingly less common for older boys to wear long stockings. Kneesocks gradualluy were more popular with older boys, but they might wear knickers rather than shorts during the winter. After World War II, long stockings began to disappear. We still see them in the late 40s and early 50s, but rarely by the 1960s. Some younger boys beginning in the late 1950s began wearing tights during the winter instead of long stockings. Tights are still worn by younger children. Older boys also wear tights, but usually for winter sports. Kneesocks were very common through the 1950s, but began declining in popularity during the 1960s.

The 21st Century

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Created: 12:52 AM 3/22/2005
Last updated: 1:49 AM 4/29/2012