German Knee Socks: Patterns


Figure 1.--Here we see a German boy begoinning school with his Zucartute goodie cone in 1954. Note the patterned knee socks. These were not very common before the War, but widely worn after the War. We are not sure what prompted this chsange. We note a wide range of different patterns. Undortunately we are unsure about the colors.

At first German boys mostly wore solid colored knee socks when they became popular in the 1920s. The more common long stockings were also traditionally solid colors. We begin to see German boys wearing patterened knee socks in the 1930s, but solid colors were more common. In fact, until the 1940s, pattern knee soicks were not very common in Germany. Patterned knee socks became very common after World War II. They were were widely worn by German boys. We rarely see them in some other countries like Britain where knee socks were common. American boys did commonly wesar patterned knee socks with knickers during the 1930s, but not with short pants. We are mot entirely sure about the colors because our informatiion is mostlyvfrom period photography which is mostly black and white. There were a wide range of paterns. We are not sure how to describe the patterns, but we see a few boys wearng argyles. Most seem to have non-descript patterns. Knee socks began to decline in popularity during the 1960s as did pattern knee socks. The different styles of kneesocks were available in a 1973 German clothing catalog show the variety of colorful patterns that were worn at the time. By this time, however, knee sicks were rapidly declining in popularity for boys.

Chronology

We mostly see German boys wearing knee sockls furing the 1920s-60s. Knee socks became common in the 1920s, but they were mostly solid colored knee socks. The more common long stockings were also traditionally solid colors. We begin to see German boys wearing patterened kneesocks in the 1930s, but solid colors were much more common. We primnarily see the patterned knee soicks being worn by boys in the 1940s and 50s. until the 1940s, pattern knee soicks were not very common in Germany. We mever see them being worn with the Hitler Youth uniforms. Patterned knee socks became very common after World War II. They were were widely worn by German boys in the 19340s and 50s. A reader tells us that a German friend wore patterned knee socks at their Swiss boarding school. We do not see them in the 1960s, but knee socks were decling in popularity. Knee socks began to decline in popularity during the 1960s as did pattern knee socks. The different styles of knee socks were available in a 1973 German clothing catalog show the variety of colorful patterns that were worn at the time. By this time, however, knee socks were rapidly declining in popularity for boys. Many of the knee socks pictured in 1973 would have been worn by girls.

Other Countries

We rarely see patterned knee socks in other countries like Britain where knee socks were common. American boys did commonly wesar patterned knee socks, mostly with knickers during the 1930s. Patterned knee socks in America were much less common with short pants.

Colors

We are mot entirely sure about the colors because our informatiion is mostly from period photography which is mostly black and white.

Specific Patterns

We note German boiys wearing knee socks with a wide range of paterns. We are not sure how to describe the patterns, but we see a few boys wearng argyles. Actually diamond patterns seem to have fit into many of the various patterns. Tradiional argyles, howevr, were only one of the many patterns wirn. Most seem to have non-descript patterns of various sorts. There were msany different patterns with no one pattern particulsrly common. We do not know what these varipous pattens were called. The only psattern we recognize is the argyles. We are not sure what German terms were used to describe them.

Knee Sock Type

There were different kids of knee-length soicks. Many German boys in the 1920s and 30s wore turn-over top knee socks. These were socks that extended above the knee but were cuffed so that they were wirn just below the knee. The patterned long socks were knee socks tha even when pulled up came just to the knee and not over it or above it. >br>

Gender

We think the patterned knee soickswere more popular with the boys than the girls, but our information is still limited.







HBC






Related Pages:
[Return to the main Main German knee sock page]
[Return to the main German rolling down long stockings]
[Return to the main Main German hoisery page]
[Return to the main Main national long stockings page]
[Return to the main Main hoisery page]
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Created: 8:05 PM 9/9/2009
Last updated: 5:09 AM 9/27/2009