Figure 1.--This German snazpshot shows a German family in 1930. The children wear long stockings and knee socks. We are not entirely sure how that worked. Did mother put out the hosiery or did the childredn select their hosiery. Of course age was a factor. The children are using round garters to hold up their stockings.

Some mothers opted for a less formal stocking supporter. Some used a rubber ring around the thigh to hold up the stockings. One method was a "Strumpfband", or a elastic band around the upper end of the Lange Strumpf (sing.) One HBC reader describes this as a "a horrible torture" and says such mothers "did not care much for the comfort and health of her child". Here usually red rubber rings ("Weckringe") were used, originally made for sealing jars of preserves made by the Weck company (Wehr in Baden). This was perhaps the simplist approach to holding up long stockings. Many children, however, did not like them. They were not restrictive like Strapsleibchen and Strumpfhalter, but they were not comfortable to wear. Here is a group of four German children taken in 1930 (figure 1). They look to be middle-class Germans. Three of the children, two boys and a girl, wear long stockings. As it was common at that time, the boys' stockings are pulled up with round garters. One positive aspect with the rubber garters was when the weather was cold, stockings were held up over the knee and when weather was warmer , stockings were pulled down below the knee as when the child was inside home. No doubt that behavior was practical and useful.But for cultural reasons, even during hot days of summer, it was the custom to pull up stockings at church or at school but in the same day, the child would lower them at play. With a garter belt, stockings feli to the ankles which was very inconvenient. That is why so many American children went barefoot. Going barefoot was less common in Germany. The reason why round garters were banned was the result of medical research, mainly in America and Canada which found that hose supporters with attachments on both side of the body were more healthy. Tight round garters in contrast could restrict blood flow and damage blood vessels in the legs. On looking at the young boy sitting on his mother's knees, it is clear that the round garters are really too tight. Maybe his long stockings will stay up neatly but at what price ! The bigger boy at left also wears round garters which do not seem as tight. But the problem then is that if this boy wished to run and play, his stockings would fall down because his garters are too loose-fitting, not tight enough. Then, he would have to pull up his srockings every five minutes. After World War II, boys began objecting to stocking supporters. That is one reason why they asked to wear long pants during colder winter seasons. Because girls rarely played roughly and were generally more obedient, they complied more readily with parental wishes until the advent of tights during the 1960s.

Description

German mothers had several options asctobhow to make sure their children kept up their long stockings. Some mothers opted for a less formal stocking supporter. One method was a "Strumpfband", or a elastic band around the upper end of the long stockings (Lange Strumpf sing) on the thigh. There were also stronger rubber rings/bands which could be used. Here usually red rubber rings ("Weckringe") were used, originally made for sealing jars of preserves made by the Weck company (Wehr in Baden). This was perhaps the simplist approach to holding up long stockings.

Positioning

The position of the bands varied. This ranged from the upper to lower thigh. It depended on the hem of the skirt or shorts and the length of the long stockings. The idea was to place the band high enough son it was tight and geld up the stockings and could not be seen.

Evaluation

One positive aspect with the rubber garters was when the weather was cold, stockings were held up over the knee and when weather was warmer , stockings were pulled down below the knee as when the child was inside home. No doubt that behavior was practical and useful.But for cultural reasons, even during hot days of summer, it was the custom to pull up stockings at church or at school but in the same day, the child would lower them at play. With a garter belt, stockings feli to the ankles which was very inconvenient. That is why so many American children went barefoot. Going barefoot was less common in Germany. The reason why round garters were banned was the result of medical research, mainly in America and Canada which found that hose supporters with attachments on both side of the body were more healthy. Tight round garters in contrast could restrict blood flow and damage blood vessels in the legs. There is a lot of official literature recommending that they not be worn for health reasons (bad for circulation). Strapsleibchen were the preferred method of holding up long stockings. Older boys were sometimes given Strumpfgurteln (male garter belts similar to what modern hockey players wear) when they got to about age 12 or 13. We are told by several German commentators in their personal experience statements that these were likely to be hand-made articles sewn by their mothers rather than commercially purchased garter belts.

Children's Opinions

One HBC reader describes this as a "a horrible torture" and says such mothers "did not care much for the comfort and health of her child". Many children, however, did not like them. They were not restrictive like Strapsleibchen and Strumpfhalter, but they were not comfortable to wear. A reader writes, "I also think the statement about a Strapsleibchen being 'restrictive' is not really accurate. These garments normally allowed for unrestricted bodily movement unless the supporters were too tight or the elasticity of the garters had worn out. Many German boys wore Strapsleibchen without any sense of physical discomfort. Their objections tended to be psychological, that is, they didn't like wearing a garment that they associated with girls or with younger boys. But when most boys of the same age group wore them, there was no sense of shame. It was only when a boy stood out from his school chums by being made to wear something they didn't have to wear that the objection arose. This was sometimes the case when very conservative mothers insisted on Strapsleibchen after more liberal families in a social group has relaxed their requirements about a boy's clothes." Another reader tells us, "Some boys liked them because they were easy to take on and off."

Example

Here is a group of four German children taken in 1930 (figure 1). They look to be middle-class Germans. Three of the children, two boys and a girl, wear long stockings. As it was common at that time, the boys' stockings are pulled up with round garters. On looking at the young boy sitting on his mother's knees, it is clear that the round garters are really too tight. Maybe his long stockings will stay up neatly but at what price ! The bigger boy at left also wears round garters which do not seem as tight. But the problem then is that if this boy wished to run and play, his stockings would fall down because his garters are too loose-fitting, not tight enough. Then, he would have to pull up his srockings every 5 minutes.

Chronology

These round garters seems most popular in the early-20th century. After World War II, boys began objecting to stocking supporters. That is one reason why they asked to wear long pants during colder winter seasons. Because girls rarely played roughly and were generally more obedient, they complied more readily with parental wishes until the advent of tights during the 1960s.