Figure 1.--These two children kook to be about 1-4 years old. The older boy looks to be about 4 years old. He wears a white knee oants sailor suit. Note he wears three quarter socks rather than long stockings. This is somrthing you do not see much in America until the turn-of-the 20th century. He has black socks, unlike long stockings, white socks were more common. The cabinet card portrait is undated, but the mount suggests it was taken in the 1900s. The studuio was R&R vin Newark, New Jersey. Victorian 19th C. Antique Cabinet Photo Photograph 2 Children New York Studio f a young boy and girl (probably brother and sister). R&R Studios in New York, NY/Newark, NJ..

We do not see many different types of hoisiery in the 19th century. In the early 19th century boys wore long pants abd girls long dresses, so assessing different types of hosiery is difficult. And photography soes no provided many images until mid-century. And knee pants began to becone popular and photography becaome prevalent we have a vast archive of images abd almost always the children are wearing long stockings. This is different than Europe where socks were akso common. This dies not change significantky until the turn-of-the 20th century. Suddenly we begin to see children wearing socks and not just long stockings. Long stockings were still common, but no longer virtually universal. The stocks we notice are mostly three-quarter socks and they tended to be white. They were mostly worn by younger boys abnd girls.

Long Stockings

Long black stockings were the most coomon type of hosiery for boys in the early 20th century. American boys in the 1900s mostly wore long stockings even during the summer. They were normally worn with knee pants, but knickers gradually became more common. Keepants remained popular for younger boys a little longer than for older boys. Dark black stockings were the most common, but dark brown was also worn. Light-colored long stockings were not common. Younger boys might wear white long stockings on dressy occasions, but black was more common. We can see the prevalence of long stockings in the mail order catalogs of the day. We note many offerings for long stockings: York Knitting Mills (1903), Iron Clad and tan long stockings , Iron-claf long stockings (1907), and stocking supporters (1907). One company offered button-on long stockings. But for the most part children wore sticking dsupporters. We note then yjrouhoit the decade: 1900 catalogs, 1901 catalogs, 1904 catalogs, 1905 catalogs, 1906 catalogs, and Velvet Grip Hose Supporters.

Three Quarter Socks

We begin to see more socks at the turn-of the century. They were not common in the 1890s. The socks we see are mostly three-quarter socks. Younger boys might wear their knee pants with socks, usually three quater length socks, especially during the summer. This was also the case with tunic suits that became opular sat the turn-of-th century. Older boys, however, did not wear such socks with either knee pants or knickers. Even as knickers became more common in the 1910s, boys mostly wore long stockings.

Knee Socks

Toward the end of the decade some boys were wearing their knickers with knee socks, but long stockings were much more common. Styles with bare knees were much less common in America than Europe--especially during the colder winter months. It is a liitle difficult to tell if they are knneesocvks or if the boys have rolled down their long stockings.

Barefeet

Many younger boys would go barefoot during the summer, especially in rural areas. This became less common in the teen years. It does not show up as commonly in the pgotographic record as it was in reality. Mothers usually dressed up the kids for formal portraits.

Created: 4:32 PM 8/30/2020
Last updated: 4:32 PM 8/30/2020