Figure 1.--Long stockings were commonly worn by American boys from the 1870s to the 1910s. They begab to decline in popularity duriung the 1920s, but were still being worn in the 1930s. Here we see a New York boy waring long stockings with short pants in 1935. Click on the image for a discussion of the photograph.

American boys have worn a variety of hosiery, including long stockings and different kind of socks. There were major variations over time. The type of pants worn had a majpr inpact on the hosiery worn. Many American boys also went barefoot. American boys unlike some European boys have not commonly worn tights. We are not sure about the hosiery worn in the early 19th cenbtury. As kneepants became standard after the mid-19th century, long stockings became widely worn by all but the youngest children. Long stockings were the predominant hosiery until the turn of 20th century when children also began wearing three-quarter stockings on a seasonal basis. Long stockings persisted through the 1930s, especially during cold winter weather. Beginning in the 1910s, boys began wearing kneesocks, although they did not begin to replace long stockings until the mid-1920s. With the rapis decline of knickers in the early 1940s, abnkle socks became increasingly common. White athlectic socks became very popular for boys after World war II, especially in the 1950s. A popular fad style was tube socks in the 1970s, usually white socks with colored bands. A new style of very short sport socks appeared in the late 1990s, first in California.

Barefeet

Going barefoot was common for American boys in the 19th century and earlier periods. Shoes were expensive, especially for a family with many children. As 19th century shoes could be uncomfortable, many boys appear to have preferred going barefoot in the summer. Even in the early 20th century it was still quite common, especially in the southern states and rural areas. At this time a variety of social and economic factors combined to discourage children from going barefoot. Going barefoot declined as America became more urban, especially after the 1940s. The avaiability of inexpensive sneakers was probably another factor as well as more comfortable footwear in general. Social class was an important factor. Barefoot children, especially sending children barefoot to school, became seen as a sign of poverty. All of these factors varied over time. Going barefoot was much more common in rural than urban areas. It was also much more common for younger children, especially boys to go barefoot. Both boys and girls went barefoot, but we seem to see more boys than girls in the available photographic record. School portraits in the 1900s-20s show many children barefoot.

Long Stockings

We are not sure about the hosiery worn in the early 19th cenbtury. As kneepants became standard after the mid-19th century, long stockings became widely worn by all but the youngest children. Long stockings were the predominant hosiery until after World War I. Long stockings persisted through the 1930s, especially during cold winter weather. The color of long stockings have varied over time. Children moistrky wore black or other darked colored long stockings in the l;ate 19th and early 20th century. For special occassiions white long stockings might be worn. After World War I in the 1920s you begin to seen light brown stoickings (tans, fawn, ect.). The length of long stockings varied overtime. When boys began wearing short pants and girls shorter skirts, a longger length od stocking was needed.

Three-quarter Socks

After the turn of 20th century when children also began wearing three-quarter stockings on a seasonal basis. We do not see very many American children wearing three-quarter socks before the turn-of-the 20th century. Both boys abd girls wore them. There were, however, gender differences. While girls of all ages wore three-quarter socks, we only see younger boys wearing them. Three-quarter socks were much more common in Europe. American children, however, mostly wore long stockings even in the summer. Although going barefoot was also common in the summer. After the turn-of-the century we see quite a few American children wearing three-quarter socks, especially in the 1900s and 1910s and to a lesser extent the very early 1920s. Three-quarter socks were usually white, although some had colored trim. While the period photographs show the patterns they provide few clues as to the color. Both boys and girls wore them. Boys commonly wore them with knee pants, but rarely with knickers. These were the types of pants commonly worn in the early 20th centuruy. Three-quarter socks were in large measure, but not entirely, seasonal wear. We see them mostly during the summer. During the cooler months children mostly wore long stockings.

Knee Socks

Knickers were at first work with dark long stockings. During the 1920s we begin to see kneesocks being work in a variety of patterns, most with knickerts. Knee socks for boys appeared in Europe and America during the 1900s, at first primarily worn by Boy Scouts. Beginning in the 1910s, boys began wearing kneesocks, although Kneesocks did not begin to replace long stockings until the mid-1920s. They were commonly worn by boys throughout Europe in the 1920s. European boys commonly wore them with shorts pants. Knee socks appeared in America about the same time, but were not as well received as in Europe. The did not begin to replace long stockings until the mid-1920s. THey were worn worn with short pants as in Europe, but were morecommonly worn with knickers. American boys were more likely to wear shorts with ankle socks. Kneesocks were still worn with shorts by American boys, but this declined substantially in the 1950s. After the 1960s only very young American boys wore kneesocks.

Ankle Socks

With the rapid decline of knickers in the late-1930s and early-40s, ankle socks became increasingly common. We even begin to see boys wearing ankle socks with knickers. Ar first ankle socks were highly seasonal, but gradually became the standard hosiery worn by boys in all seasons. A factor hereof course is that boys began to icreasingly wear long pants. We do not see ankle socks in the early-20th century. We do not even commonly see them in the 1920s. They appeared in the 1930s and by the end of the decade were quite common. This assessment is somewhat complicated by the increasing popularity of long pants. While we can easily see the hosiery worn with short pants and knicjers. It is much more common with long pants. Normally the ankle socks we see at first were striped socks. We note colored rings or argyl patterns. We note girls wearing solid colored socks, especially white socks, but this was less common for boys. White athletic socks became very popular for boys after World War II, especially in the 1950s. A good example is a birthday party in 1956. They were commonly worn bu boys weraring short pants, but also long pants as well. I am not sure why white socks became so popular. They were so popular that mothers often to fuss at their sons when they dressed up so they wouldn't wear white socks with a suit.

Tube Socks

A popular fad style was tube socks in the 1970s, usually white socks with colored bands.

Tights

American boys unlike some European boys have not commonly worn tights.

Sport Socks

A new style of very short sport socks appeared in the late 1990s, first in California.

Created: 9:51 PM 9/19/2004
Last updated: 7:26 PM 2/17/2009