|
Black long stockings were the primary hosiery worn by Canadian children in 1907. We see black long stockings as a mainstay in many catalogs during the 1900s. Notice that all the Eaton suits are depicted exclusively with black stockings. The Eaton's boys' long stockings on offer are exclusively black. Notice that black long stockings are the only hosiery Eaton's offered for boys, even in its Spring-Summer catalog. Apparently there was no market for any other color. Eaton's offers no short or knee socks for boys. The photographic record confirms that boys mostly wore black long stockings.
This Canadian retailer began publishing mailorder catalogs in 1881, at least that is we begin noticing them. We have catalogs from the 1970s, although we do not know about the company's current status. The 1970s catalgs were full of clothes which look like American styles. Timothy Eaton, founder of the huge all-Canadian department store chain bearing his name, was an Irish immigrant born on a tennant farm in northern Ireland. He was born in 1834 and followed his brothers to Canada in 1854. His brothers had opened a small dty goods store in St. Marys. Timothy Eaton began his business with a small dry goods business in Toronto during 1869. He built a giant retail store in Ontario’s capital city along with a country-wide mail-order business and a big new branch store in Winnipeg, by the time of his death in 1907. The Winnipeg branch was the first of many branches. Eaton Company business establishments eventually spread all across Canada when Timothy’s family successors extended the Eaton empire. Timothy masterminded the company during the crucial period of its early development, spanning nearly 40 years. It was Timothy who implemented the concept of the "Department Store", in Canada, a concept which were already flourishing in London, Paris, and New York.
Kneepants became the dominant trousers for boys in the late 19th century. Gradually knickers and short pants replaced knee pants in the early 20th century. The vrious types of trousrs varied over time and by country. Long stockings were commonly worn with the shortened-length trouers, especialy in northern Europe and North America. The colors of long stockings varied over time, White and other light colors were popular during the mid 19th century, but darker colrs gradually became more popular. Black stockings were especially popular in the 1890s and early 20th century. After World War I we begin to see bdige nd similar shades becoming more popular. Long stockings begin t decline in popularity during the 1930s, but cointinued to be cmmonly wrn in soime countries well after World War II.
Eaton's offered boys' long stockings in various grades and qualities. This was from page ?? of Eaton's Spring and Summer 1907 catalog. Several features of this ad are interesting. The only boys' stockings on offer are black. Apparently there was no market for any other color. No short or knee socks are offered for
boys. Girls' hosiery is offered on a completely different page, so these are stockings for boys only. Often catalogs had a children's hosiery page offering the same hose for boys and girls. But Eaton's separated the boys' hosiery. There is quite a range of qualities and grades with different yarn content (wool, cashmere, cotton) as well as different degrees of ribbing. Most of these stockings come in sizes from 6 6o 10 (appropriate for boys from about six years old to as old as 16. The illustration is also informative since we see how long the stockings are knit because of the sitting position of the models who are clad in knee pants that come up fairly high above the knee. These stockings seem to be knitted quite long although the text says nothing about length. The ad implies that all Canadian boys up through the age of at least 14 or 15 would be wearing knee trousers with long black stockings. No other options appear in the catalog.
The heading read, ""Boys' amd Men's Hose. [N.B. Men's hose not shown here.] Be sure to
give number ane size. Shopping by mail gives satisfaction."
The Eaton's ad copy read, "B2-6. Boy's 1/2 ribbed Black Cashmere Hose, extra heavy, 6-fold knee
[i.e., heavily reinforced in the knee where greatest wear comes], double sole, heel, and toe; pure wool yarn. Sizes 6 1/2 to 8 1/2. Per pair 25 cents. Or 1/2 dozen pairs, $1.40; or per dozen pairs, $2.75.
Here there were several selections of cotton long stockings.
B287: Sizes 6, 6 1/2, 7, 7 1/2. 8. 8 1/2, 9, 9 1/2, 10. 12 1/2 cents per pair.
B288: Sizes 6, 6 1/2, 7, 7 1/2, 8, 8 1/2, 9, 9 1/2, 10. From 15 cents a pair to 18 cents a pair, depending on size. All sizes from 7 upwards are 18 cents a pair.
B289: Same sizes as above. From 20 cents to 25 cents a pair. All sizes from 7 upwards are 25 cents.
Here there were several selections of wool long stockings.
B291: Boys' 1/2 Ribbed Pure Wool Hose, seamless finish, double heel and toe. Same sizes as above. Prices from 20 cents to 25 cents. 25 cents a pair from size 7 upwards.
B292: Boys' Ribbed Worsted Hose, extra strong and durable, made from bright, glossy. pure wool yarn, double heel and toe. Sizes same as above (6 to 10 by half-sizes). Prices from 25 cents to 35 cents. 6
and 6 1/2, 25 cents; 7 and 7 1/2 30 cents; 8 and above, 35 cents.
B293: Sames sizes (6 through 10). Prices 30 cents to 50 cents a pair. Size 6 and 6 1/2, 30 cents; Size 7 35 cents; Size 7 1/2 40 cents; size 8 45 cents; size 8 1/2 50 cents; Sizes 9 through 10 60 cents.
The Eaton's ad copy read, "B2-7 Boys' 1/2 Ribbed Black Cotton Hose with heavy 4 fold knee, spliced
sole, heel and toe. Sizes 7 to 10. Per pair 18 cents. Or 3 for 50 cents; or Per dozen $1.50."
Black long stockings were the dominant hosiery for children in the late 19th and early 20th centururies. This was especially true for Candin and American children, both boys and girls. This Eaton's catalog offering is a good indicator of just how popular black long stockings were. Note that not only are only stockings exclusively offered, but all the varied offerings are black. Another strong indicator of the popularity of black long stockings is the number of different varities offered. When ever you see mutiple types of the same garment, that is a very strong indication that the garment was very popular.
We are not sure just what the sizes meant and what the age equivalents were.
Eaton's had a separate page for women's and girls' hosiery. Black long stockings were also widely worn by girls, but there were many more offerings including white and colored hose. This page also included the infants' hosiery. We are not sure yet about the age equivalents of the sizes indicated. We are not sure how common in Canada it was to separatecchildren' hosiery by gender. American catalogs generally offered children's hosiery on the same page, although some of the offerings might be specificall for boys or girls. A reader tells us, "I think it is interesting that boys' long stockings are shown on the same page as men's socks, whereas the girls' long stockings are grouped with women's hosiery. No gender overlapping in this catalog for children's long stockings. I think this is a bit unusual. I don't think Sears and Wards in the USA did this, although there are specific styles of long stockings that are designed particularly for girls (especailly in the 1940s). But most of the long stockings in the 1900s, 1910s, and 1920s are for both boys and girls. Of course some grades of stockings (especially made for boys) stressed the reinforced knees. Boys were supposedly harder on stockings than girls because of their play habits."
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing catalog/magazine pages:
[Return to the Main Canadian mail order 1907 page]
[Return to the Main Canadian mail order 1900s page]
[Main photo/publishing page]
[Store catalogs]
[Fashion magazines]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Bibliographies]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Sailor suits]
[Sailor hats]
[Buster Brown suits]
[Tunic]
[Eton suits]
[Rompers]
[Tunics]
[Smocks]
[Pinafores]
[Knee pants]
[Long stockings]
