Figure 1.--Long over the kneestockings still dominated childrens hosiery in 1922. This illustration comes from the Montgomery Ward catalog.
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Figure 1.--Long over the kneestockings still dominated childrens hosiery in 1922. This illustration comes from the Montgomery Ward catalog. |
Hosiery was an important part of a child's wardrobe in the 1920s, probably because homes and schools were not as well heated as is this the case today and it was morre important to keep warm. Wards had a second page of long stockings with styles for both children and infants. Interstingly some are shown being worn turned down, but still over the knee, with above the knee knickers. There is also a stocking drying device, but this appears to have been only for infants. Notice that the cponstant theme for these long stockings was warmth and not dresswear.
Wards groups two stockings together, although I am not sure what the connection is.
The ad coy reads, "Extra heavy, imported English Stocking of All Wool ???. Fine quality two-??? yarn. Knee reinforced, with diamond shaped splicing. Flat knot sole; heel extra ???. Well reinforced" Only available in black. The cost is $0.95 for smaller sizes up to $1.15 for the larfer sized. I can't quite make out the actual sizes. I'm not sure if the "knee" in the title means that that these are knee-length as opposed to the more common above the knee socks. Note that they are imported from England where by the 1920s kneesocks were much more common than long stockings.
Heavy stocking for children. Seanless, full length, with the desirable English ribbed effect from top to ankle. Flat knit foot with strongly reinforced heel, and toe. The good quality wool and cotton used in this stocking males it durable and wear resisting. Sizes: 5 1/2 to 9 1/2." Available in brown heather only. The price was only 50 cents, postage 1 cent extra. Most stockings on 1922 were black or dark brown, this is one of the few light brown colors which were to become more popular.
Very duravle Stockings with double legs, resembling the old style hand knitting it stitch and firmness. The material is part wool, and the balance in cotton of very good quality. the ankle is fine ribbed. Heels and toes are reinforced sufficiently to make durability an outstanding feature of this hosiery." The available colors are black and brown. The sizes are 5 1/2 to 10. The price ranges from 49 to 65 centsm depending on the size. Postage was 2 cents extra per pair.
Again two styles were shown under this title.
Only material of good qiality is used in these heavy weight, part wool Stockings for children. Seamless, with heels and toes well reinforced. Hood quality, low prices." Only black. The sizes were 5 1/2 through 9 1/2 and ranged in price from 45 to 53 cents, postage 2 cents extra.
The tender, sensitive feet of children demanded well made Stockings. These are fine knit , seamless feet, with fine ribbed leg of nearly All Wool worsted. Flat knit foot, and very soft. Black only. The sizes are also 5 1/2 to 9 1/2 the price varying frpm 57 to 74 cents, postage 2 cents extra.
Figure 2.--Long over the kneestockings still dominated childrens hosiery in 1922. This illustration comes from the Montgomery Ward catalog. The style picture here is shown worn over the knee with above the knee knickers. This is a style HBC has only noticed in the United States during the late 1910s and early 1920s. |
More and more mothers are dressing their children in well fitting, seamless Sports Hose like these. They are smart looking, warm and comfortable. Knit and English ribbed effect in the leg, with flat knit feet, smooth and very comfortable. The material is about half wool. Reinforced heels and toes. Unusual value. Sizes 7 to 10." The color was heather mixture only. The price was 50 cents per pair, postage 2 cents extra. The style picture here is shown worn over the knee with above the knee knickers. This is a style HBC has only noticed in the United States during the late 1910s and early 1920s. Note that the style was not availble in the sizes for younger boys.
All Wool, heavy weight Stockings, knitted to look like home knitting. Have elastic ribbed tops; heels and toes reinforced with cotton thread to insure extra wear. The feet are flat knit, and the tops are elastic ribbed, fitting snugly above the knees, yet not to tight." The sizes were 6 to 7 1/2 for 89 cents. Larger sizes 8 to 10 were 98 cents. Black only. Postage 2 cents extra. It is interesting to note that this style was made to look like home knitting. One wonders why this was important. Surely boys could have cared less. Perhaps mothers at the time liked the idea that the home knitting look made them seem like a more accomplished mother.
Wards offered several different types of infant over-the-knee stockings. The infant stockings were available in black, dark brown, brown, and white. The white color was especilly common in the various styles. Notice that in the illustrations it is the white color stockings that are pictured. The material are mostly wool and cotton. There is stocking made of a wool and silk mixture. A HBC reader asks, "Was white popular for infant stockings because infant stockings needed to be washed often and white did not lose its color as much as the other colors?" HBC suspects that this was the primary reason, the practical need to constantly wash clothing forinfants and children. The other factor is that white represents innosence and thus is popular for younger children. In fact white stockings appears to have become popular in the early 20th century not only for infants but also older children as well, although this varried from country to country.
Wards offered two types drying frames for infants stockings. One was wood the other rust-proof wire. They helped retain the shape of the stocking.
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