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German boys have wore a range of hosiery to school. German children commonly wore both short socks in various lengths grom ankle socks to kneesocks as well as long stockings. Long stockings were very common for children of all ages. Both boys and girls wore long stfockings, although with the older children long stockings were mostly worn by the girls. We know that they were commonly worn by boys who wore shortened-length pants. Modesty may have been more important than warmth. As the shotened-length pants became more important in the 20th century, long stockings became increasingly seasonal. This of course meant that they were very commonly worn to school. We see many class portraits in which all or nearly all of the children are wearing long stockings. German children also commonly wore knee socks, again both boys and girls. After World War I we begin to see beige and tan shades becoming more important. Knee socks seem to be mostly a 20th century hosiery type, although knee pants and skirts tended to be so long in the 19th century that it is difficult to tell. Socks were mostly three-quater length in the 19th century, but did not become worn to be commonly worn to school until the turn-of-the 20th century. Ankle socks began to become more common in the 1930s. Solid colored socks were popular. White three-quarter socks might have colored bands at the top. Patterened knee socks became popular in the 1940s. Knee socks were very common until the 1960s. This was about the time that long pants began to be worn. Tights began to be worn in the 1960s, but we do not notice them at school, although because boys began wearing long pants, this is a little difficult to follow. We do not think that they were nearly a common as long stockings were.
Long stockings were very common for children of all ages. Both boys and girls wore long stockings. The picture is a little clowed in the 19th century because boys tended to wear long pants and girls long skirts. by
We know that they were commonly worn by the younger boys who wore shortened-length pants. Modesty may have been more important than warmth. As the shotened-length pants became more important in the 20th century, long stockings became increasingly seasonal. This of course meant that they were very commonly worn to school. We see many class portraits in which all or nearly all of the children are wearing long stockings. This was especially common after the wearher turned cool. We school group seen here about 1930 is a good example (figure 1). After World War I we begin to see beige and tan shades becoming more important. Long stockings continued to be worn by both boys and girtls inthe 20th century, although with the older children long stockings were mostly worn by the girls. One topic we are not sure about is what happened after school. We suspect that mothers had many children, especially the boys, change their clothes including their stockings after school. This was less common with other kinds of hosiery. The difference is that rought play would common lead to tears and holes at the knee.
We see German school children wearing socks of all lengths. We see ankle socks, three-quarter socks, and knee-socks. German children also commonly wore knee socks, Both boys and girls wore the different types of socks. We do not have a lot of information about the 18th- and 19th-century yet. Knee breeches werecommonly worn in the 18th century. They were worn with long stockings. We begin to see socks in the 19th century. This is alittle complicated as in the early-19th century boys wore long pants and photography sid not yet existed which meant the number of images was limited. We see socks being worn, often white socks, but we have no way of knowing what the length was. We do not have a good idea about the hosiery until mid-century and the appearance of shortened-length pants. Long pants continued to worn at school, bit gardually we younger school boys wearing knickers or short pants, mostly with long stockings. Socks as far as we can tell were mostly three-quater length in the 19th century. They may have been worn to school by boys wearing long pants, but not with shortend length pnts. This we nostly see with pre-school boys. Knee socks seem to be mostly a 20th century hosiery type, although noys' knee pants and girls' skirts tended to be so long in the 19th century that it is difficult to tell. And our rchive of 19th century German school images is very limited. We know much more about the 20th century as scghoo; photography becomes well established. Hosiery choice was seasonal. Boys and girls wore long stockings in the cool and warm weather. They then swiched to socks. We see white three-quarter socks at the turn-of-the century. They often had colored bands at the top. Knee socks seem more common, especially after World War I. . We think the first knee socks were rolled down long stockings. Gradually actual knee socks appeared and became very common. They were commonly worn to school in ythe unter-War and early-post-War ea. We see a lot of children wearing knee socks. They might also be worn during the winter, but were less seasonal than long stockings. Ankle socks began to ppear in the 1930s, but wee no common until the 1950. Solid colored socks were popular. Patterened knee socks became popular in the 1940s, espcially after the War. We continue to see knee socks into the 1970s. By then ankle socks were common nd fwer boys were wearing short pants to school. More and more boys were wering long pants to school.
Tights began to be worn in the 1960s, but we do not notice them at school, although because boys began wearing long pants, this is a little difficult to follow. We do not think that they were nearly a common as long stockings were.
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