Figure 1.-- Long stockings very much the rule during the 1930s in many German schools during the winter. Here we see boys at the Hermsdorf Secondary School (1934). Long stockings were still very common for school wear after the weather turned cold. Tan long stockings had become very common by bthe 1930s. We think boy no. 5 might we wearing long underwear under the tan stockings because there seems to be an underwear line just above his shoe. These boys seem to be about 13 years old. We know there was an upper and lower school, and this one is obviously the upper. The boys seem to wear sweaters or jackets with their short trousers--but without neckties. One boy looks as though he has a scarf on under his jacket.

Long stockings were very common for children of all ages, basiclly all boys wearing shortened length pants nd all girls. . Both boys and girls wore long stockings. The picture is a little clouded in the 19th century because boys tended to wear long pants and girls long skirts. 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. The school group seen on the previous page about 1930 is a good example. We see a detail from a school here in 1934 (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.

Age

Long stockings were very common for German school childrens, basically all boys wearing shortened length pants and all girls. This is a little difficult to follow in the 19th century as we do not see a lot of school portraits. We see portraits of individual children, but not many of class prtraits taken at school. This changed with the turn-of-the 20th century. School photography was becoming common and by the 1910s was becoming fairly standard. As a result we have a very extensive record of schoolwear trends,including hosiery. We see most of the children in primary schools and the younger children in secondaty schools wering long stockings in cool and cold weather. In some cases whole classes. This continued through the World War II period and the immediate post-War era. The age trends were fairly consistent, primary age children and younger secondary boys. That would be boys to about 12-14 yeats of age. This was basically the age og children weaing shortebed-length pants, knee pnts, knickrs, and short pants.

Gender

Both boys and girls wore long stockings.

Chronology

The picture is a little clouded in the 19th century because boys tended to wear long pants and girls long skirts. We know much more about the 20th century. Long stockings continued to be worn by both boys and girls in the 20th century, although with the older children long stockings were mostly worn by the girls.

Seasonality

Purposes

Warmth and modesty were thevmajor reasons long stockings were worn. Modesty may have been an important factor in the 19th century. We see children wearingblong stockings even in warm weather. As shotened-length pants became more important in the 20th century, long stockings became increasingly seasonal.

Schoolwear

The schoolyear encpoasses Fall, Winnter, and Spring--all of the cool or cold months. This of course meant that long stockings 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. The school group seen on the previous page about 1930 is a good example. We see a detail from a school portrait here in 1934 (figure 1).

After School

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. Mothers pobably did not want o snd thir children off to school with stockings tht had holes in them. Playing around the home was a different matter. So the better stockings may have been for 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.

Color

we do not have much color information on school uniforms. Most of the photographic record showing children wearing long stockings come from the pre-World War II and immeiate post-War period when the vast majority of pjtographs are black abd white. We can generally pick out black and white stockings, but color is a diffent matter. After World War I we begin to see beige and tan shades becoming more important.

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Created: 6:29 AM 10/20/2010
Last updated: 4:09 PM 2/17/2018