Figure 1.--Here we see an Australian school in the 1980s. Only one boy wears traditional grey kneesocks. The children including the girls almost all wear ankle socks. The school had a uniform, but the students could chose their own stocks.

Kneesocks were once commonly worn by school children as was the case in Britain. We notice Australian children wearing them through World War II. Before the War boys generally wore turn over top kneesocks. After the War less expensive kneesocks appeared without turn over tops. They were still quite common in the 1950s, but began to decline in popularity in the late 1960s and especially the 1970s. A reader writes, "In Australia during the 1950s and 60s school uniforms featured them. There was pretty strict uniform code in those days especially at the non-government schools. Boys had to wear knee length wollen grey shorts and long knee high grey wollen socks held up with garters. Shoes were black leather and shined every day." Since the 1960s kneesocks have declined in popularity. they were no longer common at mny strate schools by the 1980s. Note that even the girls are not wearing kneesocks. The state school here during the 1980s is a good example of hosiery trends in Australian schools. They have not, however. disappeared. They are still worn at many private scgools and at some state schools, especially the ones affiliated with religious groups. They are in the 2000s rarely worn unless they are part of a required school uniform.

Created: March 9, 2004
Last updated: March 9, 2004