Ankle Socks


Figure 1.--Here we see two American brothers in 1953. Theare on a summer vacation to Florida. They wear short pants with ankle socks. White socks were more common. That is probably the family car in the background. At the time it was more common to drive to Florida than fly.

Ankle socks may been worn since the late 18th century when skeleton suits with ankle-length pants came into style. At least we though that boys wearin skeleton suits wore ankle socks. A reader tells us that even though not necessary, boys wore longer socks witn skeleton suits. They were mostly white during the late 18th and early 19th century. We are unsure what kind of socks boys wore in the mid-19th century with long trousers. Ankle socks were worn throughout the 19th century, but mostly for very little boys wearing dresses. The ones we have noted were mostly black and white. With the appearance of knne pants we know more about boys' hosiery. Boys in america mostly one long stockings. In Europe long stockings were also worn, but in the more southerly countries, three-quarter socks were quite commom. We do not see boys wearing ankle socks. Three-quarter socks were also worn during the summer by little boys in a variety of outfits such as sailor suits and Buster Brown outfits. We begin to see ankle socks at first were generally considered casual summer wear, and were usually not worn with formal party clothes. We begin to see ankle socks being commonly worn in the 1930s, esopecially the late 30s. A good example is Ralph abnd Charles Freudenberg in 1937. After American boys stopped wearing knickers in the 1940s, they mostly wore ankle socks. Some boys even wore ankle socks with knickers. Conventions varied by country. Long stockings and kneesocks declined in popularity for boys in the 1940s. Even boys wearing short pants suits and casual play shorts would usually wear ankle socks. Gradually ankle socks became more common in England as well , especially during the warmer summer months. Boys throughout Europe and America now mostly wear ankle socks. Striped and argyle ankle socks were very prominent in the 1950s and 60s.

Chronology

Ankle socks may been worn since the late 18th century when skeleton suits with ankle-length pants came into style. At least we though that boys wearing skeleton suits wore ankle socks. A reader tells us that even though not necessary, boys wore longer socks witn skeleton suits. They were mostly white during the late 18th and early 19th century. We are unsure what kind of socks boys wore in the mid-19th century with long trousers. Ankle socks were worn throughout the 19th century, but mostly for very little boys wearing dresses. The ones we have noted were mostly black and white. With the appearance of knee pants we know more about boys' hosiery. Boys in america mostly one long stockings. In Europe long stockings were also worn, but in the more southerly countries, three-quarter socks were quite commom. We do not see boys wearing ankle socks. Three-quarter socks were also worn during the summer by little boys in a variety of outfits such as sailor suits and Buster Brown outfits. We notice American boys commonly wearing ankle socks in the 1930s. A good exanple is a class of Ohio kindergardeners in 1935-36.

Concentions

We begin to see ankle socks in the 20th century at first were generally considered casual summer wear, and were usually not worn with formal party clothes. We begin to see ankle socks being commonly worn in the 1930s, esopecially the late 30s. A good example is Ralph abnd Charles Freudenberg in 1937.

Country Trends

The prevalence of ankle socks varied from country to country. As far as we can tell, ankle socks first became popular in America. We begin to see them in the 1920s for both boys and girls. A good example is cousins Ben Davies and Lo Benta. After American boys stopped wearing knickers in the 1940s, they mostly wore ankle socks. Some boys even wore ankle socks with knickers. Conventions varied by country. Long stockings and kneesocks declined in popularity for boys in the 1940s. Even boys wearing short pants suits and casual play shorts would usually wore ankle socks. Gradually ankle socks became more common in England as well , especially during the warmer summer months. Boys throughout Europe and America now mostly wear ankle socks. Were beginning to construct country pages, includung America, England, France, Germany, Italy, and other countries.

Patterns

We see boys wearing stripped ankle socks in the mid-19th century. A good example is an American boy, we beloeve in the 1850s. Striped and argyle ankle socks were very prominent in the 1950s and 60s.

Pants Types

The phographic record shops clearly what type of hosiery boys wore with short pants, knickers, knee pants and other shortened-legth trousers. We see manu American boys wearing ankle socks with shot pants, especially by the 1930s. This was less common with knickers, but we eve see boys wearing ankle soicks and knikers by the late-30s aandcearly40s. An example here is Adrian Viring in 1941. We are less sure what boys wire with long panys. This is a considerable limitation on our asessment because we think most boys wearing long pants probably were wearing ankle socks.








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Created: 3:05 AM 12/2/2006
Last updated: 3:27 PM 12/12/2015