American Knee Socks: Colors and Patterns


Figure 1.--This American postcard portrait is undated. We would guess it was taken about 1930. The boy here wears a white shirt and short pants with a plaid neck tie and patterened knee socks. The boy looks to be about 8 years old.

American boys wore knee socks in both solid colors and patterns. This contrasted with the knee socks worn by European boys which were primarily solid colors or in England school socks which might have a colored ban. Short pants were most commonly worn with solid colored knee socks, although we do notice bots wearing the patterned knee socks with shorts. American boys more commonly wore knickers. At first they were mostly worn with dark long stockings, but by the 1930s we see many boys wearing patterned knee sicks with knickers. We don't know much about the colors used in these patterns because if the black and white photography.

Colors

American boys wearing short pants were more likely to wear solid colored knee socks, especially with a suit for formal occasions. While patterened knee socks were popular with knickers, they were rarely worn with short pants. We have no idea as to why this destibcrion developed. The colors of knee socks worn were mostly dark colors like black, grey, and navy blue. Tan was a popular light color. Black becamne a standard for conservtive short pants suits. Younger boys might wear white knee socks. White kneesocks were usually only worn by American boys for formal occasions like weddings and First Communion. American boys more commonly wore knickers, but commonly did not wear solid colored knee socks with them. American girls in the 1950s began wearing brightly colored kneesocks. These bright colors were never worn by boys. A few boys wore white knee socks, but this was not very common.

Patterns

American boys for a short period, mostly the late-1920s and 30s, wore knee socks done in argles and many different patterns with a variety of colors. These patterned knee socks were mostly worn with knickers. We do not see them bring weoirn with knee pants, lsrgely because knee pants went out of style before patterned socks became popular. We see some boys wearing short pants with them, but they were much more common with , especially during the 1930s. Earlier long stockings were more common and the long stockings were mostly solid colors. Knee socks patterns varied, including argyles, checks, stripes, crossing stripes, and others. Some were complicated. Others less so. Some time the turn-over-top cuff contrasted with the rest of the pattern. In some instance the sock was a solid color and the cuff patterened. Some were made in bright colors adding a spash of color to a boys rather plain outfits in the 1920s and 30s. We don't know much about the colors used in these patterns because if the black and white photography. We note patterned knee socks being worn with both school wear and play/casual outfits. Interestingly we also note them being worn with suits, even conservative suits for formal occassions. Often boys wore solid-colored long stockings or knee socks with formal suits, but this was not always the case.









HBC





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Created: 4:11 AM 10/30/2007
Last updated: 2:10 AM 9/10/2009