Figure 1.-Here we see a family, we thin from the U.S. Midwest in the 1920s, Both boys wear boldly patterned knee socks. These patterns were also worn by girls, but not as commonly. Boys tended to weasr the bolder patterns. They were worn with both knickers and short pasnts.

We first noted patterened kneesocks being work in Scotland with kilts in the 18th century. These knee socks would have been mostly by men. We first note them commonly being worn by boys in the 20th century during the 1920s. They became popular as kneesocks began to replace the long stockings that boys had formerly worn. The long stockings seem to have always been almost entirely solid colors. Patterned kneesocks were widely worn in the 1920s and 30s. They were especially popular in America where boys wore knee socks with knickers. We note many different patterns at this time. Pattered knee socks along with knee socks in geneal began to decline in popularity in the 1940s as fewer boys wore knickers. Some Amweican boys still wore short pasnts suits after World war II, but hey generally wore them with ankle sock or solid colored kneesovks. Short pants suits were popular in Europe longer, but were commonly worn with solid colored knee socks. We do note German boys wearing patterned kneesocks after World War II in the 1950s, but mostly for school or play. Boys did commonly wear patterned ankle socks, espcailly Argyles, but mostly with long pants. Patterned kneesocks were occassionally seen in the 1950s and 60s, but they became much less common as fewer boys were wearing short pants.

The 18th Century

We first noted patterened kneesocks being work in Scotland with kilts in the 18th century. I m almost sure I have seen paintings from the 18th century, but do not yet have examples. These knee socks would have been mostly by men.

The 19th Century

Knee socks were not very common in the 19th century. Some Scottish boys wore Argyle knee socks with kilts. We notice striped long stockings in the 1870s and 80s, but not kneesocks. Knickers appeared in Britain during the late-19th century. Boys wore knickers with knee socks, but I gthink they were mostly solid colored knee socks.

The 20th Century

We first note them commonly being worn by boys in the 20th century during the 1920s. They became popular as kneesocks began to replace the long stockings that boys had formerly worn. The long stockings seem to have always been almost entirely solid colors. Patterned kneesocks were widely worn in the 1920s and 30s. They were especially popular in America where boys wore knee socks with knickers. We note many different patterns at this time. Pattered knee socks along with knee socks in geneal began to decline in popularity in the 1940s as fewer boys wore knickers. Some Amweican boys still wore short pasnts suits after World war II, but hey generally wore them with ankle sock or solid colored kneesovks. Short pants suits were popular in Europe longer, but were commonly worn with solid colored knee socks. We do note German boys wearing patterned kneesocks after World War II in the 1950s, but mostly for school or play. Boys did commonly wear patterned ankle socks, espcailly Argyles, but mostly with long pants. Patterned kneesocks were occassionally seen in the 1950s and 60s, but they became much less common as fewer boys were wearing short pants.

Created: 12:52 AM 1/26/2007
Last updated: 12:52 AM 1/26/2007