Figure 1.--These two American boys had their portraits taken, probably in the 1890s. By that time knee pants had become standard for American boys, especially city boys. The standard length was cut just at the knee. Thus long stockings at the time came to be made at lengths just above the knee.

The general chronological movement is obviously from shorter long stockings to longer and longer ones. The key factor here appears to be the clothes that boys and girls were wearing with long stockings. Long kneepants and skirts did not require very long stockings. Short pants and shorter skirts mean that longer-length stockings were needed to cover a child's legs. The length of long stockings worn by American boys has varied significantly over time. Early kneepants worn in the 1860s were generally quite long, often down to calf level. For these kneepants, long stockings did not need to be very long and in some cases even long sovks three-quarter length would do. Some boys look to be wearing long trousers they have outgrown rather than actual kneepants. Gradually kneepants became more common and were worn at shorter length. This meant that long stockings needed to be made at longer lengths. Knee pants by the 1890s were being made at knee length, requiring knee socks to be made at lengths above the knee. Short pants began to be worn in the early 20th century and became widely worn after World war I in the 1920s. Early short pants were made knee length like kneepants. Gradually they became shorter. This required even longer length long stockings. There was some overlap. During some era only one basic length was available. At other times, parents had a choice of lengths to purchase.

The 19th Century

The length of long stockings worn by American boys has varied significantly over time. Early kneepants worn in the 1860s were generally quite long, well below the knee and often down to calf level. For these kneepants, long stockings did not need to be very long and in some cases even long sovks three-quarter length would do. Some boys look to be wearing long trousers they have outgrown rather than actual kneepants. We believe that long stockings during much of the 19th century kneesocks were generally made to just above the knee, in part because girls might wear dresses cut just below the knee and most long stockings were made for both boys and girls to wear. Gradually kneepants became more common and were worn at shorter length. This meant that long stockings needed to be made at longer lengths. Knee pants by the 1890s were being made at knee length, requiring knee socks to be made at lengths above the knee. We believe that until the 1890s that long stockings were mostly made to lengths just above the knee. This began to change in the 1890s when boys began to wear shorter-length pants and then by the turn of the 20th century, boys were wearing above the knee knickers or knickers just below the knee. Notice the boys at the Misses Porter's School in a photo taken about 1895. Here the boys wear long stockings with knee pants, but the knee pants are relatively short and the stockings fairly long--certainly longer than mere over-the-knee style. The seem to reach to about mid-thigh.

The 20th Century

Knee pants were still common in the early 20th century. Knickers gradually began to replace them. Up until World War I long stockings in America tended to be just over the knee and not much longer. Short pants also began to be worn in the early 20th century and became widely worn after World war I in the 1920s. Early short pants were made knee length like kneepants. Gradually they became shorter. This required even longer length long stockings. Long stockings began to appear at very long lengths, covering almost the entire leg. There was some overlap. During some era only one basic length was available. At other times, parents had a choice of lengths to purchase.

Created: 10:05 PM 5/30/20055
Last updated: 10:05 PM 5/30/2005