Figure 1.--The photograph here shows three boys in Moscow during n 1967 looking into the public fountain in Pushkin Square in the midst of Gorky Street. Perhaps they are looking for coins, but we can't be sure what the attraction is. The variety of dress is interesting. All three of the boys, aged about 6 to 10, are dressed differently. Notice the younger boy wearing long stockings.

A Russian reader tells us that long stockings began to be worn in Russia during the 1880s. This was when kneepants began to be more commonly worn by boys instead of the long trosers boys wore earlier in the 19th century. Older boys wore long stockings before World War I than was the case after the War. Long stockings were common winter wear in Russia. Many younger boys wore them with short pants. Older boys might wear them under theor long pants in cold weather. Soviet school books commonly show both boys and girls wearing long stockings. A Russian reader reports that long stockings were commonly worn through the 1960s, but that after tights appeared about 1969 they rapidly replaced long stockings. They were little seen in Russia after 1972.

Photograph

The photograph here shows three boys in Moscow during n 1967 looking into the public fountain in Pushkin Square in the midst of Gorky Street (figure 1). Perhaps they are looking for coins, but we can't be sure what the attraction is. The green foliage of the trees suggests a spring day, probably late-April or May--or possibly late September or early October. The variety of dress is interesting. All three of the boys, aged about 6 to 10, are dressed differently. The boy on the left wears short pants and knee socks with a light-weight jacket. The boy in the center wears a long-sleeved checked shirt and long trousers. The third boy (on the right) seems to be wearing suspender shorts with long tan stockings and supporters. All three styles were fairly common in 1967 Moscow for a day when the weather was pleasantly cool but not cold enough for winter clothing. The boys are wearing play clothes obviously. They may have had to wear uniforms or something a bit more formal to school.

Centuries

Our Russian archive is limited, especially for thev18th and 19th centuries. Fashion in Russia cinsisted of two very different segments of the population. The largest segmentbwas thevrutal peasanty which were serfs, Their clothing did not include long stockings as they wore blouses and baggy long trousers, Meb and boys wredressed identically. We know serf boys did not wear long stockings long stockings because they wire long oants and often went barefoot. The urban population was different, at least the upper and middle ckass, Here men anf boys during the 18th century wire knee breeches with long stockongs. After tge turn of the 19thbcenury, long apants became stanfdard gor men and boys. meaming that sckscrather than stockings were worn. the difference being length, At mid-century, shortened length pants (knee pants and knickers) appeared for youmgr bboys. A Russian reader tells us that long stockings began to be worn in Russia during the 1880s. This was when kneepants began to be more commonly worn by boys instead of the long trosers boys wore earlier in the 19th century. Older boys wore long stockings before World War I than was the case after the War. Long stockings were common winter wear in Russia. Many younger boys wore them with short pants. Older boys might wear them under theor long pants in cold weather. Soviet school books commonly show both boys and girls wearing long stockings. A Russian reader reports that long stockings were commonly worn through the 1960s, but that after tights appeared about 1969 they rapidly replaced long stockings. They were little seen in Russia after 1972.