Figure 1.--Here we see Harry E. Trolach (writing indestinct). He was born in 1868. As he looks 9-10 years old here, the portrait was probably taken about 1877. Note the long knee pants and light-colored stripped long stockings.

We begin to see American boys wearing long stockings as kennpanys begin to become popular in the 1860s. The long stocking varied in color and patterns were popular. They were not very long as kneepants were commonly cut at calf level. Long stockings become standard boyswear as knnepants becone increasing popular in the 1870s and 80s. Most boys in the 1890s wear kneepants and long stockings, including older boys.

Early 19th Century (1800-40)

We do not know a great deal about early 19th century at this time. Boys in the early 19th-century mostly wore long pants. There would seem to be little need for stockings longer than knee length. I am not sure about the stockings worn in the early 19th Century, but I believe that short socks were much more common than long stocks. Even smaller boys before breeching did not need long stockings as they might wear pantalettes with shorter dresses.

Mid-19th Century (1840-70)

American boys began wearing long stockings in the second half of the 19th Century. This appears to have occurred as kneepants began to increasingly been worn by the 1870s. The long stockings that first appeared with kneesocks were highly divers. There were white and bright red stockings. There were stripped stockings as well as dark ones. An example of striped stockings is a Ohio boy. Another example is an unidentified boy in the 1870s. We see many boys, however, wearing socks rather than long stockings. An example is Thomas Hardwick.

Late 19th Century (1870-1900)

As kneepants became increasing common in the 1870s, most boys began to wear long stockings. Tights were not worn instead they were a pair of long stockings, but by the 1870s as knee pants became increasing popular boys were wearing long, mostly wool stockings. They were the same long stockings as worn by girls. These long stockings continued to be worn by children, including older boys and girls, throughout the 19th Century. Gradually dark, solid colored stockings became the dominate style for boys. The long stockings were held up with a kind of suspender waist, but I am not sure when this forst appeared.

Created: 1:30 AM 3/26/2005
Last updated: 11:17 PM 2/26/2009