Figure 1.-This American boy was photographed in his best suit with his dog, we believe during the 1900s. Note the black long stockings.

Black stockings also dominated this decade almost totally. HBC's catalog pages for sailor suits, shirt waists, suit coats, dress-up suits, and other garments show American boys nearly always wearing black long stockings. There are numerous examples of this on HBC. We note boys dressed up in their best suit, such as the boy here (figure 1). This included boys of all social classes. This included boys from rich families as well as working class boys. We see New York City newsboys in 1905 wearing long black stockings. Our earliest example of the Dr. Parker style garter waist (referred to in 1902 simply as a combination belt and supporters) shows both the boy and girl models wearing black long stockings. There are some exceptions. We note some boys wearing white long stockings, mostly commonly with tunic suits. We also see younger boys wearing white stockings with sailor suits and other outfits. These boys involved here would have been boys from affluent families. We have seen quite a few images of boys wearing white tunic suits with white long stockings. In 1908-09 we have the illustration of a tunic suit in which the color of the stockings is ambiguous because the image is a line drawing, but the stockings here may be either white or beige. I think the lighter colors were reserved almost exclusively for very young boys--the same boys who might be wearing short socks with their knee pants on other occasions. We also note boys wearing lighter colored stockings. See for example a Martha's Vinyard family about 1905-06. Towards the end of the decade a few younger boys seem to have worn lighter colored long stockings (either white or tan). But there is no question that for the most part--and certainly for older boys, black stockings would be the standard color. Black stockings had two advantages: they didn't show the soil and the wear as much as the lighter colors, and they also answered the requirement of formality and general conservatism in boys' clothing.

Prevalence of Black Stockings

Black stockings dominated the 1900s almost totally. HBC's catalog pages for sailor suits, shirt waists, suit coats, dress-up suits, and other garments show American boys nearly always wearing black long stockings. There are numerous examples of this on HBC. We note boys dressed up in their best suit, such as the boy here (figure 1). This included boys of all social classes. We note boys from rich families as well as working class boys. We see New York City newsboys in 1905 wearing long black stockings. We also notice boys of all ages wearing black stockings. A Seargent painting in 1902 shows the young Knowles brothers with black stockings. Our earliest example of the Dr. Parker style garter waist (referred to in 1902 simply as a combination belt and supporters) shows both the boy and girl models wearing black long stockings. We note the Moon family wearing black long stockings in 1907, even though it is a warm summer day. Another example is William Dougherty about 1905. White was very popular for younger boys and often girls and younger boys wore white long stockings. We note, however, that even when wearing white outfits, black long stockings were not uncommonly worn. A good example is Richard Crown about 1908. We even see boys wearing black stockings with white band uniforms.

Other Colors

Most boys in the 1900s wore black long stockings. There were, however, some exceptions. We note some boys wearing white long stockings, mostly commonly with tunic suits. We also see younger boys wearing white stockings with sailor suits and other outfits. These boys involved here would have been boys from affluent families. We have seen quite a few images of boys wearing white tunic suits with white long stockings. In 1908-09 we have the illustration of a tunic suit in which the color of the stockings is ambiguous because the image is a line drawing, but the stockings here may be either white or beige. We also note boys wearing lighter colored stockings. See for example a Martha's Vinyard family about 1905-06.

Age Conventions

I think the lighter colors were reserved almost exclusively for very young boys--the same boys who might be wearing short socks with their knee pants on other occasions. Wesee some younger boys wearing white stockings, but black stockings were more common. An example is a younger San Jose boy earing a Fauntleroy outfit about 1905.

Decade Trends

Towards the end of the decade a few younger boys seem to have worn lighter colored long stockings (either white or tan). But there is no question that for the most part--and certainly for older boys, black stockings would be the standard color.

Practicality

Black stockings had two advantages: they didn't show the soil and the wear as much as the lighter colors, and they also answered the requirement of formality and general conservatism in boys' clothing.

Created: 1:00 AM 12/24/2004
Last updated: 3:54 AM 12/23/2007