Figure 1.--Here we see two younger boys wearing sailor outfits. The boys are Butch and Herbert. Notice the black and white long stockings. The photograph was taken March 1919.

Black long stockings continued to be the dominant color worn by boys as well as girls. Most photographs show children in the 1910s wearing black long stockings. Manyb school photograps show most and often all of the children wearing black long stockings. A good example is the Newhall School in California. While black was the dominant color for long stockings, we do begin to notice the appearance of the lighter colors, especially tan, brown, and beige. This seems to be the decade where lighter and darker colors of long stockings became more of a popular choice. Black was still a very prominent color. The advertisements for the various kinds of garters and hose supporters continued to show black stockings as the usual thing to wear with suspender waists, pin-on hose supporters, and other kinds of support devices. For instance, the ads for Velvet Grip Hose Supporters in 1911 show boys wearing black long stockings, and so do the 1918 ads for suspender waists (both the Kazoo and the Samson brands). The 1916 Kazoo ad also illustrates boys wearing black stockings. We also note that the ad for Black Cat hosiery in 1916 and the ad for Hickory garters in 1916 also show only black stockings on the boy models. The back-to-school outfit advertised in 1919 shows the boy wearing black stockings with his above-the-knee knickers and black is the only option in the section devoted to his hosiery in this ad. But lighter colors were also beginning to be seen. The 1918 ad for Kazoo suspender waists shows the older of the two boys wearing black long stockings, but his two younger siblings, a girl and a boy, are wearing either white or light tan long stockings with their different versions of the Kazoo waist. Also the 1919 advertisements for push-cars and tricycles (velocipedes) shows boys wearing not black but tan long stockings with short pants (or at least shorter-length knee pants). It is notable here, however, that the lighter colors seem to be worn mainly by boys 12 years of age or younger. An ad for a young lad's Oliver Twist suit shows the model wearing what appear to be brown rather than black stockings, and the Allheneeds waist suit ad (1915) shows a very young boy wearing either white or, more likely, beige long stockings with his waist union suit. In 1915 long stockings for infants were advertised in baby colors (pale blue, pink, and white), but the same year an ad for Stuart's waists shows a boy about 8 wearing the traditional black long stockings attached to the accompanying supporters. So lighter colors were being worn in the 1910s although it is probably fair to say that black long stockings still dominated the market--especially for older boys. We also note younger boys wearing white long stockings for formal occasions. Older boys wore black stockings for such occassions.

Prominance of Black

Black long stockings continued to be the dominant color worn by boys as well as girls. The HBC photographic record clearly shows the prominance of black. Most photographs show children in the 1910s wearing black long stockings. Manyb school photograps show most and often all of the children wearing black long stockings. A good example is the Newhall School in California. The advertisements for the various kinds of garters and hose supporters continued to show black stockings as the usual thing to wear with suspender waists, pin-on hose supporters, and other kinds of support devices. For instance, the ads for Velvet Grip Hose Supporters in 1911 show boys wearing black long stockings, and so do the 1918 ads for suspender waists (both the Kazoo and the Samson brands). The 1916 Kazoo ad also illustrates boys wearing black stockings. We also note that the ad for Black Cat hosiery in 1916 and the ad for Hickory garters in 1916 also show only black stockings on the boy models. The back-to-school outfit advertised in 1919 shows the boy wearing black stockings with his above-the-knee knickers and black is the only option in the section devoted to his hosiery in this ad.

Other Colors

While black was the dominant color for long stockings, we do begin to notice the appearance of the lighter colors, especially tan, brown, and beige. This seems to be the decade where lighter and darker colors of long stockings became more of a popular choice. Black was still a very prominent color.But lighter colors were also beginning to be seen. The 1918 ad for Kazoo suspender waists shows the older of the two boys wearing black long stockings, but his two younger siblings, a girl and a boy, are wearing either white or light tan long stockings with their different versions of the Kazoo waist. Also the 1919 advertisements for push-cars and tricycles (velocipedes) shows boys wearing not black but tan long stockings with short pants (or at least shorter-length knee pants). It is notable here, however, that the lighter colors seem to be worn mainly by boys 12 years of age or younger. An ad for a young lad's Oliver Twist suit shows the model wearing what appear to be brown rather than black stockings, and the Allheneeds waist suit ad (1915) shows a very young boy wearing either white or, more likely, beige long stockings with his waist union suit. In 1915 long stockings for infants were advertised in baby colors (pale blue, pink, and white), but the same year an ad for Stuart's waists shows a boy about 8 wearing the traditional black long stockings attached to the accompanying supporters. So lighter colors were being worn in the 1910s although it is probably fair to say that black long stockings still dominated the market--especially for older boys.

Conventions

While there were different colors of long stockings, for dress occassions it was primarily black or white that was worn.We also note younger boys wearing white long stockings for formal occasions. Older boys wore black stockings for such occassions. We notice Frank Bailey at a private school wearing a knickers suit with long black stockings.

Decade Trends

Created: 4:58 AM 12/24/2004
Last updated: 11:59 PM 9/22/2006