Figure 1.--Black long stockings became increasingly common in the 1880s for American children and were the dominant hosiery diring the 1890s-1910s ad were akso widely worn in the 1920s. This boy wears knickers with black long stockings about 1920.

Black was especially common in America for chidren's long stockings for both boys and girls. It is not always possible to destinguish between black and various dark shades in the photographic record. We are fairly certain about some photographs, but less so with others. We know that black was very common for long stockings. This popularity, however, varied over time. I think it is clear from the photographs that black was not nearly as common for stockings in the 1870s and 80s as they became in the 90s. American boys commonly wore long stockings in the late-19th century. We believe that the colors of long stockings were quite varied with many boys wearing blue, brown green and grey stockings in dark shades. This changed in the 1890s when black became almost universal. We are unsure why this change occurred. We even see children wearing black long stockings with white and other light-colored outfits. We even see boys wearing black stockings with white or other light colored outfits. We have archived many examples of this. An example is the Sanborn boy in 1890. They were worn by boys of different ages with varius outfits. Black long stockings were worn both for formal occassions and for everyday wear. After World War I when tan shades became very common, black came to be seen as a more formal shade.

Popularity

Black was an especially common color for long stockings. This varied, however, chronolgically. They do not seem particularly common in the mid-19th century nor the mid-20th century. Black was, however, the most popular color of lock stockings in the late 19th. Some mothers chose stockings to match suit or dress colors, but gradually black stockings bece increasingly prevalet. This included dress, school, nd play outfits. They were almost universally worn at the turn of the 20th century. Many eary 20th century photographs of groups of children in and outside school show all or virtually all wearing black stockings. We see some children even wearing white outfits like white sailor suits with black long stockings. They were very commonly worn by both boys and girls. We are not sure why black stockings became so popular. It was color that boys did not object to as they did to white and that girls for soe reason did not see as dowdy.This began to change only after World War I. We still see black being commonly worn in the 20s, but by the 30s were mostly worn for formal occassions.

Photographic Interpretation

It is not always possible to destinguish between black and various dark shades in the photographic record. We are fairly certain about some photographs, but less so with others.

Chronology

We know that black was very common for long stockings. This popularity, however, varied over time. I think it is clear from the photographic record that black was not nearly as common a color forvhosiery in the 1870s and 80s as they became in the 90s. American boys commonly wore long stockings in the late 19th century. We believe that the colors of long stockings were quite varied with many boys wearing blue, brown green and grey stockings in dark shades. This changed in the 1890s when black became almost universal. We are unsure why this change occurred. But we see boys and girls very commonly wearing black long stockings in the 1890s and 1900s. A good example is two New York City boys in the 1890s. Black stockings were still very common in the 1910s. A good example is an unidentified New York boy. After World War I when tan shades became very common, black came to be seen as a more formal shade.

Accompanying Clothing

We even see children wearing black long stockings with white and other light-colored outfits. We note a Sears catalog cover showing all the children wearing black long stockings. We even see boys wearing black stockings with white or other light colored outfits. We have archived many examples of this. An example is the Sanborn boy in 1890. They were worn by boys of different ages with varius outfits. A good example is the Harrioson boys about 1890. The Lowe brothers in the early 1890s is another good example. A 1903 stocking ad shows both a girl and boy dressed in white and wearing black long stockings. We see Harold Howes in the 1900s wearing black long stockings with dresses, tunuc suits, and sailor suits as he grew up.

Ages

American boys of a wide age range wore black long stockings, most with knee pants and knickers. The age of the boys wearing them changed oiver time. Black long stockings wee nt very common in the 1860s, but tey begin to become popular in the 80s, although mostly for younger boys. We note even older teenagers wearing black long stockings. This was especially true during the 180s and 1900s. It was also the case of the 1910s, although we see more older boys in the 1910s wearing black long stockings, but not as many older teenagers. After World war I knickers were still very common, but we gradually see fewer older boys wearing long stockings in general. By the 30s, blck long stockings were more for formal occassions and worn by younger boys.

Conventions

We are not sure yet about hosiery conventions in the mid-19th century. We do not see many children wearing black long stockings. They become much more common in the 1890s and 1900s--virtually universal. Both boys and girls wore black stockings for virtually all occassins. Black long stockings were worn both for formal occassions and for everyday wear. They were very commonly worn to school. We see younger boys and girls wearing white stckings in the 1900s, but blck was more common. The color of long stockings began to become more diverse in the 1910s and especially after World War I in the 1920s. Black gradually became increasingly worn for formnal occassions. Younger boys might wear white stockings, but most school age boys more commonly wore black for formal occassions. Tan and other brown shades of long stockings became more common in the 1920s and 30s and black began to be increasingly seen as a color for formal wear.

Created: 3:30 AM 9/10/2007
Last updated: 5:15 AM 2/15/2008