Figure 1.--We do not have American color images from the 19th or early-20th century. We do have colorized images. They are not as reliable as color photographs, but an established studio did make an effort to match the colors. The hue may not be correct. There were quite a number of light-brown shades worn in the 1920s-early 40s. The basic colors, however, probably are correct. Thus the boy here in the 1920s almost certainly did wear tan long stockings. Nitice how mother here has matched the colors with the pants and shirt--probably a shorts set.

These tan or light-brown shades were one of many colors used for long stockings. We do note note American boys wearing these tan colors to any extent during the 19th century, even the late-19th century. It is a littkle difficult to tell from the black-and white photography of the 19th century, but the photographic record strongly suggests that they were not commonly worn before the turn-of-the 20 century. We do begin to see them in the early-20th century. These tan shades were not at all common before the War, but we do see some. These shades became especially common after World War I (1914-18). This sudden shift in the color of long stockings has been noted on many HBC pages. We have discussed several times on HBC the fashion for tan long stockings as a style that gradually replaced the traditional black stockings that became standard in the 1890s. Black long stockings did not disappear, but were generally replaced by the tan/beige long stockings, at least for more informal wear. Long stockings went of of style in the 1940s. At the time it was mostly these tan/beige shades that were being worn. Long stockings continued to be worn in several others countries, but they are rarely seen in America after the early-1940s.

The 19th Century

These tan or light-brown shades were one of many colors used for long stockings. We do note note American boys wearing these tan colors to any extent during the 19th century, even the late-19th century. We note white long stockings being commonly worn in tghe 1860s, but the light-brown tan shades seem virtually absent. It is a little difficult to tell from the black-and white photography of the 19th century, but the photographic record strongly suggests that light-briwn shades were not commonly worn before the turn-of-the 20 century. A factor here almost certainly is modesty. Light brown shades suggest actual skin colors, but an important reason long stockings were read was for modesty. So the tan shades actually ran counter to one of the principal reasons why long stockings were worn.

The 20th Century

We do begin to see boys wearing tan/beige long stockings in the early-20th century. These tan shades were not at all common before the War, but we do see some. During the 1910s and 1920s nearly all advertisements for long stockings offered buyers a choice between black and white or dark brown. Girls often wore white and some younger boys did also, especially for special occasions such as first communions and weddings. Tan long stockings had begun to be worn in the 1920s by both boys and girls, but these were rarely featured by the main American mail order houses, which tended to stick to the tried and true colors, i.e. black, white, and dark brown. This changed after (1914-18). The various light-brown tan shades became very popular after the War in the 1920s. This sudden shift in the color of long stockings has been noted on many HBC pages. We have discussed several times on HBC the fashion for tan long stockings as a style that gradually replaced the traditional black stockingsthat became standard in the 1890s. Black long stockings did not disappear, but were generally replaced by the tan/beige long stockings, at least for more informal wear. Long stockings went of of style in the 1940s. At the time it was mostly these tan/beige shades that were being worn.

Created: 2:39 AM 9/25/2010
Last updated: 8:27 PM 10/6/2010