Figure 1.--This tintype does not tell us where the portrait was taken. We would guess the portrait was made in the 1870s. The boy wears a collar-buttoning suit with bloomer knickers and striped stockings. The pattern includeds both wide and narrow bands.

There were also patterened long stockings. These were primarily striped stockings in the 19th century and for a time they were very popular, especilly during the 1870s abnd 80s. Striped stockings were done with many different types of bands. The variety involved is very substantial. Some were done with wide, bold stripes, often of equal widths in two alternating colors. This was npmally a dark and white or light-colored band. Such a bold patteren made the hosiery the most destintive article of clothing, an unusul fashion convention. The actual widths varied. At this time we are unsure as to what colors were used. There were also stripe patterns which narrow stripes and bands in various widths and colors. Most of the stripped pattern are basically repeatedly replicating a basic pattern. Others are more varied and complicated. Here the number of possible patterns are virtually numberless. Illustrations often show the two alternating patterns of equal widths. I think because this was the easiest to draw. The photographic record shows that the stripe patterns actually worn were more varied. We see more varied patterns in the 20th century, but they were not very popular.

The 19th Century

There were also patterened long stockings. These were primarily striped stockings in the 19th century and for a time they were very popular, especilly during the 1870s abnd 80s. Striped stockings were done with many different types of bands. The variety involved is very substantial. Some were done with wide, bold stripes, often of equal widths in two alternating colors. This was npmally a dark and white or light-colored band. Such a bold patteren made the hosiery the most destintive article of clothing, an unusul fashion convention. The actual widths varied. At this time we are unsure as to what colors were used. There were also stripe patterns which narrow stripes and bands in various widths and colors. Most of the stripped pattern are basically repeatedly replicating a basic pattern. Others are more varied and complicated. Here the number of possible patterns are virtually numberless. Illustrations often show the two alternating patterns of equal widths. I think because this was the easiest to draw. The photographic record shows that the stripe patterns actually worn were more varied.

The 20th Century

We see more varied patterns in the 20th century, but they were not very popular. Or at least they do not seem o have been very widely worn. This is rather curious. Most American boys boys who wore knee socks wore patterened knee socks. (Plain knee socks wre more common in Europe.) Long stockings in contrast were more commonly plain without patterns. We do not understand this difference. We note few actual examples of children actually wearing them. We do note them being offered in catalogs during the 1920s and 30s, but apperently they were not very popular. They were worn by both boys and girls, we are not sure if there were gender connotations or preferences. We have found few examples of children actually weating these stockings, but if the boys were wearing knickers it would be impossible to tell. Thus particular clothing item is difficult to follow because it does not show up well in the photographic record. There were a variety of patterns used in long stovkings. We do not see the stripes worn in the 19th century. Rather we see many varied patterns. A good example are long stockings offered by Sears in 1928. We also argyle patterns.

Created: 9:23 PM 12/1/2007br> Last updated: 5:05 AM 5/10/2009