Figure 1.--This CDV shows an unidentified boy photographed by J.H. Poff in Loudonville, Ohio. The portrait is undated, but looks like the late-1860s to us. This is when we begin to see striped long stockings becoming popular.

Virtually all American children wore long stockings in the 1860s, at least as best we can tell. We are not sure about the boys wearing long pants and the girls dresses with long skirts. The only real exception was the children going barefoot which was much more common than suggested by the photographic record. Photography at the time was studio based. This affected the income level of people being photographed and meant that the children were usually outfitted in their best clothes. And the children were almost all wearing long stockings, although it is difficult to deduce hosiery for the many children boys wearing long pants. We mostly notice American boys solid colored stockings, but see a few boys wearing striped long stocking in the 1860s, but they may have appeared earlier. The appearance of the albumen print and the CDV portrait resulted in an exponential increase in the number of photographic portraits. It also lowered the price. We see large numbers of younger boys wearing shorted-length pants and long stockings, at least the younger boys. Long pants were still quite common for school age boys, especially after the first few year of primary school. Striped stockings were not the dominant style of long stockings. We see a lot of boys wearing solid colored stockings. White stockings seem very common. Striped stockings were worn by both boys and girls. There does not seem to have been any gender conventions. In fact, we see many images of siblings wearing similar and in some cases identical long stockings. There will be gender differences, but we do not see them in the 1860s. Almost all boys and girls wore long stockings and not socks. White stockings were very common. White stockings were especially common in the early- and mid-1860s. We do not see striped stockings at the beginning of the decade, but do begin to see them by the end of the decade. Unfortunately this is difficult to track in detail because so few images are dated. We can generally identify decades, but specific years are virtually impossible. By the late-60s we begin to see more and more boys and girls wearing the striped stockings. There was quite a range of different striped patterns and this would only increase in the 1870s.

Long Stockings

Virtually all American children wore long stockings in the 1860s, at least as best we can tell. We are not sure about the boys wearing long pants and the girls dresses with long skirts. The only real exception was the children going barefoot which was much more common than suggested by the photographic record. Almost all boys and girls wore long stockings and not socks

Photography

Photography at the time was studio based. This affected the income level of people being photographed and meant that the children were usually outfitted in their best clothes. The appearance of the albumen print and the CDV portrait resulted in an exponential increase in the number of photographic portraits. The CDV also lowered the price of a portrait. This expanded the socio-economic base of the photograpjic record. And the children were almost all wearing long stockings, although it is difficult to deduce hosiery for the many children boys wearing long pants.

Prevalent Types

Hosiery became a more important garment type in the 1860s because we see boys begining to wear shortened pants, both knee pants and knickers. It was mostly younger boys in the 1860s, but the age conventions would steadily increase in the late-19th century. We mostly notice American boys solid colored stockings, but see a few boys wearing striped long stocking in the 1860s, but they may have appeared earlier. We see large numbers of younger boys wearing shorted-length pants and long stockings, at least the younger boys. Long pants were still quite common for school age boys, especially after the first few year of primary school. Striped stockings were not the dominant style of long stockings. We see a lot of boys wearing solid colored stockings. White stockings seem very common. White stockings were especially common in the early- and mid-1860s.

Gender Conventions

Striped stockings were worn by both boys and girls. There does not seem to have been any gender conventions. In fact, we see many images of siblings wearing similar and in some cases identical striped long stockings. There will be gender differences developing as the 19th century progresses, but we do not see them in the 1860s. Gradually white long stockings would become more associated with girls, although youngerv boycalso wiore them. But in the 1860s both bioys and girls comminly wore white long stockings.

Decade Trends

We do not see striped stockings at the beginning of the decade, but do begin to see them by the end of the decade. Unfortunately this is difficult to track in detail because so few images are dated. We can generally identify decades, but specific years are virtually impossible. By the late-60s we begin to see more and more boys and girls wearing the striped stockings. And striped stockings would dominate the 1870s. There was quite a range of different striped patterns and this would only increase in the 1870s.

Created: 10:10 PM 9/1/2007
Last updated: 12:33 AM 5/2/2024