*** long stockings : United States patterns








U.S. Long Stockings: Patterns

longstocking patterns
Figure 1.--Here we see a colorized portrait of a 4-year old boy wearing dressy short pants with patterned long stockings. They are rather like the patterned knee socks popular in the 1930s. A source dates the portrait to the 1940s, but we think the 30s is more likely. We do not know the studio, but the children lmost certinly re from a northern state.

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. We see long stockings done in different patterns, but the great bulk of long stockings in the photographic record are plain or flat colored stockings. The prevalence of different colors varied over the century or o in which long stockings were worn. time. Both white and black stockings were at times popular. Other colors are much more difficult to assess because of the black and white photgraphy of the day. Patterns are possible to identify. And the most common patterns are stripes or more accturaly colored bands.

Prevalence

The vast majority of the long stockings we have noted were flat, solid colors. The only exception were the striped (actually banded) stockings popular in the 1870s and early 80s. These were fairly common. Less common were the patterned long stockings we note in ghe late-20s and 30s. This was simikar to the loud patterned knee socks popular during the same period. Unlike the long stockings, these knee socks were very prevalent and widely worn, actually more common with knickers than the flat weave knee socks.

Patterns

We see long stockings done in different patterns, but the great bulk of long stockings in the photographic record are plain or flat colored stockings. The prevalence of different colors varied over the century or o in which long stockings were worn. time. Both white and black stockings were at times popular. Other colors are much more difficult to assess because of the black and white photgraphy of the day. Patterns are possible to identify. And the most common patterns are stripes or more accurately colored bands. They were, however, only popular for a relatively short period, primarily the 1870s, although we see some in the ate-60s and early-80s. We have begun to compile chrnology. The striped stockings were done in an incredibke number of ways. We see some stockings with wide bands. More common were a mix of wide and narrow bands. Furter complications were added by the fact that the bnarrow bands were done in mny differnt wdths. And they were mixed together in a veariety of ways. A wide varty of colors were used in these striped stockings. Stripes were the most common pattern. There were, however, some more elaborate patterns. Many are rather like the paterned knee socks worn during the 1930s, but we se arange of other patterns. This is, however, a small fraction of the patterned stockings. We see see a range of dots, bands, and semi-argyles. Te stockings the boy her s wearingis a good example. We can not yet describe them in detail because we have so few examples which we believe suggests the prevalence.

Chronology

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.

Gender

Our gender assessment of patterned long stockings is still tentative. We note both boys and girls wearing wearing the striped (banded) long stockings worn in the 1870s and early-80s. We think that they were more common for boys than girls, but that is a still tentative assessment. They vare a fairly common sight in the photographic record. this is less true for the paterned long stockings we see in the 1920s and 30s. They were much less common than the striped stockings. So we do not yet any fix as to gender trends.





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Created: 9:23 PM 12/1/2007
Last updated: 3:47 AM 9/28/2020