Figure 1.--This CDV portrait shows an inidentified American wearing an Eton collar and knee pants suit with patterned long stockins, we thik in think in the 1870s. While we see many boys wearing striped stickings, we note very few boys with these patterned stockings. After the 70s, we see relatively few CDVs in America. The cabinet car became the dominant photographic format in the United States.

Stripes were by far the most common pattern used in long stockings. Te photographic record establishes that beyond any question. There were, however, some more elaborate patterns. We do not see a lot of examples, but we have found some. We begin to see them in the 1870s. The technology for patterned long stockings seems to have been developed in Europe in the 1850s, but we do not see it in America until the 1870s. Many are rather like the paterned knee socks worn during the 1930s, but we see a range of other patterns. This is, however, a small fraction of the patterned stockings. We see see a range of diagonal patterns (argyles), dots, and horizontal patterns. We have not yet found polka-dot stockings, but we have found stockings with dots mixed in with other patterns. We also see diagonal patterns such as argyles. These seem to be usually brighter than the horizontal patterns. we suspect that red was the dominant color, but of course have no way of knowing that becuse of the black and white photography of the day. The stockings the boy here is wearing is a good example of horiozantal patterns (figure 1). We are not sure just how to describe the pattern. They seem to be mostly muted colors. Interestingly they seem identical to many of the patterns we see with knee socks in the 1930s. Unliked the banded stripe patterns, We can not describe these patterns in detail because we have so few long stocking examples. We think this suggests the relative prevalence. While these patterns became very common for knee socks. This was not the case for long stockings which after the 1870s became mostly solid flat colors. We have no idea at this time just why this was. Perhaps readers will have some idea.

Prevalence

Stripes (actually bands)were by far the most common of the patterns used in long stockings. The photographic record establishes that beyond any question. There were, however, some more elaborate patterns. We do not see a lot of examples, but we have found some. While we see many boys wearing striped stockings, we note very few boys with these patterned stockings. Notably American boys began wearing knickers with loud patterns in the late-1920s. Assessing prevalence with the photograohic record has some issues in the studio-dominated 19th century, but not after family snapshots appeared in the 20th century. They becane very prevalent in the 1930s, but only in America. We also note patterned long stockings, but they were not at all very common. And we have a very extensive archive of period photographs show children's clothing. This is also demonstrated in mail order catalogs and advertising. We mostly see them in the same period in which the loud patterned knees socks were common. The patterns were different. Argyles dominated knee sock patterns, but for some reason are rarely seen in long stock patterns.

Chronology

We begin to see them in the 1870s. Beginning with the CDV in the 1860s, there is an enormous photographic record allowing us to follow chronological fashion trends of almost all types. The technology for patterned long stockings seems to have been developed in Europe in the 1850s, but we do not see it affecting long stockings in America until the 1870s. The banded strioe long sockings became popular at this time. We also see other patterns, but they were much less prevalent. Just why we are unsure. As far as we can tell it was just a fashion preferences, why the banded stripes were the most popular we just do not know. we also see patterned long stockings in the 1880s, but mostly the early-80s. After mid-century they are much less common and rarely the banded-stripe patterns that were so common in the 1870s.

Types

The examples of non-stripe patterned long stocking we have found are rather like the paterned knee socks worn during the 1930s, but we see a range of other patterns. This is, however, a small fraction of the patterned stockings. We see see a range of diagonal patterns (argyles), dots, and horizontal patterns. We have not yet found polka-dot stockings, but we have found stockings with dots mixed in with other patterns. We also see diagonal patterns such as argyles. These seem to be usually brighter than the horizontal patterns. we suspect that red was the dominant color, but of course have no way of knowing that becuse of the black and white photography of the day. The stockings the boy here is wearing is a good example of horiozantal patterns (figure 1). We are not sure just how to describe the pattern. They seem to be mostly muted colors.

Knee Socks

Interestingly they seem idetical to many of the patterns we see with the knee socks coomonly worn with knickers during the 1930s. Unliked the banded stripe patterns, We can not describe these patterns in detail because we have so few long stocking examples. We think this suggests the relative prevalence. While these patterns became very common for knee socks. This was not the case for long stockings which after the 1870s became mostly solid flat colors. We have no idea at this to me just why this was. Perhaps readers will have some idea.

Created: 3:33 AM 2/18/2008
Last updated: 4:37 AM 9/28/2020