Figure 1.--This American boy looks to have been photographed in the eraly 1920s about 1921-22. He wears above the knee knickers with long stockings. Notice the lighter weight and trimer fit than long stockings commonly worn in the 1910s. Also notice the light color. The children are Richard and Jeanne Strock (Barnhizer).

Long stockings in the early 1920s tended to be similar to those worn in earlier decades. They tended to be relatively short, often only just a little above the knee. As they were designed to be worn with kneepants or knickers, they did not have to rise much above the knee. They were also usually a bit thicker and quite ribbed in texture. Of course rayon was not an option during these earlier times. Dark stockings were more prevalent in the early 1920s, although white was available for girls and dressy wear for boys. As boys began wearing short pants or above the knee knickers and girls shorter skirts, much longer stockings appeared. Stockings also were primarily made in cotton by the late 1920s and wool stockings were no longer commonly available. As a resullt children's long stockings had a much trimmer fit. Colors began to change in the mid-1920s with lighter colored browns and tans becoming more common than the dark long stockings that were once so common. A good example of the stockings available can be found in the Sears 1924 catalog. Sears still had dark stockings for boys, but offered several styles in lighter colors. We note by the later years of the date fewer older boys wearing long stockings. Increasingly older boys wanted to wear knee socks. Younger boys still continued wearing long stockings, especially during the winter. A good example is the short psnts outfits offered in the Wards' Winter 1927-28 catalog. The boys are all shown wearing long stockings.

Length

Long stockings in the early 1920s tended to be similar to those worn in earlier decades. They tended to be relatively short, often only just a little above the knee. As they were designed to be worn with kneepants or knickers, they did not have to rise much above the knee.

Fabric

Long stockings durung the 1920s were often a bit thicker and quite ribbed in texture. Of course rayon was not an option during these earlier times. Stockings also were primarily made in cotton by the late 1920s and wool stockings were no longer commonly available. As a resullt children's long stockings had a much trimmer fit.

Colors

Long stocings colors varied during the 1920s. Dark stockings were more prevalent in the early 1920s, although white was available for girls and dressy wear for boys. As boys began wearing short pants or above the knee knickers and girls shorter skirts, much longer stockings appeared. Colors began to change in the mid-1920s with lighter colored browns and tans becoming more common than the dark long stockings that were once so common. A good example of the stockings available can be found in the Sears 1924 catalog. Sears still had dark stockings for boys, but offered several styles in lighter colors. A factor here was who ws wearing them. We notice a lot of younger boys wearing the lighter tan colors when weaing short pants, especially in casual circumstances. Dark colors were more common in more formal citcumstances. An exception here was white. We see younger boys wearing white stockings in formal occassions. This seems more common in the early 20s. Older boys wore long stockings with knickers. Black stockings seem the most common.

Age

We still see quite a wide age range of boys wearing long stockings during the 1920s, although not as commonly as in the 1910s. To an extent this was affected by the popularity of shortened-length pants (short pants and knickers) and tge associated age conventions. In America, few boys wore long stockings with long pants. They were most common for younger boys, both pre-school boys and boys in elememtary (primary) schools. There were no longer older boys wearing them, but we still commonly see younger teenagers wearing them in the early-20s, less so by the end of the decade. The popularity of long stockings varied by age as well as the accompanying clothes. Younger boys tended to wear long stockings with short pants. School age boys were more likely to wear knickers. Long stockings seemn very common for younger boys, especially on a seasonal basis. We note by the later years of the date fewer older boys wearing long stockings. Increasingly older boys by the end of the decade wanted to wear knee socks with knickers. And of course when boys began wearing long pants they stopped wearing long stockings. Here the age varied somewhat from country to country.

Seaonality

Younger boys still continued wearing long stockings, especially during the winter. A good example is the short psnts outfits offered in the Wards' Winter 1927-28 catalog. The boys are all shown wearing long stockings.

Formality

Created: September 25, 2000
Last updated: 3:42 AM 6/18/2010