Figure 1.--American boys in the mid-19th century commonly wore both dresses and knee pants with long white stockings, by the late-9th century striped and dark-colored stockings became nore popular. This American portrait is undated, but we suspect was taken in the 1870s. All we know for sure is that the boy had his portrait taken in Delavan, Illinois.

Boys and girls did not commonly wear long white stockings in the early 19th century, or at least we do not think they dis. This is in part because long trousers were commonly worn by men and boys. The long pants, however, nake it difficult to assess stocking length. In addition, dresses were long and long stockings of any color were not needed. Also boys and girls wore pantalettes making long stocking unnecessary. Even after breehing boys did not wear long stockings as the popular skeleton suits of the day entailed long ankel length pants, often bworn with ankle socks and strap shoes. As dresses becan to become shorter in the 1830s they were mostly worn by little boys and girls with lacey pantalettes which came to the ankle--making long stockings unecessary. Only in the 1850s did long white stockings come into style for small children. Or I should say can we begin to tell. This is because shorter-length pants began to becoe more common so we can see what type of hosiery children are wearing. A good example of a boy wearing white stokings is a German boy about 1862. Dress styles by the 1850s were much shorter than earlier in the decade. Pantalettes had also been shortened and now were worn well above the shin to knee level. As it was not considered proper for even young children to appear in bare legs, they were now outfitted in long white stockings. As best we can tell long stockings were not very long, probably coming to just above the knee. We note many American boys wearing long white stockings at mid-century. We are not sure just how long they were, however, because knee pants and bloomer knickers were normally cut quite long. Long stockings came back into style in the late 19th century as boys commonly wore knee pants. Boys in the late 19th century wore long stockings that went above the knee with knee length pants. The stockings were mostly black or other darl colors in the late 19th century or some dark color. They mostly wore dark stockings, even with dressy Faintleroy suits. This varied with countries. We note Brirtish boys wraring three-quarter length white socks rather than long stockings.

Early 19th Century (1800-1840)

Boys and girls did not commonly wear long white stockings in the early 19th century, or at least we do not think they dis. This is in part because long trousers were commonly worn by men and boys. The long pants, however, nake it difficult to assess stocking length. In addition, dresses were long and long stockings of any color were not needed. Also boys and girls wore pantalettes making long stocking unnecessary. Even after breehing boys did not wear long stockings as the popular skeleton suits of the day entailed long ankel length pants, often bworn with ankle socks and strap shoes. As dresses becan to become shorter in the 1830s they were mostly worn by little boys and girls with lacey pantalettes which came to the ankle--making long stockings unecessary.

Mid-19th Century (1840-70)

Only in the 1850s did long white stockings come into style for small children. Or I should say can we begin to tell. This is because shorter-length pants began to becoe more common so we can see what type of hosiery children are wearing. A good example of a boy wearing white stokings is a German boy about 1862. Another good example is two unidentified brothers in 1864. Dress styles by the 1850s were much shorter than earlier in the decade. Pantalettes had also been shortened and now were worn well above the shin to knee level. As it was not considered proper for even young children to appear in bare legs, they were now outfitted in long white stockings. As best we can tell long stockings were not very long, probably coming to just above the knee. We note many American boys wearing long white stockings at mid-century. We are not sure just how long they were, however, because knee pants and bloomer knickers were normally cut quite long. A good example is two New York City children, probably in the 1840s. Another example is a New York boy about 1850. We notice Philadelphia brothers in 1862 wearing white dresses with white stockings. Another example is twoDetroit brothers, probably in the late-1860s. John Schwensusen is another good example. We also note the Caplain brothers in France during the 1860s. We note an English boy, Cyril Bickersteth, in 1865.

Late 19th Century (1870-1900)

Long stockings became very common in the late 19th century as boys commonly wore knee pants. White long stockings were now mostly worn by girls and tounger boys. Long stockings were worn with both skirted garments and knee pants. A good example is Charley Rosewater. Charley in 1876 wears white stickings with a dress, but after breeching wore colored stockings with a kneepants suit. Boys in the late 19th century wore long stockings that went above the knee with knee length pants. The stockings were mostly black or other darl colors in the late 19th century or some dark color. They mostly wore dark stockings, even with dressy Faintleroy suits. This varied with countries. We note Brirtish boys wearing three-quarter length white socks rather than long stockings.

Created: 12:03 AM 12/28/2006
Last updated: 11:29 PM 9/9/2010