Today's post Vintage Women’s Socks 1920s to1960s History from VintageDancer.com.
Jean Harlow models her sporting attire, complete with ankle socks in the 1930s.
Socks are often overlooked or disregarded as items of little importance. Indeed, socks are hardly perceived as garments of glamour. Despite this, however unimportant they appear; attitudes towards socks has shifted throughout the twentieth century. In particular, attitudes towards the wearing of socks by women. In order to investigate the history of vintage women’s socks, we must first explore the development and adaptation of leisurewear follow by the influence of the teenager, the original bobbysoxer.
Vintage Women’s Socks – Early Beginnings
During the First World War, women adopted a more practical mode of dressing. Women found themselves outside of the home in new roles. Functional, practical clothing was suddenly an important factor to consider when selecting appropriate attire. As WW1 caused a shift in the function of women’s clothing, this development continued and progressed throughout the twentieth century. Prior to this period, women’s daily attire was mostly chosen on aesthetic qualities, with little consideration for mobility of movement.
A selection of women’s hosiery and stockings from the early 1920s.
As WW1 caused women’s clothing to become more practical, this in turn facilitated the development of sportswear for women. From the mid nineteenth century, sporting activities and leisurely pastimes became fashionable. Tennis, croquet and cycling were all viewed as appropriately tasteful activities for ladies to partake in.
Wearing silk stockings for sporting activities was not practical. Cotton and wool over the knee ribbed stockings were better, durable, choices.
1920s Vintage Women’s Socks
The Victorian fascination with exercise and sports continued into the next century. Physical education was offered by schools and colleges for women from the late 1800s. Individual schools and colleges would have their own kits of sporting attire for their students to wear.
This advertisement from the 1920s illustrates varies shades of stockings available at that time. Blacks, greys, shades of coffee and even daring nude were all offered.
By the 1920s, the gym suit had developed into a blouse style top, with elasticated bloomers beneath a skirt. Socks were worn with the gym suit, but at first they were often worn over the top of stockings. It was seen as shocking for women to bare their legs during this time. To illustrate this, stockings were available in ‘nude’ tones by the mid 1920s. While a daring few dressed their legs in this new flesh shade, many viewed the ‘nude’ tone stockings as scandalous.
Of course, children wore socks throughout their youth, as illustrated in this image from Petit Echo de la Mode, 1925.
Children wearing knee high socks in 1925.
For sporting activities during this time, women wore knee high socks or hose. These were worn rolled back just an inch or two below the knee. Commonly these would be fashioned in wool yarns, particularly for outdoor activities during colder months.
A selection of hosiery from 1926 including knee high sporting socks (middle center).
1920s Spatter Dashers
In addition to women wearing stockings and sports hose, another type of hosiery emerged. Spatter dashers, or just spats, were previously worn by men in order to protect their shoes and pants, usually fashioned from practical materials such as leather or wool. However, in the 1920s women adopted these and wore them as a fashion accessory.
This picture illustrates how spatter dashers would have been worn in the 1920s. The bold patterns create a fashion statement, whilst the woollen yarn facilitates in keeping these ladies warm.
Women’s spatter dashers could be worn rolled down, to sit just below the knee, or over the knee. They would commonly be worn over stockings, and be made of jersey or wool fabrics, featuring decorative details such as patterns or buttons. The whole point of spatter dashers was to make a fashion statement – and indeed it helped that they were actually warm to wear too.
As surprising as this may sound, it was not until the early 1930s that women finally wore ankle socks without the addition of stockings.
1929, short socks were worn for sporting attire instead of stockings
1930s Women’s Socks
Women wearing tennis dresses with ankle socks in 1937.
During the 1930s, it became fashionable to possess sun-kissed tanned skin. Sun bathing was popular, as were holidays in sunny climes. In addition to this, sports, fitness and physical activities were all popular pastimes. This craze for sun-kissed skin allowed women to expose flesh in the quest for the all important tan.
Tennis grew in popularity, with playsuits, rompers and sports dresses all designed specifically to be worn. Ankle socks were often worn, as they simultaneously protected the feet from friction, whilst also enabling the legs to be bare and cool.
Holiday wear as illustrated in Home Chat, 1939.
As ankle socks gained popularity, they became available in a host of colors. Pastels shades were a popular choice, perfectly complementing a golden sunkissed tan.
By this time, we can see from the advertisement below that ankle socks were referred to as anklets. In order to facilitate the socks staying in place, the cuffs of the socks would feature lastex – an early elastic yarn.
By the 1930s, a host of yarns and materials were used in the production of socks. Natural fibers such as cotton, silks and wools were all popular. In addition, man-made fibers such as rayon were a popular alternative to more costly options.
This advertisement from 1937 reflects the growing demand for ankle socks. Women and children’s socks were usually featured together and available in the same styles.
This illustration from the 1930s shows bold patterned hosiery. In addition, notice the stockings and anklets combined. This demonstrates the growing popularity of ankle socks, as they slowly start to become more socially acceptable.
By this time, as we have discussed, women wore ankle socks and exposed more skin than previous decades. However – this attire was still only appropriate whilst participating in sporting activities, or on holiday. Women still had a little way to go before bare legs and ankle socks would be deemed as acceptable daywear.
One solution to the bare legs dilemma, was the wearing of both stockings and socks combined. However, this of course would be uncomfortable, not to mention highly impractical for sporting activities. An ingenious solution was to design hosiery and socks as one garment, as illustrated below.
1940s Vintage Women’s Socks
As the 1930s came to a close, WW2 was declared. The implications of WW2 were far and wide, reaching even into the infrastructure of clothing and fashion. By this time, women would generally wear stockings with their daily attire. However, as stockings became scarce and the rationing scheme was implemented in the UK, hosiery became more difficult to obtain. Under the UK rationing scheme, a single pair of stockings could cost 3 coupons – an extravagance too far for many.
By the 1940s, anklets and socks were available in a host of colors and shades. 1942-1943
In light of this, women started to experiment with ‘leg make up’. While the UK government developed stockings under the Utility scheme, many were of poor quality and not worth the outlay. In addition to leg make up, women adopted a new leg covering – pants. Practical and warm, pants were the perfect choice for many of the new roles women now found themselves in. Of course, the perfect pairing with pants is ankle socks.
By the 1940s, anklets became a popular choice for women to wear, particularly with the newly fashionable pants. 1947
Once again, as women’s roles shifted, a more practical approach to fashion was required. During this time it was finally acceptable for women to wear ankle socks teamed with pants. Working Rosie’s wore socks doing factory and farming. The iconic Rosie the Riveter illustration features red socks.
When silk and nylon were needed for the war effort many women only wore socks during the day, saving what few pairs of stockings they did own for use in the evenings. Socks were usually not worn with heels, only loafers and oxfords.
1942 woman donating her silk stockings and wearing socks instead.
In addition to wearing anklets for sports, or ankle socks with pants, women also wore knee high socks with skirts. As previously discussed, stockings were difficult to obtain, so knee high socks were seen as a convenient alternative. These would be worn just below the knee, usually with the cuff folded back. Many socks were home knitted during this time, with wool yarns a popular choice.
1940s knee high socks worn with flat shoes.
Vintage Socks for Teenagers
1944 teenagers wore socks pulled up, using a bit of nail polish to hold them in place.
We have seen that by the 1940s it was finally acceptable for women to wear ankle socks as part of their daily attire. However, one section of society had been wearing ankle socks free from social consequence for a while prior to this. As sportswomen adopted ankle socks and bare legs in the early 1930s, young women – teenagers, also followed suit. As children they were already used to wearing socks. Stockings were too grown up for them.
Teens wearing saddle shoes and bobby socks in 1949.
From the late 1930s, young women would wear ankle socks with their loafers or saddle shoes. While the phrase ‘teenager’ may not have become popular until the 1950s, this social group was certainly identified from the 1930s onwards.
A selection of socks for teen and women, late 1950s.
Throughout the 1940s and into the 1950s, young women wore colorful bobby socks with their flat shoes. Pink, yellow, red, baby blue and teal to name just a few. Some sporty version has white stripes as well. The term bobby socks emerged in the early 1940s, however we often think of it to describe the attire of a 1950s teen. The 1950s teenager almost always wore new, perfectly clean, white socks. This short film from Glamourdaze shows a line-up of college girls proudly showing off their ankle socks in 1944.
Retailers realized the potential of the growing youth market, tailoring their advertisements accordingly.
Throughout the 1950s, young adults and teens commonly wore their ankle socks with the cuffs rolled back. This created a bulky look at the ankle, and generated a relaxed, carefree style.
Wear them pulled up or rolled down. In the 1950s, sock manufacturers advertised the versatility of ankle socks.
1957 White socks in knee high and thick “tipple roll” styles
By this time, ankle socks almost became synonymous with youth, teenagers and the formative years of education. Various fads and trends were incorporated into ankle socks. Bold colors, loud patterns and even the way in which they worn – pulled up, rolled down – all denoted an element of individuality. The illustration above even demonstrates anklets with the days of the week incorporated onto the cuffs – a wonderful example of novelty designs of this era. Other popular designs were of music notes and animals (pink poodles!)
In addition to anklets and ankle socks, knee high socks were also a popular choice among young women. They were colorful and textured with chunky knit weaves popular in winter. Notice they were no longer cuffed below the knee.
Women’s socks advertised in 1959. Knee highs and over the knee socks were a popular alternative to ankle socks.
1960s Vintage Socks
1961 Knee High Socks
1960s, knee high socks and tights were equally popular
Throughout the 1950s into the 1960s, knee high socks were a popular alternative to stockings. By the 1960s, a new type of hosiery emerged – tights. Both tights and knee highs were seen as a fresh, exciting alternative to stockings. They each came in more vivid colors, wild patterns, and new textures.
Also during this time, new man made fibers were developed, such as polyester and spandex. These new fibers with their improved elasticity resulted in better fitting socks, knee highs and indeed tights.
By the late 1960s, acrylic stretch nylon mixes featured in the production of socks, enabling a better fit.
Today, ankle socks retain their aura of youth. Certainly when worn with bare legs they convey a mood of innocence that gossamer fine stockings with their womanly connotations could not. Whether worn to recreate a 1930s sporting look, or a 1940s utility outfit, or 1960s youthquake fashion, vintage socks still have a very valid place in the wardrobe of today’s vintage loving connoisseur.
New Vintage Style Socks
New socks still come in many vintage styles- both knee high and ankle socks in the colors, patterns, and textures during the 20th century. Shop them here:
Bow Knee-High Marled Knit Socks
$16.90
SDBING Womens Extra Thick Colorful Winter Warm Soft Socks ( Pack of 4 )
$15.99
Walker and Hawkes Womens Country Fairisle Socks
$59.42
Walker and Hawkes Mens Shooting Country Kyle Socks & Matching Garter Ties
$59.42
Opaque Ankle Hi with Ruffle Lace Top
$7.82
Boot Cuff Socks Womens Diamond Cable Knit Boot Socks
$24.00
Cotton Over The Knee Multi Packs
$15.99
Sierra Socks Womens Solid Color Ribbed Crew Turn cuff Acrylic School Uniform 3 Pair Pack Socks 300616
$9.99
Casual Soft Warm Crew Socks 5-Pack
$14.99
40s Susie Roses And Pin Dots Socks in Teal
£8.53
60s Kelli Overknee Striped Socks in Mustard
£17.10
Womens Cotton Patterned Socks
£15.50
Knee High Long Socks Argyle Extra Fine Combed Cotton
Knee High Long Socks Argyle Extra Fine Combed Cotton
Scalloped 3 Pair Pack
$18.00
Our Favorite! Gold Toe Womens Turn-Cuff Sock Pack of Three
$9.75
Gold Toe Anklets Bobby Socks
Bobby Sock W/Poodle Applique
$9.84
Gold Toe Turn Cuff Sock
Music Notes Bobby Socks for Ladies
$8.99
Mod Daisy Sheer Anklet Socks
$9.00
60s Mingle Socks in Black and Cream
£12.95
60s Wave Socks in Red and Cream
£12.95
60s Ajour Socks in Black and Cream
£17.28
30s Romantic Rosy Socks in Pink
£8.62
Pack of 5 Women Girls Fun Cats Cartoon Sweet Animal Pattern Cotton Crew Floor Socks
5 Pairs Of Cute Cat Womens Girls Casual Comfortable Cotton Crew Socks
$10.99
Just You and Eyelet Socks in White
$4.99
Just You and Eyelet Socks in Black
$4.99
Cheer for Sheer Socks
$7.99
Undeniably in Love Thigh Highs
$16.99
Sheer Alike Socks
$7.99
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