To what age should girls wear white socks?

[Chennie]

There seems quite a variation in the age to which girls wear white socks - at least for school. Some girls are in tights by the age of ten or eleven while others - especially. I understand, at schools in Northern Ireland - wear white socks until they are fifteen or sixteen.

When I was growing up in the late 1960s and 1970s girls often wore white socks for school and outside until they were fifteen or sixteen and my own all girls' school only allowed sixth formers to wear tights. We wore white knee socks in winter and white ankle socks in summer.

To what age do readers think girls should remain in socks? And should they wear them all the time whether at school or not?

[Sacha10]

White socks can look good on teenage girls in the summer months if they are wearing summer frocks although tights may be more practical for the winter but it depends on the rules of the schools. What girls wear outside of school is down to their parents and I would keep my daughters in socks until at least 14 or maybe 15. My 14 year old niece wears white socks for school and at weekends and holidays and this is likely to be the case until at least her 15th birthday.

[Guest]

13

[Geneva]

I would like to see ALL girls wear white socks at ALL times until they leave school at 16. If they stay beyond that age then stockings or tights if required by the school or allowed by their parents. Parents should decide if their daughters should stay in socks beyond 16. Seventeen and eighteen is not too old for white socks depending on the circumstances.

[Guest]

Changing to tights as opposed to socks is a sign of approaching adulthood so how about when the girl has just experienced her first period? Typically this will be when she’s between 12 and 13, although it could be as early as 9. Of course she could be in the minority, who don’t reach the age of menarche until they are 15 or 16, but biologically she would still be a child and wearing socks would be totally appropriate in this instance.

[Chennie]

Changing to tights as opposed to socks is a sign of approaching adulthood so how about when the girl has just experienced her first period? Typically this will be when she’s between 12 and 13, although it could be as early as 9. Of course she could be in the minority, who don’t reach the age of menarche until they are 15 or 16, but biologically she would still be a child and wearing socks would be totally appropriate in this instance.

This seems to me to be very unfair. Just because a girl matures physically more slowly than others of her age is not a good reason to keep her dressed as a child. Based on your logic you could have a school where a girl of nine is allowed tights but a girl of 16 still has to wear white socks. The whole point of school uniform is that all the girls wear the same clothes, at least in the same year, whatever their size, shape, and sexual development.

[Sharon Kay]

I think 16 is a good age for girls to go from wearing socks to tights. This was generally the case at my school in the seventies where we wore socks to end of fifth form although my parents kept me in them throughout sixth form as well. Younger girls look better in socks than tights.

[Alaina28]

I wore white socks to 13 and then tights. Girls should not have to stay in socks to 16 as socks are for children. Its crazy to dress teenage girls like little girls and they will only rebel. If my parents had wanted to keep me in socks I would have changed into tights as soon as I left the house as there was no way I would have obeyed them.

[Malcolm49]

I wore white socks to 13 and then tights. Girls should not have to stay in socks to 16 as socks are for children. Its crazy to dress teenage girls like little girls and they will only rebel. If my parents had wanted to keep me in socks I would have changed into tights as soon as I left the house as there was no way I would have obeyed them.

If you had been my daughter you would have done as you were told and worn white socks even if this meant escorting you to school to make sure you didnt change into tights outside the house.

[Hotel_Whiskey]

Nowadays, many girls are reverting back to white long socks as they look 'sexier' so be careful.
To be quite frank. Primary school (up until about 10years old) is fine. As soon as they hit secondary school, it tends to become sexualised. The older they get, the shorter their skirt gets, and tights look a lot more appropriate
x x x

[Guest]

I wore white socks to 13 and then tights. Girls should not have to stay in socks to 16 as socks are for children. Its crazy to dress teenage girls like little girls and they will only rebel. If my parents had wanted to keep me in socks I would have changed into tights as soon as I left the house as there was no way I would have obeyed them.

There's a very simple method that can be used to keep little madam in her socks. Thread a loop of white cotton through the sock and around the strap of her shoe and make sure there's a distinctive mark (e.g. with a felt-tip pen) so that you know if she has removed her socks and you can punish her accordingly. Also ensures she can't wear inappropriate footwear, such as boots, heels or trainers.

[Malcolm49]

I wore white socks to 13 and then tights. Girls should not have to stay in socks to 16 as socks are for children. Its crazy to dress teenage girls like little girls and they will only rebel. If my parents had wanted to keep me in socks I would have changed into tights as soon as I left the house as there was no way I would have obeyed them.

There's a very simple method that can be used to keep little madam in her socks. Thread a loop of white cotton through the sock and around the strap of her shoe and make sure there's a distinctive mark (e.g. with a felt-tip pen) so that you know if she has removed her socks and you can punish her accordingly. Also ensures she can't wear inappropriate footwear, such as boots, heels or trainers.

An excellent idea! This would soon nip any disobedience in the bud.

[1970's Kid]

Nowadays, many girls are reverting back to white long socks as they look 'sexier' so be careful.
To be quite frank. Primary school (up until about 10years old) is fine. As soon as they hit secondary school, it tends to become sexualised. The older they get, the shorter their skirt gets, and tights look a lot more appropriate
x x x

I am in favour of socks for secondary school girls, but I would not want to see an older teenage girl mimic the "Britney Spears look" and look like a tart. Where schools have imposed standards on hemlines and footwear girls in the early years of secondary education (up to 14/15) can look very smart in white socks. I spotted this news story recently which shows girls over 10 can wear socks and not become sexualised.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1374248.ece

[Malcolm49]

Nowadays, many girls are reverting back to white long socks as they look 'sexier' so be careful.
To be quite frank. Primary school (up until about 10years old) is fine. As soon as they hit secondary school, it tends to become sexualised. The older they get, the shorter their skirt gets, and tights look a lot more appropriate
x x x

I am in favour of socks for secondary school girls, but I would not want to see an older teenage girl mimic the "Britney Spears look" and look like a tart. Where schools have imposed standards on hemlines and footwear girls in the early years of secondary education (up to 14/15) can look very smart in white socks. I spotted this news story recently which shows girls over 10 can wear socks and not become sexualised.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1374248.ece

Looked at the link. The schoolgirls in the photograph look very smart in their white knee socks. I wonder how old they are?

[Hanora]

What age a girl wears white socks shouldnt be an issue but it seems to interest lots of males. I wore white socks to 15 and never gave it a second thought as I found them comfy and in the summer they were tons cooler than tights. I even wore white ankle socks as a fashion item after leaving school and before the School Disco thing became popular. As I got older I realised that men were turned on by girls in socks so it is a sexual thing at least for older girls in their mid teens.

Parents have a right to decide when their daughter starts in tights but they shouldnt humiliate her by making her the only girl in her class who still has to wear socks.