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Historically, even though the word sock is at least as ancient in origin, what men normally wore were often referred to as stockings, probably especially when referring to longer hose. Before the 1590s, stockings were made of woven cloth. The first knitting machines were for making stockings. The stockings themselves were made of cotton, linen, wool (mainly commoners wore these fabrics) or silk (for the court). The breeches that accompanied the stockings were made from a variety of materials including satin, taffeta, silk, velvet, and damask. From the mid-16th to early 17th centuries, a variety of styles of hose were in fashion. Popular styles included:

  • Trunk hose/round hose/short padded hose. Very short trunk hose of similar style to slops (see below) that were worn over cannions (fitted hose that covered the lower leg and ended above the knee). They seem to be a short version of Slops attached to a short version of Venetians.

  • Gally Hose/Slops. Loose hose reaching just below the knee. Trunk hose and slops could be paned or pansied, with strips of fabric (panes) over a full inner layer or lining. Pansied slop is a round hose characterized by the addition of a layer of panes, or strips of fabric running from the waistband to the leg band. These are commonly referred to as "pumpkin" pants.

  • Venetians. Not as bulky as slops or plunderhosen, these were semi-fitted hose reaching just below the knee and tied with silk attachment cords (points).

  • Pluderhosen. A Northern European form of longer pansied slops with a very full inner layer pulled out between the panes and hanging below the knee (think, the original “Hammer Pants”). Originating in Germany, Pluderhosen soon spread to central and Eastern Europe. Basically, longer versions of slops, but without the bulk.

 

As you'll notice all of these options show off the calf. Not the Plunderhosen as much, but it doesn't seem like they made it to England.

 

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