Sixty-five years ago (around 1961), the etiquette in British society regarding knee-length skirts and bare legs was nuanced and heavily dependent on the specific context, the length of the skirt, and the type of "tights" being considered.
The Short Answer: No, it was not an absolute rule that a woman always had to wear tights with a knee-length skirt. In fact, for many decades prior to the mid-1960s, wearing seamed stockings (pantyhose as we know them today were not yet mass-market) or going bare-legged (with hosiery) was often the standard, while "tights" (opaque knitwear covering both legs and waist) were initially associated with youth culture, dance, or casual wear rather than strict formal etiquette.
Here is a breakdown of the social norms around 1961:
1. The State of Hosiery in 1961
In 1961, modern seamless pantyhose were just becoming commercially available (the first mass-produced pantyhose were invented in 1959 by Allen Gant Sr. in the US, but widespread adoption in the UK took a few more years).
Stockings vs. Tights: Most women wore stockings held up by garter belts. These were often sheer or semi-sheer.
"Tights": Opaque tights existed but were largely viewed as practical wear for children, dancers, or as part of the emerging "mod" and youth fashion scene (popularized by figures like Twiggy later in the decade). They were not yet the default requirement for adult formal wear.
2. Skirt Length and Bare Legs
Knee-Length Skirts: A skirt falling at or near the knee was a very common, conservative length for work and daywear.
Bare Legs: The concept of "bare legs" usually meant legs covered in sheer stockings, not skin. However, even with sheers, there was a transition period where "naked" legs (very light sheers or no hosiery) were starting to be seen in youth culture but remained controversial in high society or strict professional environments.
The Rule: The general etiquette for formal or business settings in 1961 required legs to be covered, but this usually meant stockings, not necessarily opaque tights. Walking into a church, a formal lunch, or a traditional office with bare skin (no hose at all) would have been considered improper for most adult women, regardless of skirt length. However, wearing tights (the knitted variety) might actually have been seen as too casual or juvenile for certain formal occasions.
3. Context Matters
Formal/Professional: Stockings (sheer or seamed) were mandatory. Opaque tights were generally inappropriate for formal business or black-tie events.
Casual/School: For younger women or in casual settings, tights were becoming acceptable.
The "Mini-Skirt" Factor: The mini-skirt (skirting well above the knee) didn't explode onto the scene until roughly 1964–1965. Before that, a knee-length skirt was the standard. As skirts began to shorten, the need for leg coverings became more debated, but the knee-length skirt itself was not the trigger for a "must wear tights" rule.
Conclusion
In 1961, if a woman wore a knee-length skirt:
She was expected to wear hosiery (typically sheer stockings, not necessarily tights).
Wearing opaque tights was not a universal etiquette requirement and might have been considered informal or trendy rather than proper for mature, formal settings.
Exposing a completely bare leg (no hose) was generally frowned upon in polite, formal, or professional society, though this norm was beginning to erode slightly in London's youth culture by the early 60s.
So, the idea that one should always wear tights specifically is likely a conflation with later decades (late 60s/70s) or a misunderstanding of the preference for stockings over bare skin.