Garter belts were used to keep stockings from sagging before the invention of nylon. They were replaced by garter belts, which were later made redundant by pantyhose. Today, garters are mostly worn as a ceremonial garment by brides. In the UK, they are known as suspenders.
A garter belt is a circular piece of cloth or leather that was normally tied near the knee to prevent socks or stockings from falling down. With no stretch clothing before the 20th century, and before the invention of nylon, this was simply a way to keep hosiery from sagging. Initially, garters were tied and relatively utilitarian. They weren’t much like the ones many western brides wear, which are used for decorative and traditional purposes, but aren’t terribly functional.
The garter worked quite well to maintain stockings, but many women in the early 20th century replaced them with garter belts to be worn with silk stockings. These belts were cinched at the waist and had four straps, two hanging at the front and two at the back, which could be fastened to stockings. Typically, they fastened around mid-thigh, thus accommodating the shorter skirts worn by women.
The invention of nylon and stockings made the garter and belt superfluous. It just made it easier to wear pantyhose that cinched up to the waist, and it eliminated an undergarment from everyday wear. Today, some people may wear a garter belt, merry widow, or all-in-one with garter accessories more of a romantic statement. Styles from the 1990s onwards have favored the bare-legged style over nylons in most settings.
This has left the garter with only one function, as a ceremonial garment worn by brides on their wedding days. Usually the type worn is a lace and elastic affair in colors like white or ivory. Some have a blue bow so the bride can wear her traditional “something blue” on the wedding day.
Traditionally, the groom removes the garter and throws it to unmarried men at the wedding ceremony. This may be a modest procedure, but some modern grooms are very modest about how it is removed, perhaps even being removed with the teeth. In a wedding with multiple guests from different backgrounds and generations, a more modest removal is considered better.
Like the wedding bouquet thrown by the bride to unmarried women, the garter is often thought to mean that the man who catches it will be married next. The man and women who captured the items often pose for a photo together at traditional weddings.
In the UK this piece of clothing may be better known as suspenders. This should be differentiated for the use of the word suspenders to keep pants in place. If a buyer is looking for garters in England and has no luck finding them, he might order women’s suspenders.
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