Garters are narrow bands of fabric fastened around the leg to keep stockings up. Typically, they’re just a few inches wide, and are usually made of leather or heavy cloth, adorned with small bells and/or ribbons. In the 18th through 20th centuries, they were tied just below the knee, at the thinnest point of the leg, to keep the stocking from slipping. Elastic has made them unnecessary from this functional standpoint, although they are still often worn for fashion or erotic appeal.

Here Comes the Bride

Newlywed brides typically wear a garter as part of their bridal costume. It is the groom’s job to remove the garter and toss it to the male guests. The symbolism to deflowering is not subtle. Historically, this tradition also relates to the belief that taking an article of the bride’s clothing would bring good luck. This often resulted in the destruction of the bride’s dress. That led directly to the tradition of the bride tossing articles of clothing to the guests, including the garter. Another superstition that has circulated is the male analog of the bride throwing her bouquet to single ladies: The single male wedding guest who catches the garter will be the next man to be to walk down the aisle the group of single men at that wedding. Traditionally, the man who caught the garter and the woman who caught the bouquet will share the next dance.

At some US high schools, it is traditional for girls to wear garters to their prom. At the end of the night, her partner removes it and keeps it as a souvenir. Alternatively, the girls exchange their garters for their partners’ bow ties

Garter Belts

A garter belt is an elastic piece of cloth worn around the waist to which garters are attached to hold up stockings. In British English they are known as suspender belts. The garter belt was the precursor to pantyhose. Retro styled garter belts and stockings have made a comeback due to the idolization of ultra feminine of pin up girls of the past. Once a forgotten and overlooked undergarment, garter belts and matching stockings have made a stunning comeback with most modern department stores selling a wide assortment.

In medieval times, garters were worn in a similar fashion. The Order of the Garter is the highest order of knighthood in Britain. Its motto, “Honi soit qui mal y pense”, shamed be the person who thinks evil of it, is based on the folktale of a gathering in which a woman’s garter fell off and the king picked it up and slid it up her leg for her. This allegedly was the knight’s response to others’ jibes and japes.

Garter belts were a common, popular alternative to the girdle in the 1940s to 1960s, especially among younger women. The garter belt was simpler and more practical than the girdle because it was used only to hold up stockings. It was more comfortable than a girdle. Men’s magazines often featured models in garter belts and stockings, sometimes with slips or petticoats.