Garters and Garter Belts

Garters and garter belts! They're more than just a part of a wedding ceremony!

A strange modern adaptation!

What you're used to seeing traditionally tossed at weddings by the grooms are garters. The National Vintage Wedding Fair makes a note that in the past (think medieval times), in order to prove a marriage was consummated, the wedding guests would join the couple in the bedroom and make off with the proof! Garters seemed to be fair game. Luckily, we've started to do away with the voyeuristic function of the garter. At modern weddings, though, we seem to also have done away with the REAL function of the garter and garter belt itself: holding up stockings!

A modern garter: This will probably not hold up a stocking

So what was a girl to do back when stockings were the thing and you also wanted to flatten your stomach for a dress? A girdle and garter belt were just the thing!

Here is a garter belt advertisement

Most garter belts came with front and back straps and connected to the top of stockings. When hemlines rose, the need to still partially obscure your legs remained as well as the need to stay warm in cooler climates. Modern-day pantyhose and Spanx have largely done away with the single legged stocking but there is still demand for garter belts, although more often for "sexy" functions.

Curvy Kate Carmen

So although garter belts are still in use, you don't often see them in stores except in specialty boutiques or online and you probably don't see women wearing them under their dresses due to the shift in fashion (although that could be changing). Or you may see the modified underwear/belt panty (below), which is not conducive to daily wear and tear when you're out and about in town.

Bare Necessities Curvy Kate Tease Me Garter Belt Strap Boyshort

So what's a good suspender belt? How do you wear them? How does it feel to wear them? Hopefully, I have a few answers for you:

What's a good suspender belt?
How do you wear them?
How does it feel to wear them?

The overall consensus is that if it looks like it's meant for the bedroom, then only wear it in the bedroom! You need some sturdy material and engineering to hold up stockings. Do you wear a garter belt and stockings? Why or why not? Do you have any suggestions? Let us know!