A garter belt is a beautiful boudoir item from the not very distant past (30s of the 20th century), which has passed into the wardrobe of a modern girl, mostly as a fetish. There is so much femininity and eroticism in it - there is a whole ritual in it.
In this publication I will tell you how to choose a suitable belt, how to wear it, how to put it on correctly, what belt alternatives there are.
Choosing the perfect garter belt is a story of compromise.
#1. The wider the belt, the less it slips. If the belt is very thin, then it should be placed quite tightly so as not to move, and this can cause discomfort.
#2. On the other hand, if the belt is very wide, then you will have to wear it over your panties. In this case, you can remove the panties only by unfastening all the belt clips from the stockings.
Leather garter belt with 4 holders from Murmur
#3. The more stocking holders a belt has, the more securely it will hold your stockings in place. In most cases, 4 holders are made and they are enough to hold the stockings in place. If you choose a belt with 6 or 8 holders, then you will definitely avoid unpleasant situations.
Manufacturers of almost all garter belts with more than 4 holders make them in retro or pin up style.
Van Doren garter belt with 6 holders from Kiss Me Deadly
Grace Suspender Belt with 6 Suspender Holders by What Katie Did
But there are exceptions to this rule:
Dahlia Suspender Belt with 6 Suspender Holders by Dita Von Teese Buy at Bare Necessities
Suspender belt with 6 Adara holders from Agent Provocateur
Garter belt with 6 holders Felicja from Karolina Laskowska
Suspender belt with 12 Dioni holders from Agent Provocateur
#4. Accessories (fastener clips and length adjusters) are available in plastic and metal. Metal ones are more reliable.
Metal clips can be coated with paint. But you can always check what the clip is made of. If it bends, then it is plastic.
A close-up view of clip-on fasteners from France in the 40s (the design of the clips has not changed since then). Clips from Bay Vintage store
#5. Choose quality fabric that won't irritate your skin. Even if you only like natural fabrics, the fabric should have some stretch to fit well and adapt to your curves and shapes.
How to wear it correctly
Methods for putting on stockings vary depending on the model, but there are two universal recommendations:
- It is worth first removing all the decorations so as not to tear the nylon.
- They are put on from the toe part - you can gather the product in the palm of your hand into an accordion and then gradually straighten it, or you can turn it inside out and carefully pull it on.
The most practical are models with silicone inserts that hold the stockings on the legs. Usually their Velcro tape is decorated with patterns or lace. The correct size and clean, dry skin completely eliminate the question of how to wear stockings without a belt - they themselves stay securely on the leg.
Stockings with a belt do not have an elastic band; instead, there is a cuff along the top, narrow or wide. Sometimes these models go unnoticed because it is not entirely clear how to put them on. In fact, the algorithm for this process is very simple; you can master it in a few training sessions:
- Stockings are put on first; they need to be properly straightened.
- Next comes the belt - it is attached so that a pair of straps (garters) are in front, and a pair in the back. Some models may have six garters (American) or eight to ten (English).
- The length of the garters is checked - they should be slightly higher than the hosiery and be the same size.
- The stockings have special loops that must be pulled over the rubber belt button. To do this with the back straps, you can turn your back to a large mirror - it’s much more comfortable.
- Finally, you need to make sure that all the buttons fit tightly in their loops - otherwise the stockings may come undone.
If, when putting on stockings with a pattern, the pattern turns out to be uneven, it is better to take them off and try to put them on again.
Put on stockings
Fasten the belt
Check the length of the garters
Fasten the straps
Make sure all buttons fit snugly in loops
Spray application
Sprays for easy putting on and comfortable wearing of compression hosiery not only help you put it on, but also take care of your legs, moisturizing the skin, having a venotonic effect, and they also help relieve swelling and minimize pain.
Before use, the bottle must be shaken to ensure uniformity of the emulsion contained in it. The spray is sprayed onto the back surface of the product from a distance of 25-30 centimeters. This must be done every time before using medical knitwear.
Correct height
Often choosing the right size can only be done through trial and error. This is due to the fact that the size chart may vary depending on the manufacturer, and you cannot try on hosiery in a store. However, companies make the choice easier by indicating on the packaging that the length of the stockings matches the body parameters - weight, height or hip circumference. The correct size is very important: small stockings will put pressure on your thighs, and if they are too big, they will start to slide down.
In addition to size, height is determined by etiquette rules, for example:
- The office dress code requires maximum restraint. The ideal length is the one at which no one will guess that the employee is wearing this wardrobe item. If the minimum acceptable length of a skirt is a palm above the knee, then the stockings should be 20-30 centimeters higher.
- On a romantic date, greater freedom is allowed - the length of the stockings should be such that you can guess about them. However, even if you choose a short dress, the outfit should not completely reveal the cuff - this will look vulgar.
Ideal length for the office, when no one will guess that the employee is wearing stockings
To avoid looking vulgar on a romantic date, the outfit should not completely reveal the cuff
Nuances of combination with clothes
To figure out how to wear stockings correctly, just remember the following:
- The length of the skirt or hem of the dress should cover the elastic or cuffs by about 20-30 cm, so that these elements are not visible when walking.
- Options with lace cuffs are not worn under tight-fitting clothes made of silk fabrics, so that the texture does not show through.
- When choosing a color with a tan effect, you should not take stockings much darker than the skin - the contrast will be too bright.
- It is optimal if the color of the hosiery matches the tone of the shoes and is lighter than the rest of the clothing.
- Thick fabric of the outfit requires black, light - flesh. White stockings are best left for a wedding.
- It is worth giving up ballet flats, sneakers and sandals, opting for shoes with medium or high heels. Open shoes and pumps - for thin transparent options, ankle boots and boots - for models with a thickness of 30 den.
In the list of recommendations on the topic of how to wear stockings, there is one strict taboo. Such underwear cannot be combined with sportswear. In most cases, this tandem looks tasteless.
Elastic bands and cuffs should not be visible from under the skirt
Stockings with lace cuffs are not worn under tight-fitting clothing.
You should not take stockings that are much darker than your skin.
The color of the hosiery should match the tone of the shoes and be lighter than the rest of the clothing
White stockings are best left for a wedding.
Do not combine stockings with sportswear
Why wear compression stockings after surgery?
During the operation, the surgeon is forced to cut blood vessels. In response to damage, vascular walls release substances into the blood that slow blood flow and provoke blood clotting. There is a risk of the formation of blood clots (thrombi) that can clog the vessel - that is, cause thromboembolism. Intex anti-embolic stockings apply distributed pressure to the legs, accelerating the flow of blood from the legs towards the heart. This eliminates blood stagnation and reduces the risk of blood clots by 2 times .
Useful tips
In recent years, the number of options for hosiery has become more and more numerous, as well as the possibilities of combining them with clothing. A few simple tips will help you figure out what you can wear with stockings:
- It is better to balance colored ones with dresses of restrained tones. And if the clothes are bright, then the stockings should be neutral.
- Options look interesting when a print or pattern on clothing is combined with the same on stockings, as if they continue each other.
- Embroidery, voluminous patterns or lines are especially beautiful in combination with pastel dresses.
- Don't forget about accessories - you can choose them to match the color of your hosiery.
- Knits are the only exception to the rule: their cuffs can be shown. Mini dresses and skirts are suitable for these models.
Overweight women also wonder how to wear stockings with a dress correctly for their body type. It is recommended to pay attention to monochromatic models without a pattern or with a vertical pattern, since openwork options make you look fatter. You should be very careful with models with a belt, but if you want just such a thing, the best option would be one with a fit at the waist. To be on the safe side, it’s better to wear stockings with Velcro made of silicone - they have a more secure fit, and they definitely won’t show through under your dress.
Sometimes it seems that choosing a stylish outfit and stockings without looking vulgar is very difficult. In fact, this is not so; it is enough to follow the basic recommendations. You can start experimenting with models in which the stockings are held on the leg by silicone - they are almost invisible and easy to put on. Options with a belt are more complicated, but even with them you can create an image suitable for the office. The main thing is that they are above the knee, do not peek out from under the hem, and do not show through the fabric. Outside the walls of the office, you can play with colors and textures and try different options, not forgetting the basic linen rule: stockings should decorate the figure.
Colored stockings should be balanced with dresses in subdued tones.
A print or pattern on clothing can continue on stockings.
Embroidery and three-dimensional designs are beautiful in combination with pastel dresses
Accessories must match the color of the hosiery
Knitted cuffs can be displayed
Choosing a beautiful and reliable garter belt
The first rule of choice is that the belt must match the stockings in color, density and style of fabric.
Are you afraid of making a mistake? Take the kit right away, the sales consultant will advise you on already formed options. What types of garter belts are there?
- made of vinyl; leather; satin; lace; nylon; mesh; combined fabrics.
According to style and type, garter belts can be wide, medium and narrow. The wider the belt, the less it slips and emphasizes the waist.
It is often worn over panties. A thin garter belt looks more sophisticated, but be careful how it holds up. You don't have to take it off when you take off your panties.
Manufacturers create garter belts that are high and low - like jeans. A high belt perfectly corrects the figure and focuses attention on feminine charms. A low garter belt is not as comfortable, but it looks original.
