Short Takes

Garters

What's a garter?  It is that thing that the groom tosses to the unmarried guys at a wedding reception right!  Well, let me inform you about the real thing.  Hosiery used to be quite different.  Mens' and women's socks did not have elastic in them, so if you needed your socks to stay up, you used a pair of elastic garters.  If you had money your garters were somewhat decorative(of varying color to match your socks).  If you did not have means which was common during the Depression, you could tie a string around the top of your socks, but this didn't work very well.  You could cut a couple of wide strips from a bicycle inner tube, but they were a little too tight.  Or you could do nothing and just let your socks droop.  Some men used garters with clips attached so that the garters were placed above the knee where they would stay in place better.  Clips on elastic bands extended down to the sock tops to hold them up.  Men also used garters to keep their long-sleeved shirt sleeves raised away from their hands while they did certain kinds of dirty work.  Boys who wore knickers also needed garters, but since the sock tops met the bottom of their knickers such things as pins, or string could substitute for the garters with a bit more success.

Women used garters too.  They were not used for anklets as the tops on anklets were usually folded down and drooping was not an issue.  But when a woman wore "stockings" (those long sheerish things made of silk and later nylon) something was needed to hold them up.  The length of the stockings came to about mid thigh.  Some women used garters.  The garters could rest either above or below the knee with the top of the stocking rolled around the garter.  Some women used a garter belt.  It fitted at the waist with clips on bands that extended down to the top of the stocking.  There two clips per stocking.  With time the clips would tear the top of the stocking.  To get more life out of the stocking you could then resort to the garter.   Many of us were excited about the advent of the pantyhose.  But there were drawbacks to them.  It was a test of strength and agility to even get them on!  If one leg developed a run, the whole thing was useless - unless you still had some garters!  You just cut the legs off and waited until your next pair of pantyhose sprang a run and then you had a pair of old fashioned hose!  As for me, I'm done with the whole thing.  Being allergic to nylon, and getting old and tired, I do not want to put myself through what it takes to be a "fashion plate."  By the way, if you have any garters they are good for holding covers on jars and dishes - and tossing at wedding receptions!