How to Wear a Garter Belt

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If you were to ask me what lingerie I find the sexiest, thigh-highs paired with a garter belt would be among my top picks. You’d often see this combination in boudoir photos, themed parties, and display windows of specialty shops.

If you’ve yet to wear garter belts and are unsure of how to choose them, you might want to read on. I’m sharing a quick guide on what they are and how to wear these lingerie accessories.

What are Garter Belts?

A garter belt is a piece of fabric designed to hold stockings up and keep them in place. It usually has hook and eye fasteners, similar to the clasps on a bra. There are four to six straps with adjustable lengths that hang down from their front and back panels. The small clips or clasps at the end of the straps are attached to the edge of the stockings.

Garter belts were first used around the 1920s, when women’s fashion was revolutionized to match their changing role in society. Restrictive clothing gave way to loose-fitting apparel and a tapered silhouette. Corsets were replaced by girdles, and skirts became shorter. With the rise of the hemlines, women began to wear garter belts to keep their stockings up discretely.

When pantyhose and thigh-highs were invented, wearing garter belts became unnecessary. However, the burlesque and rockabilly fads of the 1980s and 1990s saw garter belts rising in popularity again. Today, they are still widely used for the sexy vibe they create. You can easily find them in various materials, styles, and colors. Some are also designed to accentuate the shape of the hips and waist.

When and Where to Wear a Garter Belt

Garter belts are usually worn during weddings and boudoir photo sessions. They’re also popular for themed parties. But, they can be used virtually anytime and anywhere. Put one on during your honeymoon to add some sizzle to your first night as newlyweds. Feel sexy wearing them, as you party with friends or go on a hot date. Use one at work and feel powerful and confident. Indeed, there’s no rule on when and where you should wear one.

How to Wear a Garter Belt

Garter belts are fairly simple to put on, but getting used to them may require a bit of practice. Here are the steps you can follow when wearing them, along with other nifty tips.

1. Put the garter belt around your waist. The straps should fall straight down on your legs. Make sure the longer straps are at the back. Then, fasten the hooks and adjust to the right fit. Just like with a bra, you can fasten the hooks in front first, then move it towards the back when done.
   
2. Put your stockings on. Hosiery made specifically for use with garter belts are made with a welt where you can clip the straps on. Regular thigh-highs can also be used—just attach the clips to the silicone or elastic band at the top.
   
3. Attach the clips of the garter straps to the stockings. This is the tricky part that needs getting used to. Open the clip by sliding the nub out of the loop. Place the edge of the stocking between the nub and the loop. Once in place, slide the nub so it fits into the smaller loop. You can practice doing this before you put the belt and stockings on.
   
   If perchance a nub and loop clasp is too cumbersome for you, you can look for garter belts with metal clasps that you simply pinch and attach to the stockings.
   
4. Lastly, adjust the straps for comfort. If you’ll be sitting a lot, make a little loose, so you can sit comfortably without the clips popping off. Otherwise, keep it a bit taut to keep it in place. You’d want to put your underwear on after your garter belt to make bathroom trips easier. If you put it on before the garter belt, you’d be struggling with the straps every time you use the bathroom.

Styling Tips

Whether you are wearing it for others to see or keeping it your little secret, your garter belt must feel and look great on you. Make sure to buy one that is the right fit. The garter belt must sit nicely on your hips without being too tight or too loose. It should also be neither too big nor too small. One that is at least the width of your palm is most ideal.

Garter belts can be paired with different types of stockings, pantyhose, or thigh-highs. To look put together, wear it with matching underwear and pantyhose. If you want a sultry vibe, pair it with fishnet or lace stockings. For costume parties or boudoir photo shoots, go for corsets with intricate details and don some ornate accessories.

When using thigh-highs with your belt, wear a pair that’s a size or two bigger than your recommended size. The edge of the thigh highs should be above your midthighs and not just above the knee, especially if you’re on the petite side. The higher the edges are, the longer your legs appear.

A looser fit also prevents the thigh-highs from squeezing your legs or cutting into your skin. It may seem counterintuitive, but looser thigh-highs can actually make you look taller and sexier.

Conclusion

The last touch to wearing a garter belt is unleashing the sultry goddess in you. Be confident in your unique appeal, and ooze with sexiness in one of the most erotic pieces of lingerie. Keep in mind that wearing a garter belt is about having the confidence to express who you are and being free from inhibitions.