A garter belt is a band worn around the waist or hips with four to eight adjustable straps that clip onto the tops of stockings to hold them up. It exists because stockings, unlike tights, stop at the thigh and have nothing to hold them there. The belt does that job, and once you know the order of operations it takes under a minute to put on.
What is a garter belt?
The belt itself is a strip of lace, mesh or elastic fabric that fastens at the back with hooks and eyes, like a bra band. Straps, called suspenders in the UK, hang from the lower edge. Each strap ends in a clip: a small metal or plastic loop with a rubber or plastic button that grips the stocking top when you push the button through the loop.
Four straps is standard. Six or eight straps hold stockings more evenly and are the choice for a long night of dancing. A garter belt is not the same as a wedding garter, which is a single elastic band worn on the thigh and holds nothing up.
FemmeBasics garter belts and garter sets are cut and sewn in our workshop in Colombia. Our lace is a 78% nylon, 22% spandex blend, which is why the belt stretches to fit rather than relying only on the hook position. Sets like the Kamila G-String Garter Set and the Lace Garter Set include the bralette, a thong or G-string and the garter belt with adjustable straps, in One Size and One Size Plus.
Garter belt vs garter panty
A garter panty, sometimes listed as a panty with garter straps, has the straps sewn directly onto the panty instead of a separate belt. It is one fewer piece to put on and because the straps are anchored to the panty, they will not ride up. The trade off is that you cannot take the panty off without unclipping the stockings. Our Sensual Temptation Panty Garter Set is built this way, with integrated garter straps and adjustable straps in lace.
How to put on a garter belt and stockings
The order matters. Get it wrong and you are unclipping and reclipping all night.
1. Belt first, panties over
Fasten the garter belt around your natural waist or high on the hips, with the hooks at the back. Then put your panties on over the belt, with the straps running under the panty. This lets you use the bathroom without unclipping anything. Thongs and G-strings sit cleanest over a belt because there is less fabric competing with the straps.
2. Lengthen the straps before you start
Slide each strap adjuster to its longest setting. You will shorten them once the stockings are clipped. Starting long stops you from stretching the stocking top to reach the clip.
3. Roll the stockings on
Gather each stocking down to the toe, slip your foot in and roll it up the leg. Do not pull from the top. If pulled from the top, it could stretch the welt. The welt is the reinforced band at the thigh, and a stretched welt slips out of clips. Position the welt evenly around the thigh.
4. Clip front, then back
Clip the front strap of each leg first. This will catch the welt in the loop and push the button through. Then proceed to the back strap. With six strap belts, clip the front, side, then back. The front clip sits in line with the center of your thigh. The back clip sits roughly under the center of the seat, not at the side.
5. Shorten the straps
Sit down. With stockings clipped and your knees bent, adjust each strap so there is light, even tension and zero pulling at the welt. Looking for a way to know if you are wearing the right fit? A good way to know is if the belt slides down while you sit, the straps are too short. If the stockings sag when you stand, they are too long. The sitting test finds the setting that works for both.
Why stockings fall down, and how to stop it
Almost every slipped stocking can be traced to one of four causes.
The first is that the clips might only be holding the lace, not the welt. Push the button through the plain fabric band at the top of the stocking, not the decorative lace edge. Lace tears and does not grip.
The second reason could be that the belt is too loose. A garter belt needs to fit snugly enough that the stockings pull against, it without moving it. If you find yourself between hook positions, use the tighter one.
Thirdly, if you notice that the straps are set too long. Return the sitting test above.
Lastly, the stockings could be the wrong length. Stockings that stop mid thigh give the clips almost nothing to hold and leave the straps hanging long. Stockings that reach the top of the thigh clip easily.
Choosing stockings for a garter belt
Regular stockings, with a plain welt and no silicone, are the best partners for a garter belt. Hold ups, which have a silicone band, are made to stay up on their own and are not usually clipped. This is due to the fact that the silicone can grip the clip awkwardly. Fishnet and open-pattern stockings work, but clip them on the reinforced top band rather than on the net. Our Hollow Tull Stocking is cut in Tull and pairs with any of the garter sets above. The full assortment is in our Garter Belts, Garter Sets & Stockings collection.
Sizing a garter belt
A garter belt is sized by waist or hip measurement, depending on where you wear it. FemmeBasics garter sets come in one size and one size plus; the stretch lace and the hook and eye closure handle the range within each. If you are ordering lingerie in FML sizes, check the body measurements on our size guide and note that the garter belt should sit slightly tighter than a panty would.
Wearing a garter belt every day
If you plan to wear a garter under clothing, choose a belt with a low profile and a smooth front. Don’t forget to wear a panty over it. A four-strap lace belt disappears under a skirt or trouser. Stocking tops and clips will print through thin, tight fabric. A lined skirt or a heavier trouser hides them. For a full look, pair a lace garter belt with the matching bralette and thong from a lingerie set and add a teddy or bodysuit over the top.
Care
For the best care, unclip stockings before washing. Hand wash lace garter belts in cold water and lay flat to dry. Check the clips for bent loops before storing. Keep stockings in a separate bag so the clips do not snag them.
Quick answers
Do you wear panties over or under a garter belt?
Panties should be worn over a garter belt. Once the panties are placed over, ensure that the straps are running underneath. This will allow for the panties to be removed without unclipping the stockings.
Do garter belts actually hold stockings up?
Yes, but mostly when the belt fits snugly. The clips grip the plain welt at the top of the stocking rather than the lace. The straps can be adjusted with light tension after sitting down.
What is the difference between a garter and a garter belt?
A garter is usually a decorative a single elastic band worn around the thigh. A garter belt on the other hand, is a waistband with straps and clips that hold stockings up.