A garter is a narrow band of fabric or elastic worn to hold up a stocking, sock, or sometimes a shirt sleeve, and today it’s also a decorative lingerie or wedding accessory.

What is a garter?

  • A garter is typically a band of elastic, fabric, or lace worn around the leg to keep stockings or socks from slipping down.
  • It can also refer to straps that hang from a girdle or corset (in a garter belt) and clip onto stockings for support.
  • Historically, both men and women wore garters, especially before modern elasticated hosiery became common.

Main types of garters

  1. Everyday/support garters
    • Simple elastic bands worn around the leg to hold up socks or stockings.
    • Sometimes used to hold up shirt sleeves as well.
  1. Lingerie and fashion garters
    • Often made from satin, silk, or lace, decorated with ribbons, bows, or small charms.
 * Worn more for style or as part of lingerie sets than for actual support today.
  1. Wedding garters
    • A special bridal garter is traditionally worn on one leg under the wedding dress.
 * In many Western weddings, there’s a “garter toss,” where the groom removes the garter and throws it to single male guests, somewhat like the bouquet toss for single women.
  1. Symbolic “Garter” (Order of the Garter)
    • “The Garter” can also mean the British Order of the Garter, a historic and very prestigious order of chivalry founded in the 14th century.
 * In that context, it’s a ceremonial blue velvet garter and a symbol of membership.

Quick history and modern context

  • Garters go back centuries as a practical accessory, tied just below the knee when stockings were separate and had no built-in elastic.
  • With modern elastic stockings and tights, everyday garters became less necessary, so their role shifted more toward fashion, lingerie, and wedding traditions.
  • In current fashion and online forums, “what is a garter” is often asked in the context of bridal outfits, lingerie styling, or understanding the garter toss tradition at weddings.

Mini example: wedding scenario

A bride chooses a lace garter in her wedding colors, wears it under her dress, and later in the reception the groom removes it and tosses it to the single men, as a playful tradition tied to luck and future marriage.

SEO-style notes (for your post)

  • Focus phrase to use naturally in your text: “what is a garter”.
  • Other helpful phrases: “wedding garter tradition,” “garter in lingerie,” “Order of the Garter.”
  • Meta-description style line (under ~160 characters):
    • A garter is a band of fabric or elastic that holds up stockings or socks, now mostly seen as a bridal or lingerie accessory and in ceremonial traditions.

TL;DR: A garter is a band (often elastic or lace) that holds up stockings or socks, and today it’s best known as a decorative lingerie or wedding piece and as a symbol in certain British honors.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.