From functional leg bands to royal symbols of chivalry
In short: Once a vital tool to keep stockings from slipping, the garter has occupied a strange space in human history. It has served as a symbol of brotherhood, a piece of automotive insulation, and a centerpiece of wedding superstitions, evolving from a practical necessity into a complex cultural icon.
Historically, garters were essential for maintaining attire. Between the 18th and 20th centuries, they were tied just below the knee—the leg's narrowest point—to prevent stockings from sliding. Before the invention of elastic, these bands were secured with buckles or spiral springs. In the Elizabethan era, men wore colorful garters with their hose as a display of fashion, while in William Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night', the character Malvolio wears 'cross braced' garters that become an object of derision.
The garter's symbolism extends into the realm of chivalry and superstition. The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded by Edward III in 1348, is the highest British order of chivalry. While legend suggests the order's blue garter symbol arose when King Edward III rescued the Countess of Salisbury's dropped garter at a ball, historians believe this is a later fiction. It is more likely the symbol represents the binding brotherhood of knights, with the motto 'Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense' relating to Edward's 1340s claims to the French throne.
In modern culture, the garter's role is largely symbolic or aesthetic. In Western wedding traditions, a groom may remove the bride's garter to toss to unmarried male guests, a ritual often interpreted as symbolic of deflowering or a superstition to bring good luck. While the advent of elastic and pantyhose in the 1960s reduced the functional need for garters, they remain staples in fashion and even serve niche roles, such as ice hockey players using them to hold up woollen socks.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Garter
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