The Old West

Garters are items of clothing, used to keep garmets like stockings and shirt sleeves up . Normally just a few inches in width, they are usually made of leather or cloth.

Wedding Garders

If used as wedding garters they are adorned with small bells and/or ribbons. In the 18th to 20th centuries, Stocking garters were tied just below the knee, where the leg was skinniest, to keep the stocking from slipping. The advent of elastic has made them unnecessary from this functional standpoint, although they are still often worn as wedding garters as well as fashion accessories, reenactmens and cowboy action shooting events.

Sleeve Garders

A sleeve garter is a garter worn on the sleeve of a shirt. It came into wide use in the latter half of the 19th century when men's ready made shirts came in a single (extra long) sleeve length. Sleeve garters allowed men to customize sleeve lengths and keep their cuffs from becoming soiled while working. Today, the sleeve garter sometiemes accessorizes the costumes of brides as wedding garters, rodeo and Cowboy action shooting participants, old west reenactors and poker dealers.