The answer is so obvious!

pauline

pauline

Registered Guest
I often think of a questions which is very valid, but when I do find out a definitive answer I realize "it's so oblivious" and should have worked it out sooner.
My best example to date is :-

When Reading about the 1920's... Authors often refer to flappers rolling down their stocking tops! this is so they could do more energetic dances like the Charleston.

How in reality did a flapper roll down her stocking so she could still dance without them falling down totally?
I had worked out that 20's stocking were not very elastic and I had visions of flappers sitting around or dancing with a ring like modern children inflatable water wings around each leg not a very pretty sight and they would have to be rolled so tight to stay up it would be so uncomfortable.... so that must not be right!

The answer is so simple it's obvious, These ladies in the main rolled their stocking down the ankles and that's why this practice was looked upon as riskay at the time until the 20's not seen before.
I should have realized this because like many 5 and 6 year old boys in short trousers my socks were always around my ankles in summer.
Paul.
 
Paul, I think they used round elastic garters that they could roll up or down on their legs. I remember my mother had these before panty hose were invented.
 
That's interesting.
I had the impression the garters more decorative than functional items even decades ago and wore a little like they are today by brides for decoration that's why I dismissed them, but you saying no they are functional alternative to girdles .. good to know thanks.
Paul
 
According to my grandmother, who was a flapper before she met Grandpa and settled down, the round elastic garters were used to hold the stockings up, but ofter girls also wore the decorative, satin covered ones over the top of them. Using just the decorative ones often led to stocking failures! They were really a boudoir-type item!

She never stopped rolling her stockings in her garters, never used the latch type garters or pantyhose!

Lizzie
 
I also knew an older actress who knew a tricky way to tightly roll the tops of cotton stockings and tuck them over so that they stayed up without a garter at all. It always looked like magic to me.

Hollis
 
Thank You Linda
That's very usefully.. it is or was after all a functional item obvious not mean to be seen by any one or not many so in a way their was no point to spending hard earned money on decorations.
Thank again for spending time taking the photo it is nice to see it.
Paul
 
It does have sort of a braided feel to it but it is elastic and rounded so that you could just roll the top of the stocking in it to help keep up. The little ridges probably helped.

I can understand why you may not have ever seen these. I have searched high and low on the web and can't find anything.
 
I have seen one photo of a decorative garter been worn like Lizzie said but this is in my opinion was a staged advertising photo and it did not look like it would hold up her stocking any how. None of elastic garters so strange.
This has had me thinking while watching TV tonight... oh sad, if you roll a elastic band down say your arm it naturaly rolls into sprials so someone must have a spoted this and as you say sorted braided to help the rolling , that is something I had not realized , little details like that often make thing work. It is not hard to see how modern holdup's developed from the 20's garter.
You herd of experimental archeology remaking houses etc to see how the past was ,so if I can make a pair of 20's garter from rubber then may be I become a experimental vintage fashion enthusiast.
I keep you informed if it works out.. do not hold your b
 
Originally posted by vintageclothesline
What a good idea. Let me know. If you get a wide piece of elastic and put stuffing in, then roll and sew together, cut to the right length and hook the ends, that might work, too.
Click to expand...

That's is my fall back plan, at the moment which I might end up doing using first I try molding some out of liquid rubber first and see what happens.
Paul
 
Garters:

<img src=http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e270/fuzzylizzie/garters001.jpg>
These are from later than the 20s, but you can get the idea of a good, old, functioning garter.

<img src=http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e270/fuzzylizzie/garters002.jpg>
Decorative garters, dated 1926. I suppose these might hold up the stockings if the rubber were fresh and springy!
 
Brilliant!! I like the good functional ones with the " Long stretch" would have to be for me., they remind me of the elastic strap you buy today to hold luggage in a car roof rack.
How cute the second decorative pair are. Thanks you very much.
Paul
 
Car ones would be a little too strong but as you say there will be other which will do , you know what I will be looking for on my next shopping trip.
save a lot of work!
 
Update... Made a roll on garter.

I just thought I would post a update to this thread,from the various photos of original garters and with the idea started by Linda
I found these ( illustrated right) from a camping shop use for pegging down tents, they are two small so I got out the needle and thread and joined two together , these were now about the right diameter but did not look very feminine , so with some pink sheering elastic I covered the entire length see the finished one at the bottom , it has to stretch about 1 to 11/2 inches in diameter to go comfortably around my leg and not to be to tight as to cut off my circulation.
The only question is will it work? how uncomfortable are they to wear, when I find my 20's silk stocking I will have a go with these and see what happens . It's not what you can say authentic but I think it near enough to be used as a good experiment.<p>
<p align="center"><img border="0" src="http://www.elegant-lady.me.uk/workshop/my_garter.jpg" width="272" height="212"></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p align="center"><img border="0" src="http://www.elegant-lady.me.uk/workshop/my_garter1.jpg" width="212" height="216"></p>
 
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