Figure 1.--Wards offered four different types of garter waists. The section was labeled "Adjustable "Free Action" Garter Waists ... Help Correct Posture". All four of these garter waists are unisex--equally suitable for boys and girls from ages 2 to 12. In each case the garment comes with the hose supporters already attached. These garments are designed to allow for the greatest freedom of movement for active children and to minimize the feeling of restriction. |
Wards offered four different types of garter waists. The section was labeled "Adjustable "Free Action" Garter Waists ... Help Correct Posture". All four of these garter waists are unisex--equally
suitable for boys and girls from ages 2 to 12. In each case the
garment comes with the hose supporters already attached. These
garments are designed to allow for the greatest freedom of movement for
active children and to minimize the feeling of restriction. Three of
the garter waists support the stockings by a combination of shoulder
and waist construction whereas the fourth type has the garters
suspended from the shoulders only. The shoulders-only arrangement
seems to have been less popular with children because it could cause
the child to stoop over despite the claim that all of these waists help
"correct posture." The health claim about posture, although commonly
voiced in these advertisements, seems to have been something of a
delusion. Garter waists were an efficient means of holding up long
stockings neatly and fairly comfortably but had little actual effect on
posture.
This category applies to a broad variety of devices for holding up long stockings. Theoretically it would apply to any garment worn on the upper body used for this purpose (including underwaists, pantywaists, and suspender waists). But HBC uses the term to apply specifically to waists with hose supporters already attached, even though in some cases these supporters are detachable. Most of these garments are designed to have the strain of the garters carried by the child’s shoulders. Some have waistbands and some do not, but all are worn under the outer clothing and therefore as a species of children’s underwear. One of the first such garments we notice was in the Sears 1902 catalog Sears refers to a "combination belt and supporter, but the garment was essentially a garter waist. The use of different terms somewhat complicates the assessment if the garments. Interestingly, even when the wearing of long stockings was supposedly declining in the late 1930s and early 1940s, a proliferation of styles of garter waist became very prominent in the Sears and Wards catalogs of this period. We have more different styles for this period than for any other on HBC. A good example is the Sears 1939 garter waists.
Here are some of the garter waists offered by Wards in its 1940-41 catalog. Wards used more girl thn boy models. They wereworn by both girls and boys, but I suspect That they were more common ly worn by the girls. What we do not know is how Wards took such trends in consideration in selecting the models in such instances.
The Wards ad copy read, "Good quality sturdy Cambric. 29 cents each. Firmly attached and taped
bone buttons on front and back. Sturdy garters have adjustable metal
fittings. Comes in White only. Sizes: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12. State size.
Ship. weight 4 oz.; 2, 7 oz. 31 B 2032--29 cents; 2, 55 cents."
[HBC note: The hose supporters here are detachable and can therefore
be replaced. Note the safety pins.]
The Wards ad copy read, "Nationally advertised Hickory. 35 cents (Child's). Gently supports
shoulders correctly as it supports hose. Complete freedom. Good
Cotton webbing top adjust to fit. Cross strap in back. Black or
white. State color. Shipping weight 4 oz.; 2, 7 oz. 31 B 2063--Child's
Size. About 23 inches. Each 35 cents; 2, 67 cents.
31 B 2064--Misses Size. About 30 inches. Each 39 cents; 2, 75 cents."
[HBC note: This garter waist was worn not only by boys and girls up to
the age of 12 but also by teenage girls, "misses". This waist is only
for supporting stockings. There are no extra buttons for additional
garments.]
[The Dr. Parker style garter waist, but here not so named]
Two qualities. 39 cents each. White Cotton webbing. Bone buttons.
Supports from shoulders. Shipping weight 4 oz.; 2, 7 oz. Sizes: 2, 4,
6, 8, 10, 12. Be sure to state size when you order. 31 B 2007--Each 39
cents; 2, 75 cents.
[Note the buckles on the suspender straps for adjustment of length and
height.]
Figure 1.--Wards offered four different types of garter waists. The section was labeled "Adjustable "Free Action" Garter Waists ... Help Correct Posture". All four of these garter waists are unisex--equally suitable for boys and girls from ages 2 to 12. In each case the garment comes with the hose supporters already attached. These garments are designed to allow for the greatest freedom of movement for active children and to minimize the feeling of restriction. |
The Wards ad copy read, "Thrift Waist, 29 cents each.
Only one row of buttons at waist. Sizes and weight as above. 31 B
2045--Each, 29 cents; 2, 55 cents."
[HBC note: The Dr. Parker style garter waist seems to have been quite
popular with mothers as is indicated by the availability of the style
in two different quality grades--more expensive and cheaper. The only
difference in the two grades, apart from the inferior quality of the
cheaper model, is the presence of two rows of buttons at the waist
level as opposed to one. Two rows of buttons would allow for a boy's
growth as well as increase the choice of kinds of garment that could be
worn with the waist--i.e., trousers or skirts, panties or bloomers,
etc. An additional feature to notice here (as in all four types of
garter waists advertised) is the offer of two waists for a slight
saving of money. Mothers were encouraged to buy two waists at
once--perhaps for more than one child, or, rather more likely, so that
the boy or girl could have a backup waist if one were damaged or being
laundered. All of these garter waists are washable.]
The Wards ad copy read, "Famous Hickory brand. 49 cents each.
Fine mercerized Sateen. Eliminates strain and pull. Taped-on buttons.
Adjustable garters. Rust-proof fittings [so that supporter buckles
and clasps will not rust when garment is laundered]. Best quality.
Sizes: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12. State size. White only. Shipping weight 4
oz.; 2, 7 oz. 31 B 2078--49 cents. Two, 95 cents."
[Note the chest strap to keep waist from slipping and also the little
flaps over the hips to protect the body where the supporters are
attached. The four garter waists shown here are arranged in the order
of their prices. The Hickory Waist at the far right is the cadillac of
the group because of the sateen material and the sturdiness of
construction.]
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