Figure 1.-- Here is an ad for boys' and girls' "Velvet Grip" hose supporters that appeared in The "Youth's Companion" (November 30, 1911, p. 659). Almost all children in 1911 before World War I wore black long stockings, at least in the cooler months and thus needed stocking supporters.

Pin-on garters are a type of stocking supporters. From the end of the 19th century until the middle 1940s, hose supporters were sold individually for the support of boys’ and girls stockings. At the very beginning the elastic garters, almost always with two pendants in a Y-shape, were attached to underwaists or other underwear by means of buttons. Then the safefy-pin model was introduced which allowed the garters to be attached to garter tabs on waist suits or underwaists by pinning. The pin-on style was used almost exclusively throughout the first half of the 20th century. Pin-garters were made in various sizes—not only for children up to their teenage years but also for adult women. Women’s and children’s hose supporters were always sold together, size being the only difference. They usually were available in black or white. Black was popular in the early years of the century. By the 1930s and 1940s white was the more popular color. The "velvet grip" hose supporters here are a type of "Pin-On Garters". Notice that the "velvet grip" feature carries on in children's garters up through the 1930s and 1940s. The pin-on garters were offered by Sears in 1939 under Suspenders and Stocking Supporters" has "velvet grip" pin-on garters.

Reader Comment

A reader writes, "Notice that in the imahe their is a sleeveless waist upon which pin on garters are attached rather than the child's underwear."

Created: 2:39 AM 10/30/2004
Last updated: ht2:39 AM 10/30/2004