Shirt Sleeve Garters

Doggy Darb · Apr 13, 2010

I have always found it most enjoyable to have sleeves that are of the correct length. Pragmatically speaking, there is a reason that garters are no longer used. That being said, pragmatism is not always the deciding factor in sartorial dilemmas.

mrschaits · Oct 18, 2010

Can anyone tell me when sleeve garters went out of fashion, in other words when working class men were able to buy shirts with specific sleeve lengths? This theatrical costume designer can not get a grasp on her dates and any help is appreciated.

Bugsy · Oct 19, 2010

mrschaits said:
Can anyone tell me when sleeve garters went out of fashion, in other words when working class men were able to buy shirts with specific sleeve lengths? This theatrical costume designer can not get a grasp on her dates and any help is appreciated.

Sleeve garters are still in wide use in Europe. Some of the shirts manufactured there, do not come in sleeve lengths as we're used to in the US. I think the use of them started to wane after WW I, and did not reappear very much after WW II..

brendond · Dec 31, 2011

Arm Bands

Hi ive been a member on this site for a while now(set up new account as i had issues with my previous email adress)
My question is how many like weareing arm bands and is there a place they should go on arm, or is personall prefernce.

Hap Hapablap · Dec 31, 2011

brendond said:
Hi ive been a member on this site for a while now(set up new account as i had issues with my previous email adress)
My question is how many like weareing arm bands and is there a place they should go on arm, or is personall prefernce.

I like wearing them when needed. I only have a couple of shirts whose sleeves are a little too long, requiring a bit if crimping. I believe that is/was their only real purpose. In terms of placement, I wear them right above the biceps, so that they don't feel tight, or are effected by the flexing of my lusciously sexy muscles.

Shangas · Dec 31, 2011

They're properly called "sleeve-garters". I have two pairs that I keep on my dressing-shelf. They're worn on the shirtsleeves, above the elbows. I do wear them occasionally, when I have a shirt that will not fit me and is too long in the sleeves.

Woodfluter · Jan 4, 2012

Yep, the title had me confused...was thinking political arm bands, or black bands worn for mourning.

Sleeve garters. I've used some hair bands borrowed (stolen) from my wife. Can't figure out where you'd buy them as such today. They were extremely common in the late 19th century and somewhat later, when off-the-shelf shirts didn't have different sleeve lengths and so they made them long to fit everyone, sort of, and you adjusted as needed with the garters.

Personally, I'd rather have my sleeve lengths correct. Garters do have a certain period charm.

Shangas · Jan 5, 2012

I went to my job yesterday wearing sleeve-garters for no other reason than I thought they'd look kinda neat.

They actually came in handy later on. My friend and I were moving furniture (A table, a couch, a TV cabinet, an old sideboard, a chest of drawers and a large, steel clothes rack). I was glad I had my garters then. They helped keep my sleeves up and out of the way of the muck.

Vampyre Master · May 20, 2012

Adjustable arm bands

wanted a pair of these but not at £15 +pp, so went to the charity shop and bought a pair braces for 99p.
10 min work and there you go

VM

Gin&Tonics · May 20, 2012

Sleeve garters eh? Very crafty of you! I gather it's more of a fashion thing as you probably don't need to use them to adjust extra long sleeves, right? I like the extra bit of panache added by the metal clip.

Vampyre Master · May 20, 2012

Gin&Tonics said:
Sleeve garters eh? Very crafty of you! I gather it's more of a fashion thing as you probably don't need to use them to adjust extra long sleeves, right? I like the extra bit of panache added by the metal clip.

yes they are fully adjustable using the metal clip and very useful for hitching up sleeves. I might even start selling on Ebay!!
VM

shadowrider · May 23, 2012

Those homemade ones actually look nifty. I am glad to see I am not the only one who wears these things, albeit I do quite seldomly. Mine are custom made out of black latex with a simple metal buckle. I'd say that the hardest part is finding a shirt with too long sleeves so that you have an excuse to wear the garters!

maxglitz · Dec 6, 2018

The latest post here is about seven years old, so if I can bring this back from the dead with this big question about sleeve garters. I see fabric-covered elastic sleeve garters on sites like Gentlemen's Emporium / Historical Emporium (pictured), but suspect they're lower-end costume versions or for use in modern weddings rather than authentic period correct garters. Am I wrong there? I need something that looks like the real deal for a historical-themed painting.

homesicksteve · Dec 7, 2018

maxglitz said:
The latest post here is about seven years old, so if I can bring this back from the dead with this big question about sleeve garters. I see fabric-covered elastic sleeve garters on sites like Gentlemen's Emporium / Historical Emporium (pictured), but suspect they're lower-end costume versions or for use in modern weddings rather than authentic period correct garters. Am I wrong there? I need something that looks like the real deal for a historical-themed painting. View attachment 147295

That would look better on a lady's leg....

I'm a happy customer here (UK based):

https://www.sharpanddapper.com/collections/sleeve-garters

Vampyre Master · Dec 7, 2018

Hi all
I made a pair from an old pair of Braces (UK) keep the adjustable clip in the piece you. Then cut them to fit your arm. One simple sewn seam and bobs your uncle !!!

Mathematicus · Dec 7, 2018

I wish I could find OTR shirts that come in my neck size and have at least long enough sleeves...

maxglitz · Aug 7, 2019

homesicksteve said:
That would look better on a lady's leg....

I'm a happy customer here (UK based):

https://www.sharpanddapper.com/collections/sleeve-garters

Forgive my late reply, and thanks for yours. Since I'm new here, I suppose I expected to see an email notification when a response arrived. Then time passed but I'm back looking. You're right about that ruffly, red puckered thing looking more appropriate on a lady's leg. Sadly this is what all of the "Historical" costuming sites here in the States are pushing on us a appropriate. No amount of Googling seems to separate the authentic from the schlock. Some how I KNEW that they would have been finer than these cheaply made elastic things. Your link is exactly what I had in mind. Now to find the equivalent over here.

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