Blame it on Dita, although she herself is blameless and can do no wrong: she was, after all, instrumental in making burlesque a worldwide trend, and in bringing rétro accessories to the mainstream. Or maybe it’s Amanda Palmer’s fault: her Dresden Dolls look, a cross between The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Cabaret, looks great on her but is really hard to replicate. However, these days you can’t move for the aspiring pin-ups and Columbia replicants popping up everywhere, so it’s hardly surprising that garter belts (real, or trompe-l’oeil) have made a big comeback.
On the plus side, garter belts look good on most women, especially those with curves, as the garment itself was designed for softer figures. A garter belt with stockings can sexy, especially when worn under skirts and not visible to the naked eye. The trouble starts when people wear garter belts as outerwear, which, our dear friends, looks a tad ridiculous outside of a fashion shoot or a Taylor Momsen gig (is she still making music? She is, apparently).
For some reason, every other season brings about the renaissance of the brothel aesthetic, of which garter belts are an essential part. Garters and stockings are are a visual shorthand for sexual availability, and also for a certain impropriety: they look good, but they’re also throwbacks to an era when women were expected to be, above all, seductive. Nothing says “Look at me, I’m a proper female!” like slightly uncomfortable, outdated pieces of lingerie worn with uncomfortable shoes and uncomfortable clothing that force you to sit straight, never run, never do anything more demanding than stand around and look great.
Garter belts. They won’t go away. But sometimes, just sometimes, we wish they would remain out of sight.
di Giulia Blasi
Published: 03/08/2012 – 07:00
Last On Vogue