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Kiss Me Deadly 'Van Doren'
Today’s Ask the Addict question comes from Lemons to Lemons, who writes:
Where can I buy a good garter belt?
That’s a great question, especially since garter belts are not only in fashion again but surprisingly hard to find in the average lingerie boutique (or department store, for that matter). If you’re new to the world of garter belts, take look at this article – How to Buy a Garter Belt.
The cliff notes version is that a good garter belt has at least six garter straps, metal adjusters and metal garter clips, and several rows of hook-and-eye closures at the back (much like a bra). A good quality quarter belt is also fairly wide (about the width of your hand at it’s fullest point) and made of reasonably durable materials like satin, powernet, or even cotton.
What Katie Did 'Maitresse'
What Katie Did 'Harlow'
The vast majority of the garter belts I own and wear come from two brands: What Katie Did and Kiss Me Deadly. If you’re new to the world of garter belts (I remember when I was shopping for my first one…it can be a little intimidating!), I highly recommend What Katie Did’s Maitresse (black) or Harlow (peach) Garter Belt or Kiss Me Deadly’s basic 6 Strap Van Doren Suspender Belt. And if you’re searching for stockings, StockingsHQ has one of the best selections online and impeccable customer service. Hope this helps!
Got a question for The Lingerie Addict? Send it to treacle@thelingerieaddict.com and it may appear here on the blog!
My lovely boyfriend washed my garter and its ruined the elastic hold bits that hold the stockings up. Could I get replacements from somewhere or would it just be better to replace the entire garter belt altogether?? Needless to say he’s only allowed to wash his stuff from now on lol
Alexis4U sells replacement garter grips and straps. I’d try them – http://alexis4u.com/gartergrips.htm
The Kiss Me Deadly one is great. I don’t agree that a good garter belt has to be wide though – sure, if you want something slimming or with a vintage pin-up look, wide is the way to go, but I have plenty of beautiful garter belts from Agent Provocateur and even La Senza that are ultra thin and still just as pretty!
A wide garter belt has less to do with a slimming or a vintage pin-up look and more to do with it’s primary purpose, which is to hold up your stockings. Thin, dainty garter belts (like the kind you buy from Agent Provocateur or La Senza) look pretty, but they’re not made for actually holding up one’s stockings for any length of time. A good garter belt needs to be wide so it can sit at your waist (and not budge) and also so that it can accommodate a series of hook-and-eye closures for adjusting.
So have you “road tested” the 3.5 inch Maitress (L2010) versus the deeper (L2003) and, if so, do you have specific impressions of each?
In terms of personal preference, I prefer narrower suspender belts over deeper ones (when I want tummy coverage, I usually just wear a girdle) but there a tons of people for whom the inverse preference is true. I’d recommend trying them both and seeing what works best with your body type.
Hmm, maybe it’s more to do with body shape – I wear my suspender belts around my waist rather than my hips and despite being thin they’ve always kept my stockings up!
My recent purchase in that department was a Chantelle piece in Nordstrom for $59. It is pretty wide and also meant to be a waist cincher, which works for me as it stays where it supposed to without creeping down like other garter belts.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/chantelle-intimates-sexy-shapers-waist-cincher/3179937?origin=category&resultback=3175
I just don’t trust any garter belt with only 4 skinny straps. Also, the stockings the model is wearing are holdups…which is just a no-no for garters (the thick silicone warps the clasps).
I agree that six straps are certainly preferable. As for the stockings, I suspect Nordstrom chose those particular ones for the picture because of the textured look, possibly also because they’re wrapped evenly around the model’s thighs.
I have used the seen above piece few times already, with ordinary holdups-free stockings, and had no problems. I should also mention that the removable garters are attached to the belt in a very secured way and one doesn’t have to worry about them falling, which is often the case when the garters are not sewn in.
Thanks so much for the review. You know how I feel about getting the truth from other customers, so I’m glad you shared your experience here. :)
I’ve been thinking of getting a KMD suspender belt for months! The Candy in particular catches my eye (though there are at least 3 others that I want) http://www.kissmedeadly.co.uk/shop/product/1016/candy-suspender-belt
But my friend isn’t a fan of clothing sitting at her natural waist. Do you know of any functional belts that are lower?
You could conceivably buy the belt larger so it sits on your hips, but then there’s nothing to keep your garter belt in place once it starts to fall. The reason garter belts sit at your waist and not your hips is because then your hips can provide a natural stopping point if the belt starts to slip during the day.
Totally second all those recommendations. My first ‘real’ suspender belt was the six strap Van Doren, my second the Harlow! StockingsHQ is also my go to for stockings. I first tried one of those flimsy, four strap ‘boudoir’ things and am glad I didn’t give up based on that experience.
Ditto! At first I thought garter belts weren’t for me, then I tried What Katie Did. Once you learn how they’re supposed to fit, it changes the way you think of suspender belts forever.
Is it just me, or do the links you posted in the post do go nowhere?
Oh my goodness. Definitely not just you. Thank you for telling me, and I’ll fix it now.
I own both narrow and deep WKD suspender belts, and I find they both work very well. For myself it just comes down to the look I’m going for with the rest of my lingerie.
I have yet to try a KMD garter belt, or anything for that matter, but very much look forward to.
It is a shame, that at least here in Canada’s ‘biggest’ city that you can’t find a decent garter belt in the shops. Thank goodness WKD ships here, and fast too!
<3
Narrow suspender belts work very well with me, but I have hips like a Buick!
Hi,
I’m about to make an online purchase from KMD and I’m torn between the Van Doren 6 strap and the Van Doren 8 strap.
Can you tell me if there is any big difference between the two?
The price difference isn’t very large so that doesn’t play a big part in my choice, I just want something practical and flattering that will look good outside and under clothing. :)
6 straps will get the job done just fine. When you get into 8 (or 10! or 12!) straps, I think it has more to do with aesthetics than increased functionality.
Thank you for your help. :)
I agree that a good garter belt has at least six garter straps, metal adjusters and metal garter clips. The 4 strap belts are non functional and purely for looks.
XXXOOOXXXXX
Kathy
Very fortunately, I found the “Cleopatra Capri” six-strap garter belts at Stocking Headquarters in UK ( http://www.stockingshq.com ), (www.cleopatralingerie.com ). These garter belts (or suspender belts as these chaps call them) are exquisitely crafted, very nicely finished and incredibly comfy so as to be worn in a daily, all-day-long basis. Currently, I own six pieces of thie beautiful type and, surely, I consider them a real treasure in my lingerie collection.
I cannot recommend enough the Kiss me Deadly Van Doren garter belts.. they are by far the most comfortable and reliable garter belts around. Very durable too, you’ll keep them for years and I find they give you a great silhouette.
Sure, they are pretty simple and if you’re after something a bit fancier, there are some good options out there (I love WKD too) but if you want a garter belt that will keep your stockings up all day long and make you feel comfy yet sexy.. well, look no further!
We have recently started stocking the version with 8 straps and contrary to my perdition, they have been uber popular too!
It’s indeed harder to find good garter belt nowadays. I’m agree with you that garter belt with at least 6 garter straps is the basic requirement for choosing a good garter belt. Thanks for the great information!
I’m 16 and i bought a pair of hold ups- my last pair had rubber to keep them up, but the pair I’ve just bought don’t (even though i thought they did!) I only wear them because i find tights annoying to adjust when wearing long skirts, not to look pretty etc. but these damn things just fall straight down! There’s no way I would be allowed a garter belt, my mum would have a complete heart attack!
Are there any alternatives that are less “sexy”?
I just bought a great garter belt that I absolutely love. However since I’m petite the straps are too long and will hold up my stockings in the back, where I’m a little more gifted, but wont hold them in the front. Is there any advice you could give that could help me with this problem?
If you’re petite and the straps are too long, you may want to look into buying a garter belt with extra short straps. Either that or shortening the straps on the one you have right now. It sounds like a matter of fit and alterations more than anything else.
I have bought many suspender belts I have one small 2 hook and eye with skinny straps it holds well indeed plus skinny straps are great under a silk skirt I also have 6 and 8 strap ones that are great for seamed stockings.
I live in Canada and have been surfing the net trying to find a functional garter belt. It looks the the UK is the best source for online garter shopping. I’m wondering if you can give me an idea of the cost of duty and taxes to purchase a Maitresse narrow suspender belt from WKD. I would also appreciate some insight into the order process, specifically at what point the duties and taxes must be paid, and to whom, in order to take delivery.
Hi Jacqueline,
Any questions related to shipping, including taxes and duties, should be directed to the seller in question as we’re not in a position to keep track of that information for every retailer (or reader!) worldwide. For some things, it’s best to go straight to the source.
Best,
Cora