Suspenders / Braces

[Betelgeuse]

Hello everybody,

I want to start using suspenders or braces but, I don't know anything about them. So if you can give some adivces I will appreciate them. For example:

- To start with just one pair, what color should I get?
- Is there a certain length?

Thanks in advance!

 

[ETF]

I have a few pairs from Albert Thurston. They're good. I've read others recommend Trafalgar in the US, but have no experience with them.

The Thurstons used to come in different sizes, but now they are one size fits all (presumably they are adjustable in some way. I don't have any of these new ones). The aim with the sizing is basically to make sure that the "v" junction sits comfortably on your back, not too high not too low.

I tend only to wear them in cooler weather, and I stick to the boxcloth ones. I had one or two of the baratheas in the past and they're just not as good as boxcloth. But boxcloth is warm.

As for the colour, well that's up to you - if you're keeping your jacket on all day it doesn't much matter, whatever takes your fancy. If not, I guess it depends what else you're wearing, so maybe pick a colour that will work with as much of the rest of your wardrobe as possible. Personally, ones of the first pairs I bought was a brightish mustard colour, and they're still my favourite. But I rarely if ever wear them on show.

Will on ASW once recommended getting the ones with white leather ends, instead of black or brown, as this makes them more versatile (in that it may feel a bit wrong to have brown tabs if you're wearing black shoes and vice versa, but white tabs allow you to wear them with any shoes you want - if you worry about that sort of thing).

By far the best thing about braces is that they allow you to wear your trousers a bit looser, which is very comfortable. Putting on a belt again afterwards feels horrible. You'll see many #menswear type braces wearers wearing them with trousers so tight the braces are totally unnecessary anyway, which just misses the point of braces for me.

 

[Betelgeuse]

Thanks ETF! I would like to buy one with the ends in brown, most of the time I wear brown shoes. In terms of color I was thinking maybe a navy to start. If I like them, then I can add some other colors.

 

[Chorn]

Paging uprcrust

 

[Betelgeuse]

I too am a fan of braces. I have black leather ends. Coordinating brace ends with shoes seems beyond the pale, as no one but your sexual partner should see the braces anyway.

I have several pair of Trafalgar in both silk and nylon. The nylon are slightly sturdier and are my daily wear. But there is something altogether very sexy about silk braces. And the ladies love them.

I will look for silk braces, then. It's very rare to see people around here wearing them, my sister says that I will look like an old guy, but I don't care, I think wearing them properly you look badass!

 

[ETF]

I too am a fan of braces. I have black leather ends. Coordinating brace ends with shoes seems beyond the pale, as no one but your sexual partner should see the braces anyway.

I have several pair of Trafalgar in both silk and nylon. The nylon are slightly sturdier and are my daily wear. But there is something altogether very sexy about silk braces. And the ladies love them.

In my logical mind I believe this, but whenever I actually mix brown and black leathers in triggers an otherwise dormant but reasonably serious form of OCD in the recesses of my unconscious. Seriously, makes me twitchy all day. Wish it weren't so, but there we are.

 

[Betelgeuse]

Successfully paged, Chorn.

I wear braces with some regularity, as I own several suits without belt loops, and more with both belt loops and brace buttons.

I am usually much more concerned with coordinating the color of my braces to my shirt and tie than worrying whether the leather tabs match the color of my shoes.

I have either the type that are made of nylon webbing (I have yet to get a pair in boxcloth), or are in silk. Several of the silk pairs are in patterned weaves (one pair incorporates the Chrysler Building lit up at night into the jacquard weave, in shades of blue and gold). I have a few pairs for which the tabs are braided silk, which are intended for formal use, though I occasionally cheat, and use them for regular business wear. Whether this is "correct" or not, I am not overly concerned, so long as the color and pattern coordination between braces, tie, shirt and suit work for my tastes.

Thank you Señor Crust! I was planning on buying one pair to see if I get use to them but leave the belt loops of the trouser. I know it is not the "correct" form to do it, but since you have done it, I think my idea wasn't that bad.

 

[ETF]

Successfully paged, Chorn.

I wear braces with some regularity, as I own several suits without belt loops, and more with both belt loops and brace buttons.

I am usually much more concerned with coordinating the color of my braces to my shirt and tie than worrying whether the leather tabs match the color of my shoes.

I have either the type that are made of nylon webbing (I have yet to get a pair in boxcloth), or are in silk. Several of the silk pairs are in patterned weaves (one pair incorporates the Chrysler Building lit up at night into the jacquard weave, in shades of blue and gold). I have a few pairs for which the tabs are braided silk, which are intended for formal use, though I occasionally cheat, and use them for regular business wear. Whether this is "correct" or not, I am not overly concerned, so long as the color and pattern coordination between braces, tie, shirt and suit work for my tastes.

You must try boxcloth sometime, it's lovely stuff!

 

[Allen Smithee]

Is mimo ever coming back? Didn't he have some preference for tabs being of woven fabric instead of leather?