Saturday, November 19, 2011

Braces or Suspenders????

If there is one look for men that I haven’t really got behind, is that of wearing braces or suspenders.

For a start what do you really call these things? Call them braces and I immediately think of teeth. Call them suspenders and I think of women’s stockings. One reason why they might be called suspenders is that sometimes they do look like they are suspended in space. So for an article of adornment that has no definitive name the problems are already mounting up.

Trying to find images of an actual man looking good in them was like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack. So we are already fighting a losing battle.

Primarily used to hold one’s trousers, pants, slacks or jeans up (which some of our youth today could use) I kind of have the feeling that they look a bit ridiculous. This is why trousers etc. have belt loops. We don’t really need the added pressure of trying to make suspenders or braces look good.

You cross a fine line if wearing suspenders or braces that you don’t look like someone’s grandfather, a Clockwork Orange wannabe or worse a hillbilly.

The social connotations of young men wearing them with close cropped hair is not a good one. Adopted by right wing politically motivated youth a political statement is being made. Do we really want to portray this sort of look?

Middle aged men wearing them and thinking that they a fashionably forward or quirky, seems a bit wrong as well. Picture Larry King here, it is a bit creepy.


Over time designers have valiantly tried to make them look good. We have had chains from dsquared and various other adaptions that basically do not work.


Oh, I do admit that they occasionally look ok, however for classic savoir faire do not go there!

22 comments:

  1. Well they looked good on Larry King, and on Michael Douglas in the movie Wall Street. I have seen people wearing both a belt and suspenders simultaneously, which is supposed to be big fashion faux pas. I think if done right suspenders look good and do serve the purpose; prevent your trousers from sagging down.

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  2. If you don't like the words "braces" or "suspenders", another old-fashioned option is "galluses", but I don't know if that is much better.

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  3. I'm not a fan but why not. They looked good on Larry King.
    Have a nice day.

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  4. Definitely "braces" in Britain. They are really part of one's underwear, which is not normally exposed. But of course people take their jackets off now because of heating in offices etc. The consequence of which is that they are really an obsolete accessory methinks.

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  5. Oh, but you definitively need them if you dress in tails :-)

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  6. David first thank you so much for your well wishes. i am doing better every day!

    Plus your images here have me laughing. I admit to liking a nice set of suspenders with a very elegant suit. very few can pull it off though.
    It is a redundancy thing!

    Love and Hugs,

    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  7. Funny my daughter and I were talking about this same issue a few days ago! She has gotten into them big time and wears them with her jeans ... but she's a teenager.

    Dont really like them worn by men ... they remind me of grandpa trying to keep his pants up! ;)

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  8. A mi me gusta mucho como quedan en algunos looks..! UN beso!

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  9. i had a pair of jeans w/suspenders back in the 70s that i adored. i never wore them correctly (crossing them on the backside) so i was always, "picking my falling straps up." there is one photo of me, but i'm seated.

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  10. Do you really want to know why people feel uneasy about suspenders? It's because we don't appreciate mixing up everyday clothes with fetishes!

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  11. Completely agree.. They are extremely hard to pull off!

    All the best, ~Angel

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  12. hmm, the only time i like them is with a black tie suit, and then i like the jacket off!! : )

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  13. I believe this is the first time I'm reading a post from you which you're not a fan of. It shows that you care.

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  14. I must admit that I've always liked suspenders, when worn by stylish men. But I love this post, it made me laugh. (Especially the examples of middle-aged men.) Those honestly must be some of the most unfashionable photos I've ever seen! :)

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  15. but i kinda like them, actually, though i only wear them occasionally.

    http://halfwhiteboy.blogspot.com/

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  16. Hi David! How are you? Hope your trip to Australia has been super cool! (loved the photos you uploaded here). Much love to you! Xoxo

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  17. Wearing the right outfit with your suspenders can make you look good and fashionable.

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  18. your web blog was very interesting to me. i’ll thanks you a lot for posting this interesting information.
    Braces for Trousers

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  19. Sitting here right now in shirt sleeves with braces holding up my jeans. I'm 22, and totally comfortable - my underpants are not on show, and my gf thinks it is a really sexy look!

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    Replies
    1. Dane, I see that you have adopted the right way to wear your braces.

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  20. Belts are totally useless unless they are so tight as to be uncomfortable. Braces on the other hand are the exact opposite - practical and comfortable, and incidentally becoming more mainstream again at last! Like Dane, I am sitting here in shirt sleeves with my braces on show. My males friends may rib me, but the ladies love them. Unlike the old-fashioned view that only the old wear braces (and for very good reason), I am only 20, and my Dad does not understand me!

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  21. I recently discovered the magic of wearing men’s Suspenders for Jeans, and it's been a game-changer! Not only do they add a touch of retro style, but they also provide excellent functionality. No more worries about sagging pants or constantly readjusting a belt. Suspenders keep everything in place comfortably, giving me a polished and confident look. Highly recommend trying them out!

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