Braces. No, not the kind you get at the dentist
By Brady Walter // Staff Writer
Braces, or suspenders, as they are commonly referred to here in the States, are often an accessory that are worn with formalwear or simply to compliment an outfit on a day when one might feel most daring. For those of you who do not know what I am referring to, suspenders are fabric or leather straps worn over the shoulders to hold up trousers. You see, braces have been around for nearly 200 years with their origins in good old England. Every gentleman owns, wears and most importantly, loves his suspenders. Let me tell you why.
The credit for this fashion revolution goes to Albert Thurston, who in 1820 developed the idea for the modern day suspender. For the next 100 years, they were worn almost universally due to the high-cut of mid-ninetieth century and early-twentieth century trousers which made it impractical to wear a belt. However, during World War I, suspenders lost some of their flair as men in combat became custom to wearing a belt with their uniform. After WWI, belts started to become more popular as the waistcoat was invented and at the time, contained hidden suspenders. In Britain, like all great fashion things that derive from this country, braces were still considered a normalcy.
For those of you who have ever made this mistake, wearing a belt and suspenders at the same time is a major fashion faux pas, as they both serve the same purpose. While suspenders are now considered old-fashioned, make no mistake in avoiding them. Any gentleman wearing suspenders at an event most likely is the best dressed man in the room simply due to his willingness to experiment and to pay homage to the great men who wore them before him, as well as the “cool-factor” that accompanies suspenders. Nowadays, suspenders come in a variety of colors from black (used for formal attire), to cerulean blue, pink and even paisley designs.
When it comes to wearing braces, there are two types of trouser design you can wear, the first being a standard waistband that has conventional belt loops on the outside. In order to wear suspenders with these, one must take them to a tailor and have buttons inserted or sewn on the inside of the pant. A side-tab waistband is the more proper way to wear suspenders, as these do not contain belt loops on the exterior and already have buttons on the inside for suspenders to be attached. However, both are equally acceptable and neither should be made fun of.
Next time you get dressed up, think about throwing on the always-fashionable suspenders instead of your worn-out dress belt. I guarantee someone will say something, but if not, you may want to reconsider the event you are going to or whom you attend with. Always remember – fashion isn’t clothing. Fashion isn’t style. Fashion is character.