Suspenders add dash to a man’s look
Q. I have suspenders that I wear with my tuxedo and another two pairs that I have not worn for years and just found. Are they out of style, and if not, when are they appropriate or inappropriate? I always thought they were a cool look but that may show my age (as might using the word “cool”).
A. Well, if not “cool,” then how about a great way to stand out in a sea of sameness?
Suspenders, or “braces” (as they are referred to in higher-priced magazines and upscale stores), add dash to a man’s look. With today’s emphasis on retro “Mad Men” styles, suspenders are certainly not out of style. They seem to be a fine addition along with other midcentury notes, such as tie bars, snap-brim fedoras, and other manly accents.
Beyond the element of style, suspenders help trousers hang better. When you wear them, your trousers are suspended from the shoulders, rather than cinched at the waist. While you are being fitted with new suit trousers or dress pants, your tailor will sew in the six buttons necessary for wearing button-on suspenders. Never wear clip-on suspenders. All of the sophistication of the style is lost if you wear those metal clips — the kind created to attach children’s mittens to their snowsuits.
As the oft-heard expression tells us, wearing both a belt and suspenders offers the ultimate in safety. But I don’t advise it. Wear one or the other; both at the same time is overkill.
This leads to the question of belt loops. If you decide to become a regular suspender wearer, you can have the belt loops removed at the same time as the six buttons are sewed in. Still, you don’t need to make this an allor-nothing decision; you can choose certain trousers for suspenders and others for wearing with a belt.
For a bit of a fashion statement, the color and pattern of your suspenders should coordinate with both your shirt and your necktie (NOT match, but coordinate). Apply the same sort of color matching and coordinating rules you use for the rest of your wardrobe. Three pairs of suspenders — solid or dominantly dark blue, dark red, and gray — would give you all the basic coordinating colors you need.
Not every man feels at ease wearing such a distinctive fashion note, but many do like their “maverick” appeal. They offer one of the few acceptable ways for a man to set himself apart and express his individuality without being flamboyant. In a neutral color, they can be classic, or in strong colors they can project attitudes ranging from traditional to up-to- date.
Though braces are essential with a tuxedo, even here, they can project a personal image. Black or white are equally acceptable with formal wear, but Daniel Craig’s James Bond has only worn all-white silk braces with black tie, and nobody ever faults him for lack of cool.
Beyond bl a c k- t i e dressing, braces are an always-appropriate option with a suit, a blazer, or a sports jacket. Unless a guy is very young, I find that suspenders take on exactly the opposite image — a corny, hayseed look — when worn with jeans or with khakis and no jacket.