BRACES (SUSPENDERS)

[Bruce Wayne]

These are my Albert Thurston barathea braces. The top image is purple, navy & wine stripe & Antarctica & the bottom is Olympic stripe & purple. The bottom image is more accurate for the purple colour.

 

[DAJE]

Bundeswehr (German Army) braces

The first set are an unsatisfactory design; the one-piece leather button-straps on the front simply don't sit well and look/feel awkward and uncomfortable.


The second set are a much better design; the one-peice back leather part is shaped better and the two-peice front button-straps work well.


Naturally the inferior version seems to be more common, and finding a military surplus seller that's willing and able to differentiate between designs for a low-cost item like these is not easy. So, it's a gamble.

These are best for high-backed trousers, on lower-backed ones the angle of the straps means they sit a bit too widely on your shoulders.

 

[The Good]

I want to know something about braces, are they normally one-size-fits-all, or specifically sized? What are good prices to buy them for, on a site like eBay? I may consider taking up braces at some point, if not now, later.

 

[MikeBravo]

Bundeswehr (German Army) braces

The first set are an unsatisfactory design; the one-piece leather button-straps on the front simply don't sit well and look/feel awkward and uncomfortable.

I note that the strap on the left is not original. Could this be throwing the whole thing off?

 

[Shangas]

I want to know something about braces, are they normally one-size-fits-all, or specifically sized? What are good prices to buy them for, on a site like eBay? I may consider taking up braces at some point, if not now, later.

Definitely NOT one size fits all. You have to be careful with what size braces you buy. If you buy the wrong size, even at their shortest/longest contraction/extension, they'll still be too big/small for you.

The braces I buy are always secondhand and cheap, so I've never paid more than about $10 for mine, but there are brand new braces which do cost a fair bit.

 

[The Good]

Definitely NOT one size fits all. You have to be careful with what size braces you buy. If you buy the wrong size, even at their shortest/longest contraction/extension, they'll still be too big/small for you.

The braces I buy are always secondhand and cheap, so I've never paid more than about $10 for mine, but there are brand new braces which do cost a fair bit.

Thank you. I have always bought vintage clothing from eBay, and now I know more of what to expect.

 

[DAJE]

Thank you. I have always bought vintage clothing from eBay, and now I know more of what to expect.

With new braces, the more expensive/upmarket ones often come in sizes, the cheaper ones usually don't. However, as noted upthread, a lot depends on your trousers. High-back/high-waist trousers work better with shorter braces.

You can measure yourself with a tape-measure; hold one end on the front of your trousers where your braces buttons are (or should be) and the other end over your shoulder and down to the top of your rear waistband. That'll get you a ballpark figure. You want some extra length for wriggle room, of course. Unless you're very tall or very wide, most decent braces should fit. The cheapest ones are often quite short, though, and beware of unmarked child-sized braces in the vintage market. Ask the seller to measure if you're suspicious.

 

[DAJE]

I note that the strap on the left is not original. Could this be throwing the whole thing off?

The replacement is the same design as the originals, it's just a bad design.

 

[esteban68]

WW2 pattern? British braces dated 1956;

fantastic quality item( ineed of a wash!)

 

[Two Types]

nice and simple

 

[Eddie Derbyshire]

WW2 pattern? British braces dated 1956;

fantastic quality item( ineed of a wash!)

They're very nice. I've got about half-a-dozen pairs of these. Got them from the local army surplus in varying conditions, some unworn, and I wear them very often. I think they're far superior to commercial braces - the elastic is just right. Not too rigid, not too loose. I've noticed they get used a lot on films/tv too.

 

[esteban68]

They do Eddie, I've quite a few pairs of the later versions with rear elastic but these are the first I've had in this pattern where there is no rear elastic and the straps attach directly to the rear leather yoke piece.

 

[Eddie Derbyshire]

Ah yes of course I hadn't noticed that detail. In that case I have half-a-dozen pairs very similar to those!

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I have just started to wear braces and I really like them, they do look and feel very good indeed, especially when I am wearing my fedora too.

 

[Sir RBH]

I wear Braces every day.. All my suits have buttons for braces.. I simply can not stand to wear a suit without braces

 

[ChrisT]

I wear Braces every day.. All my suits have buttons for braces.. I simply can not stand to wear a suit without braces
View attachment 30321

These are very high in the back. A good thing for dancers.

 

[Dreamofgilgamesh]

I adore the tweed 3 piece, it looks marvelous, especially complimented by the cap and pipe.

 

[Sir RBH]

Certainly my favourite look!!

 

[BootsNBraces]

Ah, I love it. A look which just fits in perfectly with the eccentricity of the British Chap!

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Gentlemen, the leather tab at the back of my Albert Thurston ribbon braces broke. I took the to a local leather shop to have a new one made. He's had them a month & hasn't touched them. Everytime I call he says maybe next week. Does anyone care to make me a new one & I'll gladly pay you back?

Thanx!
Charlie