no fashion sense/what to wear with suspenders

[Phantomfixer]

More specifically, what type of trouser/britches/pants/slacks go with suspenders. I have my eye on a pair of brown leather suspenders. They look great, but I have no idea what kind of pants to wear with them. I usually opt for the casual look. Mainly jeans occaisionally kahkis. Should one wear a matching belt with them? I always wear a russet A-2, with everything. What do you think?

 

[Lokar]

Belts and braces are generally not worn together (as it's rather redundant). You can wear them with pretty much anything. From jeans and a shirt for gardening, to full on white tie & tails (indeed, braces are the only option for white tie). They can range from informal to super-formal.

Many people (myself included) swear by button braces rather than the clip-on kind, which limits your trousers to those with buttons on (unless you attach buttons yourself), but some people can work with clip-ons (they always break for me).

 

[Phantomfixer]

Thanks Lokar. Braces =suspenders, I will remember that. These braces are the button type, I prefer this type also. IMO they have a cleaner look. I can work with that as I can sew.
Thanks again
JZ

 

[Lokar]

Oh, sorry. Braces are the UK term for suspenders (suspenders in the UK refers to what you call "Garters" in the US, I believe (for ladies.))

If you can sew, then go ahead and use them on anything. As for the buttons, they should preferably have a curved back, and no shaft of thread - the button should be snug with the trousers. The curved back is so there's space for the braces to fit, and they need to be flat with the trousers as if the braces rub the thread, they will wear it apart very quickly.

 

[Tomasso]

what you call "Garters" in the US, I believe (for ladies.))

 

[Lokar]

A garter belt, rather than sock garters.

I did mention for ladies in brackets

 

[Phantomfixer]

Thanks for the button idea. I would have put on whatever fit the hole. Good info and thanks. As for the garter thing, I hate to admit it but as a USAF recruiter I wore them for my socks. They attached to my shirt tale and ran down to the sock. Didn't do a thing for me but did keep my socks up!

 

[Edw8ri]

Normally, one thinks of dress pants as being worn with braces. Jeans and other very casual pants are not, traditionally speaking, candidates for braces.

You would want to wear button on braces. The clip-ons are not traditional and they can, in some cases, cause tears in your pants.

If you want to have buttons put in your pants, just take them to an alterations place. And when you buy a new suit, have the buttons put in then, if they don't come already installed in the pants.

Braces are not worn with a belt. The old phrase "belt and suspenders" was never intended as fashion advice. Braces are especially important when wearing a vest or waistcoat. If you wear a belt, the buckle will cause an unsightly bulge. Braces avoid that.

Braces come in a rainbow of colors, stripes, and patterns. You can coordinate them with your tie or suit. Bow ties look great with braces.

 

[Edward]

I tend to prefer braces with a suit trouser, though I wouldn't turn down an otherwise perfect suit just because it was designed for wearing with a belt (belts worked for bogart in The Big Sleep....). Braces are the only choice when it comes to semi and full formalwear. FWIW, I also have two pairs of Daks trews with the beltless design; I'll soon be adding buttons to those for braces as I don't find the design works especially well, they seem to ride down on me a lot despite being the correct fit. For anythig casual, it varies.... FWIW, I find that a belted trouser can be preferable with a sweater, as it can be more of a hassle to half undress from then for the purposes of facilitating, well, you know.... a number two.

The big diference I find with belted trosuers is that I end up tucking a shirt back into them more often than I do when wearing braces. Braces keep things tidier, IMO. I do miss having a belt loop handy to attach my keys to, though.... eventually when I have some stuff custom made, I'll be getting a single loop attached just to facilitate that.

Oh.... and I have one pair of jeans that I wear exclusively with braces, which are just like these:

Prison Blues Work Jeans. Very pleased with these, love wearing braces on 'em.

ETA: Actually, I have these on in my avatar photo, just the photo doesn't show down far enough....

 

[John in Covina]

Suspenders and jeans aren't seen together very much these days, but in the past I believe the outdoorsmen such as trappers, woodsmen and loggers often paired suspenders with jeans. With jeans there are metal Suspender buttons that are "hammered" into place. Duluth Trading has them in brass and nickel color.

 

[Edward]

Suspenders and jeans aren't seen together very much these days, but in the past I believe the outdoorsmen such as trappers, woodsmen and loggers often paired suspenders with jeans. With jeans there are metal Suspender buttons that are "hammered" into place. Duluth Trading has them in brass and nickel color.

Yip, when I bought my Prison Blues, thy offered the choice to have them with or without the buttons. They're the same as what they use for the waist button, exactly the type of thing that you're describing.

 

[Phantomfixer]

Are some suit trousers made without belt loops, just for the suspender/brace?
To me that would be a cleaner look than having empty belt loops.

 

[John in Covina]

Are some suit trousers made without belt loops, just for the suspender/brace? To me that would be a cleaner look than having empty belt loops.

Yes, as a matter of fact many feel that suit pants with belt loops should not have suspender buttons added without removing the belt loops.