Suspenders and Belts and Jeans, oh my!

[Not-Bogart13]

I have a couple of fashion questions regarding suspenders. Yes, I realize the Mork look isn't a great idea. I'm one of those people who is always between sizes, which means either my pants are too tight or just loose enough to not stay up. By the time my belt is tight enough, I look like I'm wearing a drawstring bag. So, I decided to try suspenders. I figure, it's sort of a vintage look, anyway.

So now, the questions; First, if I wear suspenders, is there anything wrong with wearing a belt, too? I'm not fond of the beltless look, but I don't want to be a fashion felon. Also, is it terribly wrong to wear suspenders with blue jeans? Help this poor, fashion-impaired fool!
NB

 

[mysterygal]

If it's going to make the pants fit better, wear the belt! I would go with something on the skinny side, the not so obvious kind of belt....you'll be just fine

 

[Brad Bowers]

Suspenders/Braces and belt is an either/or thing. Either wear your suspenders or wear the belt, but never wear them together.

I gave up on belts a long time ago, as they never held my pants up. I have braces buttons sewn into all my pants now, and wear braces every day. By wearing either suspenders or braces, your pants should fit a little loosely anyway, so that they circulate air better and feel more comfortable. Belts don't allow for that.

Brad

 

[resortes805]

For jeans don't mix belts and suspenders. For a truly vintage look, get a tailor to insert rivet-like buttons into your jeans for outside suspender buttons.

 

[Mr_Misanthropy]

I was wondering the same thing about suspenders/braces with a belt. So... all my pants have belt loops.. but I like braces. So can I wear braces and a pair of pants with beltloops and no belt without looking "sloppy" How do I pull this off? Do I just need new pants?

 

[Mr. Jason]

I have the belt loops removed when I buy the pants. Not that anybody cares but I got my braces from Albert Thurston, look them up on google. I wanted all white with silver shade buckles but they didn't have them on the website so I sent them an e-mail. The guy who wrote me back said sure he could do them. Read that again "he" could do them. He made the damn things and for a reasonable price. That's hard to find.

 

[Mr_Misanthropy]

I guess I never thought of just having the belt loops removed, thanks Jason! And i'll check that source out for braces, thanks again!

 

[G. Fink-Nottle]

I just visted the Albert Thurston website and was impressed by what I saw. Thanks for the tip.

I do have a question about a product that I saw on the site, though. They sell clip-on buttons . Does anyone have experience with this or a similar product? And, of course, do they work?

I've used braces in the past and would like to do so again; however, I always seemed to lose buttons which was a pain. And, clip-on suspenders are anathema.

 

[Pilgrim]

One or the other, not both, unless you want to look like Grandpa Amos on The Real McCoys...especially with jeans.

Wait - that series hasn't been on TV for 33 years. Maybe that's a bad example.

On the dress slacks side, as long as the waistband is well made and has a stout button, you should be able to have the loops removed. Many suits come with the option.

 

[J. M. Stovall]

I liked "The Real McCoys"! I forgot about that show.fftopic:

 

[3PieceSuitGuy]

Leave the belt loops....

There is no rule to say that you can't have belt loops visible when wearing braces. At least you have both options if you leave the belt loops.

Cheers

Peter

 

[John in Covina]

Clip-on suspenders are anathema.

********
For me the clip on suspenders were dangerous! They always seemed to let go at an inopportune moment, and the flying end with the clip was like some martial arts weapon, ready to take out an eye or a tooth or something!

 

[Senator Jack]

As I've stated before, I'm not a fan of having belt loops and wearing braces. I do wear braces, but only on pants that were farbricated for braces. I suppose it's a compostional aesthetic - I like clean lines, and if there are unfulfilled beltloops, the composition seems off to me.

Having said that, I have yet to find a tailor that will guarantee that the loops will come off without damage to the pants. Thus, I 've never had them removed. If anyone is ever considering wearing suspenders and a belt, just remember what Sammy Cahn wrote for the lyrics of Style :

Some men dress,
Just to get dressed,
But he gets dressed to get dressed
It's only a hunch
but I'll bet you a bunch,
He wears suspenders a belt and a vest​

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[jamespowers]

Some men dress,
Just to get dressed,
But he gets dressed to get dressed
It's only a hunch
but I'll bet you a bunch,
He wears suspenders a belt and a vest​

Sounds better when the Rat Pack sings it. You "Hood" you.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Senator Jack]

Don't you think this hsould be the official song for the Lounge, JP?

Some people dress 'cause they dress when they dress,
But he gets dressed to get dressed.
(It's only a hunch but I bet you a bunch)
(He wears suspenders, a belt and a vest,)
[From the tip of his toes to his head,]
[He looks like an unmade bed.]

You've either got or you haven't got style.
(If you got it, you stand out a mile.)
A flower's not a flower if it's wilted,
(A hat's not a hat till it's tilted.)
[You either got or you haven't got class.]
[How it draws the applause of the masses.]


(You either got, or you haven't got,)
[Got or you haven't got,],

You've either got or you haven't got style, (got or you haven't got style).
[If you got it, it stands out a mile,] (if you got it, it stands out a mile.).
With mother of pearl kind of buttons,
(You look like the Astors and Huttons.)
[You either got or you haven't got class,] (got or you haven't got class.)
How it draws the applause of the masses.


(You've either got, or you haven't style) [got or you haven't got style}
(Style and charm seem to go arm in arm,) [seem togo arm in arm.].
[A flower's not a flower] (if it's wilted,)
[A hat's not a hat till it's tilted.]
(You've either got or you haven't got style,) [got or you haven't got style,]
[If you got it, you stands out a mile,] if you got it, you stand out a mile
(Got it you stand out,) got it you stand out a mile.


You've either got or you haven't got, (got or you haven't got,)
[Got or you haven't got,]

Come on, get some clothes on, we're gonna be late for breakfast.

​

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[Wild Root]

I once had a suit dated 1946 that had high rise/notched back pants. They didn’t have belt loops and the brace buttons were on the outside of the waistband. That looked sharp I must say but, when I find original suits with belt loops and brace buttons (I see it a lot and own a lot of them) the thought of taking the loops off doesn’t even occur to me. Vintage belt loops are small and I like the look and having that fall back if you just don’t feel like putting on them straps. Also, as a swing dancer, I don’t like dancing with braces on much. They restrict my movement some what and I don’t want to have a button go flying and thus ripping out a piece of the waistband liner. I wear a belt most of the time, they drape nice as long s they’re worn high waisted.

Don’t be a droop, leave the loops!

=WR=

 

[jamespowers]

Don't you think this hsould be the official song for the Lounge, JP?

Some people dress 'cause they dress when they dress,
But he gets dressed to get dressed.
(It's only a hunch but I bet you a bunch)
(He wears suspenders, a belt and a vest,)
[From the tip of his toes to his head,]
[He looks like an unmade bed.]

You've either got or you haven't got style.
(If you got it, you stand out a mile.)
A flower's not a flower if it's wilted,
(A hat's not a hat till it's tilted.)
[You either got or you haven't got class.]
[How it draws the applause of the masses.]


(You either got, or you haven't got,)
[Got or you haven't got,],

You've either got or you haven't got style, (got or you haven't got style).
[If you got it, it stands out a mile,] (if you got it, it stands out a mile.).
With mother of pearl kind of buttons,
(You look like the Astors and Huttons.)
[You either got or you haven't got class,] (got or you haven't got class.)
How it draws the applause of the masses.


(You've either got, or you haven't style) [got or you haven't got style}
(Style and charm seem to go arm in arm,) [seem togo arm in arm.].
[A flower's not a flower] (if it's wilted,)
[A hat's not a hat till it's tilted.]
(You've either got or you haven't got style,) [got or you haven't got style,]
[If you got it, you stands out a mile,] if you got it, you stand out a mile
(Got it you stand out,) got it you stand out a mile.


You've either got or you haven't got, (got or you haven't got,)
[Got or you haven't got,]

Come on, get some clothes on, we're gonna be late for breakfast.

​

Regards,

Senator Jack

It sure should be. It is my theme song as it is. I am listening to it as I write this. Your version isn't from the movie so you don't hear Bing say: "Do you find my habiliments reprehensible?" lol Then Dean says: "There must be something wrong with his throat." lol Unfamilair voice: "I told him that six weeks ago."

Regards,

J

 

[Pilgrim]

I've always loved that movie - and that song. Thanks to Sen. Jack for quoting it!

I think you're right that Dean Martin said the line about "his throat" in that dressing room scene, and he was quoting the big, older guy in a brown hat who kept saying "I t'ink dere's sometin' wrong wid his t'roat" every time Allen A. Dale spoke. That was one of the running gags throughout the movie, and it was a hoot. IIRC, the heavy with the brown hat also was knitting in more than one scene.

 

[johnnycanuck]

Last time I said anything on this subject my tailor and I were both told we did not know what we were talking about. Let me just say this, fashion is subjective. Time and place. Michel J Fox in "back to the future" (Marty) wore suspenders (clip on) with Jeans and no belt. Alan Ruck in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (Cameron) wore both on chinos, Matthew Broderick (Ferris) only wore a belt. Two movies, one year apart, three fashion statements. Who is right? Who is wrong? Who makes that judgment call? Guys we are talking about fashion. Something so ugly it has to changes every season. We wear fedoras. We are eccentric and like to be noticed. As such we all have our own idea of what looks good. put it on, look in the mirror, if you like what you see, walk out the door. From some of the reactions I have read I don't think there will ever be a universal hard and fast rule on this subject. So kick back, relax, and lets find a new pair of white shoes to go with that Herbert R. Tarlek suit we found at the Vintage store.
Johnny.

 

[Benny Holiday]

Either suspenders or belt

I don't wear both at the same time. I agree wholeheartedly with my countryman, 3PieceSuitGuy, and have no problem wearing suspenders with trousers that feature belt loops. I take my cue from both vintage movies and modern movies set in or close to the Golden Era, such as "Tucker: The Man and His Dream," and "Devil in a Blue Dress".

I guess we all have our own takes on what appears aesthetically presentable to us. For example, I often see doctors, lawyers or businessmen wearing slip-on dress shoes with their suits, which is just not right to me. With slacks and a sportscoat, sure, but not with a suit. So long as you're comfortable with your own look, then you'll feel well-dressed and confident.

Benny