If you've worn suspenders for any period of time, you will soon notice the width of braces is a key factor in wearing them. The width is an important part of the overall look and feel of the braces. Generally, wider width's are for functional purposes and narrower width's are for style.
However, the width should be proportional to your body size. For example, the braces below are too wide for this overall outfit and do not fit her frame proportionately. Narrower suspenders should have been used.
You can sometimes push the edge of the wide verses thin, depending on the rest of the outfit. Take the following example below. As the bowtie is exaggerated and the pants are super high waisted, the wider suspender straps fit the look.
You can sometimes push the edge of the wide verses thin, depending on the rest of the outfit. Take the following example below. As the bowtie is exaggerated and the pants are super high waisted, the wider suspender straps fit the look.
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| Appropriate proportions |
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| The width is proportional to the shorts |
With that in mind, the width also varies based on the type of the outfit. For instance, for business suits, the straps are generally 1 or 1.25 inches, as shown below. However, given the smaller size of this gentlemen, the straps appear out of proportion - he would be better suited for thinner straps.
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| Braces for suits are generally wider |
For modern wear in 2010, the width is narrow – generally 0.5 inches. Both are acceptable and depend on the overall look you are trying to achieve.
Some people feel that narrower braces twist and bind with wear, while wider ones feel bulky and uncomfortable. So try out a few different widths to see what feels best for you.
Personally, I like to wear slightly wider straps (1.25 to 1.5 inches wide). This spreads the tension on my shoulders as I wear them throughout the day. However, my girlfriend loves thinner straps (3/4 inch wide), as it's slimmer and more 'modern'. So I also have some braces that are 3/4-inch wide and wear them frequently.
Looking at vintage photos, I see men wearing both widths - wider and narrower, so both are acceptable.
Discussion time:
- What width of braces do you wear?
- Do you find larger width braces uncomfortable?
please continue with these blogs!
ReplyDeleteDo you happen to have any photos of the Arden B pinstripe suspender pants from the website or catalogue from a few years back? if so, please post them in your blog or my group, thanks!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/suspenders2/
Great blog, I have written a blog about braces myself
ReplyDeletehttp://coffeeandcountries.wordpress.com/2010/07/10/my-accidental-love-of-braces-the-trouser-variety/
Thanks coffeeandcountries! I enjoyed reading your post. Suspenders provide exceptional support for your trousers. However, as your experience highlights, the trousers should be held up with button-on braces, rather than clips. They offer more secure connection.
DeleteContinue wearing and enjoying the suspenders.
i wear all widths. they're all comphy and cool.
ReplyDeleteI have worn braces all my life and therefore own many pairs. I generally prefer rather wide braces with heavier trousers and less wide when worn with suits. Also I like braces that were made in the forties and fifties rather then the modern pairs. I own two pairs of vintage suspenders made by the Paris Suspender Co.I also prefer all elastic braces as opposed to just the back strap being elastic.
ReplyDeleteI wear any width really , I much prefer button ons but do wear clip ons. I like elastic best I only have 1 pair of silk ones but the elastic ones feel more secure and I love to pull/snap my braces.
ReplyDeleteAndie
The wider the braces the more comfortable they feel across the torso.Proper elastic braces are the only ones that really do the job properly.Originally I wore clip ons but since converting to button ons I have found that they do a better job as well as looking more stylish.Anyone who has never worn braces should try them,you will be amazed how good they feel.
ReplyDelete@luvmybraces: Yes, button-on braces do a better job supporting the pants. I did a blog post on this a while ago describing the connection points that braces provide that clip-on suspenders do not have.
DeleteShare your love of braces with others!
I disagree that button braces do a better job support pants. I have both and while I do wear the button on braces when I wear a suit, I do tend to wear suspenders for everything else. I live in a warmer climate than England and working in an industry where result suits are not unknown but pretty uncommon except for special occasions.
DeleteThere seem to be two issues with clip-ons that people have talked about, clips slipping off and clamp area on the pants waist line getting ruined. I've had very good luck with the clip on suspenders with the nylon inserts. I cant remember the last time one of them slipped off and while the clip does leave am impression mark on the pants, the mark disappears when the pants are dry cleaned or washed. I think the key is to buy the type with the nylon insert in the clip rather than the cheaper ones that are just a metal claw. The metal claw type does tend to slip and does do a number, over time on the pants waist line. I banished those to goodwill several years ago.
All that said, at the end of the day both work well.
I wore braces when I worked in a professional setting and loved them, now I would like to fit my jeans out for braces but I'm not sure of the spacing for the front straps. I will be using y configured braces. Any thoughts. I know to place the buttons 1 1/2 inches on either side of the back seam...what about the front?
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you installing buttons on your jeans to wearing with Y-back braces! You are correct that the rear buttons should be about 1.5 inches on each side of the center seam. For the front, put on the jeans and identify where the front pleat or line is. It's somewhere in the middle of each leg. There's likely a dart or pleat on the jeans on each side as well. That's where the inner buttons should be placed. The other button should be placed about 3-3.5 inches from the inner button on each side. More information available on this previous post.
DeleteYou could also try the placements with the pants on with some safety pins or paper clips.
Let me know how it goes!
I wear braces everyday and am very fussy in the width of the straps. As a woman I feel the skinny style suits us best. I feel that around the breast area the skinny is more flattering. I do own some wide ones but there only for when I'm dagging around the house where people can't see.
ReplyDeleteI agree.the width of the braces is a big factor.Personally I much prefer wider braces.I have recently purchased a pair of 2 inch braces and they are the most comfortable braces I have worn.I wouldnt go back to 1 inch braces now.
DeleteI find that the width of the braces can change the whole look of the outfit. I've found with women's braces are usually around an inch maximum cause any wide makes the outfit look too masculine. I own a good collection of braces and only have skinny ones or about the one inch style which suits the pants I'm wearing and the look I'm going for
ReplyDelete