Braces in advertising

Have you noticed braces and suspenders popping up in ads more recently? They are definitely a trend for 2011 and advertisers are using them in various products - from fragrance to boots to clothing. Here's some examples:

Kiera Knightly for Chanel Mademoiselle

Kodak Boots

Here's some ads from a few years ago...

 

 

Braces have also been the center of advertising for many years. Shirley President Suspenders, Paris Suspenders, Hickok Suspenders, and Bulldog Suspenders were prominent companies that advertised back in the day. Here's a samples of historical suspender ads. Note that the advertisements even show women wearing braces and suspenders.

And a number of international ads:

This is not a complete list of ads with braces in them, but this should give you a good picture - keep an eye out for them!

Note: all photos are used solely for non-commercial use and to illustrate braces in fashion. No plagiarism is intended. 

Origin of Clip-on Suspenders

Suspender straps were originally designed to be attached to trousers with buttons. The 1897 Sears Roebuck & Co. Catalogue displays 2 pages of button-on braces. Button-on braces support the trousers evenly in the front and the rear. 

Nowadays, people also wear clip-on suspenders rather than button-on braces. One may ask the question: When were clip-on suspenders invented?

I decided to do some research on this topic - you may be surprised to find the answer. I perused vintage department store catalogues and searched vintage photographs from the late 1800s, during 1900s up to the current era. You may be surprised to learn that clip-on suspenders have been around since the early 1940’s. In fact, the 1943 Sears and Wards Catalog clearly displays 4 styles for clip-on suspenders. They came in a elastic plastic weave, and rayon webbing, as displayed below along side the button-on braces:

Therefore, clip-on suspenders have been around for more than 70 years. Buttons have held their place (pun intended) among clip-ons, and remain the preferred choice of brace wearers. Refer to previous blog post on this topic. However, there is a place for clip-on suspenders.

Clip-on suspenders work well when you are wanting to achieve a minimal, clean-cut look or to add a little extra dash of fun to an outfit.

Today, clip-on suspenders are everywhere in magazines and online. Many stores carry a wide variety of colors, styles, and designs. So go out there and wear some suspenders!

Discussion time:

• Did you imagine that clip-on suspenders were invented in the 1940s?
• When was the first time you wore clip-on suspenders?
• Do you prefer to wear clip-on suspenders or button-on suspenders? Why? 

Note: all photos are used solely for non-commercial use and to illustrate braces in fashion. No plagiarism is intended.

Suits and Braces

Trousers were originally made to be worn with suspenders, which held them on the waist, not the hips, and that is where they look and hang best. No professionally dressed man would wear trousers that rested anywhere else. This is not an arbitrary gesture. Every man, no matter how thin, has a slight bulge in his stomach area. When trousers are worn on the waist, they pass smoothly over this bulge in an even drape. This bulge is very evident when a suit is worn. The flow of the suit is interrupted when a belt is worn, as the trouser material or the belt buckle bunches up at the waist. In addition, unless the trousers are perfectly tailored, they will constantly be slipping down (and constantly be pulled up). This constant adjusting also bunches up your dress shirt. These problems are easily solved by wearing braces with your suit.

 

Historically men have worn suits every day. By the fashion of the day, suit trousers were worn higher on the waist and held up by braces. This was a day to day look, not just for the office, but in the evenings and weekends. Men would come home from work, hang up their suit jacket and then keep their pants and braces on for the evening. If they were going out, they may put on a cardigan.

 

Show your Personality

Braces allow you to show your personality when wearing a suit. In addition to the color and design of a tie, socks, and shirt, a pair of tasteful braces adds a special touch to an otherwise standard business suit. If you have interest in a sports team or hobby, for example, you can wear braces with that theme underneath your jacket. You are professional and clean, but able to display your personality when you take off your jacket. And you will take off your jacket to display your braces!

Women can wear braces with suits too...

Discussion time:

• Do you wear braces with your suits?
• What brace colors do you coordinate with your shirt and jacket?
• When wearing braces, are you hesitant to take off your jacket to show your personality and style?

Note: all photos are used solely for non-commercial use and to illustrate braces in fashion. No plagiarism is intended.

Why people wear braces - Part II

As mentioned in the previous post, there are a lot of reasons people wear braces and suspenders. Another reason people wear braces is for status appeal. Celebrities have been spotted wearing this stylish accessory, and not just recently!

The list of celebrities that wear suspenders include (this is not a complete list)...

In everyday life

Beyonce

Agyness Deyn

Drew Barrymore

Martha Ward

Rita Peluso

On the runway

Abbie Cornish

Kanye West

Charlotte Delal

Chloe Sevigny

Diane Kruger

Harry Shum Jr

Janet Jackson

Jessica Stam

Jetta John-Hartley

Josephine De La Baume

Kiero Richardson

Kristen Stewart

Lauren Lee Smith

Lee Yoon-Ji

Liv Tyler

Michele Riondino

Michelle Branch

Summer Glau

 In movies and tv shows

Bill Cosby

Rachel McAdams

Russell Brand

Ed Westwick

Olivia Wilde

Mischa Barton has been spotted sporting suspenders on numerous outfits:

On the cover of Elle:

Victoria Beckham

And it's not a recent trend. Marilyn Munroe wore braces:

Discussion time:

• So what about you? Will you wear braces or suspenders?
• Who do you think wore suspenders the best?

Note: all photos are used solely for non-commercial use and to illustrate braces in fashion. No plagiarism is intended.