Get your suspenders right
What do you think of suspenders? Have you ever worn them?
Suspenders are one of those accessories that can really bring extra detail and a sense of dignity to any suit for a man. However, when it comes to suspenders, definitely a smaller audience of men like to use them as opposed to belts. I personally use them often when I wear a suit. I always loved to wear them when I was a child, and apparently, from what my mother says, it was driving my teacher at kindergarten crazy every time I had to go to the restroom because I was too young to handle suspenders myself, and I needed help.
Over the years, most people compliment me on the look my suspenders give to my suits, but when I ask why they don’t try them, they respond that they feel they are an uncomfortable extra to add to every day life. Ninety percent of men tell me they find them limiting with what they have in their wardrobe, and, honestly, not as fast and convenient as a belt would be when it comes to putting their trousers on and off. Because I have used suspenders for so many years, I have developed a lot of experience as to what works best. The key is to choose the right suspenders. You never know when you have to undress quickly: if you are in a store trying on clothes, if you are at the doctor, if your date night went particularly well, or even if you have to go to the restroom…in any of these cases you don’t want to spend too much time with your suspenders.
Here are my tricks to using suspenders:
Suspenders are always easier in the summer because you usually have only a blazer or a suit jacket to remove. In this case, I would always suggest you invest $6 to add the buttons inside your trousers, and you use the button suspenders. They give you a more tailored look and are aesthetically nicer.
In the winter, when most likely you are wearing a vest, waistcoat, or a cardigan under your jacket, the clip suspenders are the ones that make more sense. It will take you less than 5 seconds to unsnap them and be able to remove your trousers, and since the vest, waistcoat or cardigan is on top of your suspenders, they will not move. You can easily pull your trousers back up, and clip the suspenders back on your pants.
After so many years, my choice for suspenders that I wear all year around are the suspenders with convertible ends. You can use the button suspenders under a vest, but you can still open and close them really easily with the leather clip (see below pic), so you can keep the beauty of the button ones with the practicality of clip ones, and you can aways switch them to the clip ones if you use them with pants that don’t have suspender buttons.
In only 3 steps
So, from what I hear, the most common problems are: 1. you don’t want to spend the money for suspenders you will use with just 1 or 2 pairs of pants. 2. You don’t have the time to have the cleaner a few blocks from your office or apartment add buttons inside your pants. 3. It seems like too long a process to take your pants off and back on.
Solution: Suspenders with convertible ends
I suggest you take a look at the pictures of a man dressed in a suit with a belt and then a man dressed with suspenders; If you feel the added distinction and sophistication given by the suspenders is worth it, I strongly suggest that you invest in a suspender set with the convertible ends and give them a try. I think you will find that you like them, and I think you will receive compliments on your suits and your sense of style. People may not realize just what sets your style apart, but you will know.
You can find suspenders in a lot of places, but not all of them have convertible ends,
Where to find good options:
