When talking about suspenders, the Wall Street movie and the unique Michael Douglas, who wears what, immediately pops up in his memory. Yes, button suspenders. It was 1987, and, probably, it was thanks to this film that they again gained unprecedented popularity. From the classic office accessory over the years, suspenders have become the subject of street-style clothing. Remember the movie A Clockwork Orange. In it, young rebels wore suspenders and did not at all try to hide them under a jacket. What should you know about them, besides the fact that they look very cool on Michael Douglas and the guys from Clockwork Orange?
What is it?
Braces are belts made of leather or fabric that are attached to trousers, jeans or pants on both sides (front and back). In the Russian language for this wardrobe item there is a second name - help. Most often there are help on the clamps, but are found on the buttons or suspenders with buttons. Most manufacturers make help, which looks like the letters "Y" or "X". There are models that are mounted parallel to each other, but now it is almost impossible to meet such ones. For the longest time, suspenders made of leather have been considered the most popular; they look more "manly."
pros
Suspenders have been part of the men's wardrobe ever since Louis XIV. And so far they have not lost their demand. Why so? Here are the undeniable facts that speak for the help:
- Wearing them is much more comfortable than a belt. With them, the pants sit down perfectly, wrinkles and creases on the fabric do not appear.
- The waistline can be easily adjusted with suspenders. This advantage is appreciated by people who are overweight.
- Braces also help bring the look closer to the ideal, because they can put buttons on the shirt and trousers in one line.
- They can be easily made invisible by wearing a jacket over the shirt. This eliminates the tedious search for a good and high-quality belt that would fit perfectly with the selected shoes.
Minuses
- If suspenders are worn without a jacket, then there is a chance that they might catch on to something. And this, you see, is not a very pleasant and convenient moment.
- Braces tend to stretch, and if this happens, you should not wear them anymore. After all, stretched suspenders will not be able to fulfill their main function - to support the pants.
- You can’t attach anything to the help. But on the belt you can hang a mobile phone.
- Business style does not recognize that suspenders were visible without a jacket. They must be hidden. If you want to show your excellent taste in accessories, it is best to choose a belt.
There was once a rumor that braces are very unhealthy. Doctors checked this axiom, and it turned out to be completely groundless. So there’s nothing to worry about.
How to choose the right suspenders
Button suspenders for men are an internationally recognized classic. But besides this fact, there are a few more nuances that you should know before buying your first help.
- It is not necessary to buy special pants for suspenders under a button. Today, complete with help, you can purchase a set of buttons that you only need to sew to the belt of your trousers.
- The clips should be made of brass or nickel.
- In expensive models, mounts and loops are made of genuine leather in black (for black shoes), brown (for brown shoes) and white (for any shoe) colors. For more affordable options, they are made from different synthetic materials that have elastic properties.
- For help, there are three classic colors - white, red and black. But it is better if the color of the suspenders matches the tone of the suit or tie. If a shirt with a fine print is chosen, it is better to give preference to monophonic suspenders. But if the shirt is plain, then the suspenders can be with patterns.
- The clip mount cannot be combined with the business classic style of clothing. Clips relate more to the informal and street style of clothing.
- Suspenders cannot be worn with a belt. These are accessories that are mutually exclusive.
DIY braces
Sewing suspenders with your own is quite real. As a result, you will receive an exclusive accessory for your wardrobe. But if the goal is to save money, then far from always the cost of suspenders made by oneself made much less than those purchased in a store.
Consider one of the simplest ways to make button-up suspenders with your own hands.
What is needed:
- A special elastic band, you can buy it in specialized stores with fabrics and accessories.
- Threads in gum color.
- Mounts for trousers (four pieces).
- Buttons
Please note that usually the gum is presented in different widths. It should be carefully selected. If the suspenders are intended for the child, then you need to choose the narrowest. For wide male suspenders with buttons, you can choose the widest possible elastic, but you need to take into account the complexion of a person so as not to spoil the whole image.
You can make the necessary measurements in 2 ways:
- Using a centimeter tape, measure the length from the waist line of the back to the waist line in the front in the position in which it is planned to wear ready-made suspenders. Then, according to these measurements, the gum is cut off and is tried on by a person. When trying on, the elastic is stretched until the pants fit perfectly, and the model does not feel comfortable.
- This method is used when it is not possible to try on. To do this, use a wardrobe item by which you can determine the distance from the waist to the shoulders of a person. Measurements are taken on this clothing, then 7.5 cm are taken, and two pieces of elastic are cut off this length.
When measurements are made and pieces of gum of the necessary length are cut off, the moment of sewing on the fasteners comes. In each mount, the elastic is alternately threaded, it is tucked 1.5-2 cm and stitched. Then buttons are sewn to the trousers.
After that we do one more fitting. The place of crossing the belt is marked with a contrasting thread, making a couple of stitches for reliability. This intersection should be in the middle of the back.
Using a sewing machine, we flash the intersection of two rubber bands so that we get a rhombus. We take out the first thread (contrast) and make a control fitting.
To make the accessory more exclusive, suspenders can be decorated with various decorative elements.
How to wear suspenders for a girl?
The fact that button-down suspenders or any other kind of suspenders is part of an exclusively male wardrobe is long out of date. Today's fashion does not recognize any restrictions. And the girls are braces no less than the representatives of the stronger sex. What is the best place to wear them?
- A win-win option is shorts.
- Short denim skirt.
- Pants-pipes. Landing on the waist is suitable for short girls, and on the hips - high.
- Chiffon black shirt and suspenders in white.
- Black suspenders with a white blouse and shirt are a stylish classic.
And one more fact about suspenders, which pleases all girls, - suspenders are slim.
Casual style
How to wear casual button -down suspenders if it is a recognized business accessory? The main thing is that they competently complement the image. It is best to wear them with tight pants. And no jacket, in street-style clothes, suspenders should be just for show. Over the shirt. T-shirt and suspenders are not the best combination, but it’s still possible to combine them skillfully.
Wall Street Style
Classic business style. But it can also be refreshed and make new fashionable notes. You can purchase suspenders made of tie silk. They will become a short-lived accessory, but they are very comfortable to wear and look just perfect. Suspenders with embroidered patterns will look more expensive and solid, like suspenders with buttons in the photo on the left.
Punk style
But the representative of the punk community is very fond of wearing button-down suspenders over a T-shirt. Moreover, the t-shirt does not even fill up in the pants. They combine this bold outfit with ripped jeans, hats and moccasins. Such an outfit certainly emphasizes the individuality of its owner.
Suspenders and jeans
Braces can be worn not only in combination with trousers, jeans are also in harmony with them. But in this case, the help only plays a decorative role, since jeans basically do not need additional support and "fit." And of course, a jacket is completely unnecessary here, help should be in the view of the outside world. Leather loops will fit perfectly with jeans. The help itself can be made of any material, but leather loops are needed. It looks expensive and very stylish.
Suspenders and army
Still braces are often used to create military uniforms. They are mainly used in their military uniforms by England, Germany and Austria. Button-down army suspenders have been part of a military uniform for a very, very long time. Today, the popularity of this part of the wardrobe for soldiers and officers has declined, but it’s still possible to purchase them. And if you wish, you can get army help of a discreet protective color in your wardrobe.
So, if, prior to reading this article, help aroused association only with employees of the financial industry, then you should definitely forget about it. Braces are clothing for everyone — men and women, office workers and street rioters, metrosexuals and the military use it. If you like suspenders and cause a feeling of comfort, then you must wear them. In the world around us, everything is so fleeting and variable that only representatives of the fashion industry can keep up with all the new trends and trends. But even they do not manage to do everything, and sometimes make mistakes. Celebrities also have the right to fashion experiments, so do not be afraid to try on a new image or accessory. The main thing is a sense of self-confidence and a sense of style. Everything else is absolutely unimportant.