Suspenders are men’s wear but women have jumped into the trend. Quite affordable, suspenders are an easy-to-wear and fun addition to your wardrobe. Whether you want to look sharp at an upcoming wedding, stand out at a formal event, add some flair to your work attire, or spice up your casual clothing, suspenders provide you with a colourful and versatile solution for almost any occasion life.
However some questions come up when you want to wear suspenders: Which types of suspenders are appropriate for which occasions? Which colors go with which? Is there a particular width that is correct? Should I choose the clip-on kind or button-on? Can I wear a belt with my suspenders? How do I wear colored suspenders without looking like a clown? Let’s find the answers to these lingering questions below:
Suspenders are of two types namely:
1) the type that attaches to your trousers (or shorts) with clips
2) the kind you button onto your trousers
Y-back vs. X-back Suspenders
When suspenders cross in the back like the letter “X”, they are known as X-back. If, instead, they join around the mid-back and become a single strap, like a “Y”, then they are called Y-back. However, Y-back is considered the more up-to-date and on-trend. While X-back does have two straps that attach to the back-waistband – compared to a Y-back’s single strap.
On fitting and sizing of suspenders:
One of the truly cool things about suspenders is how easy it is to customize the fit to your particular proportions. If the suspenders are leather, the front strap can be loosened or tightened just like a belt: via a buckle and holes. All other suspenders have a metal clip on the front straps that you simply slide up and down until you hit the exact right length for your frame.
Here are 5 different ways to wear suspenders:
1. Never wear suspenders with a belt.
2. If you want to wear a suspender with work attire, but are not sure how to proceed, start with a pair in a more classic hue (navy, black, taupe) that coordinates with the color of your shoes.
3. Suspenders have long been a staple of a groom’s wedding day attire. More ofter, it is the only item a groom will purchase new to take his regular go-to suit from go-to to walk-down – as in: the aisle. Hence, what’s good for the groom is good for the groomsmen.
4. As a rule of thumb, non-work suspenders tend to be a bit skinnier, but if you’re rocking head-to-toe denim, a wider suspender might be just the choice.
5. Since suspenders snuck out of the corridors of power and headed for hipster hangouts and fashionable bars the world over, this trend continues to gather momentum. And for good reason: suspenders are an easy way to make a personalized style statement.