ACCESSORIES

A Brief History of Suspenders – An Introductory Guide To Wearing Suspenders

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To this day, suspenders remain the preferred method to hold up a pair of trousers by many fine dressers. Let’s look at a brief history of suspenders and how to wear them.

Wearing Suspenders

A little quiz for you guys…

Q1: Which of these accessories do you think was invented first?

(A) BELT (B) SUSPENDERS

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.
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If you choose “BELT” …Splendid!!!

I… must congratulate you on the attempt….but Your answer is INCORRECT! 🙂

Well, forgive me if I suck at mimicking Chris Tarrant or Frank Edoho of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” TV show, I’ll have to practice more often. But seriously That is absolutely WRONG!

Suspenders actually came first before Belts!

A Brief History of Suspenders

Alright, the second question…you ready?

Q2: Right from the very first time men chose to wear trousers, how did they hold it firmly to their waist since there were no belts at that time?

I’m sure you would have guessed this one correctly, they held their trousers firmly using SUSPENDERS.

Now the fact is Suspenders worn at that time didn’t come close to the stylish colorful ones we have these days.

They were usually just straps of thick leather that fell directly over the shoulders, fastened to the waistband of their trousers by means of a hook. See image below.

Wearing Suspenders

Let’s look at a Brief History of Suspenders …

  • The first suspenders (which are called Braces in the United Kingdom) can be traced to 18th century France, where they were basically strips of ribbon attached to the buttonholes of trousers.
  • In the early 1820s, British designer Albert Thurston began to manufacture the first known modern day suspenders (known as “braces” in Britain).
  • The fashion of the day dictated that men wear high-waisted pants. It wasn’t until World War 1 (between 1914 and 1918) that Suspenders started losing popularity as men became accustomed to Belts.
  • In modern times, men started wearing belts in the 1920s, as trouser waists fell to a lower line. Before the 1920s, belts served mostly a decorative purpose and were associated with the military. 
  • Moreover, prior to that trousers did not even have belt loops. Sadly, as at 1938, 60% of American men chose BELTS over SUSPENDERS. Today it is common for men to wear a belt with their trousers.
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Well, gentlemen, the good news is…

Suspenders are back!

Wearing Suspenders and Brief History of Suspenders

This time around, they are here to stay. They’re one of the very few men’s accessories used to judge a true gentleman, such that only the bold, stylish and suave gents on our planet can actually pull it off nicely.

And these few who do rock them are the envy of the many who don’t.

Today, suspenders is considered the mark of any well- dressed gentleman.

They are no longer just for professional men, they are a timeless wardrobe essential that can be worn by any man and sometimes stylish ladies. They come in different sizes, shapes, materials, colors etc.

Wearing Suspenders and Brief History of Suspenders

A lot of us men love this nice accessory, however, the challenge is usually not knowing how to wear them.

So this post is meant to inspire you to start buying and wearing suspenders. When you get your first one, you can follow this HOW-TO Guide on Wearing Suspenders below and ensure you fasten it correctly.


HOW TO WEAR YOUR SUSPENDERS

  •  When dressing, first attach the suspenders in the back, then put your trousers on, and finish by attaching the suspenders in the front.
  •  Suspenders can be worn with any outfit – casual to formal, semi-casual styles to jeans and with suits and tuxedos
  •  Choose wider suspenders for broad shoulders and chests, and narrower ones for all others.
  •  Suspenders can be worn with either necktie or bow ties.

Wearing Suspenders and Brief History of Suspenders

RELATED ARTICLE: 10 Rules For Wearing Suspenders. Number 1 is a Must!

CONCLUSION

Whether you are that fashion conscious guy who wants to make a shift from belts to suspenders or a professional who is tired of wearing only belts and wants to make a switch; or you are that large guy who find it uncomfortable wearing belts and you usually find your trousers falling down below your waist each time you wear belts, I believe this article is really for you.

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Now go forth and join the league of true gentlemen who rock suspenders! While you are at it, don’t forget the rules you must consider when wearing men’s suspenders.

Please feel free to drop your comments and contributions in the comment section below and share the story as well by clicking any of the share buttons below.

If you will like to contact us, send us an email info@kobikoachman.com. You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and Facebook. Feel free to join/follow us on any of the channels you frequently use as we continuously inspire you on how to dress well, live well and Be Stylish!

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Yours in Style,

Kobi O. Mbagwu (Mr. Kobi)
Founder, MrKoachman.com
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Mr. Kobi

My name is Kobi O. Mbagwu, a professional image consultant, menswear style expert, and entrepreneur who uses fashion, style and clothing as key tools in transforming ordinary men into extraordinary classy gentlemen. My personal goal is to help gentlemen dress better, live well, do well and develop a unique personal style that matches their lifestyle and goals. I believe that success can be built through style. I believe that fashion is a tool that can be used to change people’s lives positively. I also strongly believe that if you dress well, you look good, and if you look good, you feel good and when you feel good, you worry less, and the less you worry the more you are able to stay motivated and focused on your goals pursuit and by so doing you are able to live a more fulfilling and successful life.
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My name is Kobi O. Mbagwu, a professional image consultant, menswear style expert, and entrepreneur who uses fashion, style and clothing as key tools in transforming ordinary men into extraordinary classy gentlemen. My personal goal is to help gentlemen dress better, live well, do well and develop a unique personal style that matches their lifestyle and goals. I believe that success can be built through style. I believe that fashion is a tool that can be used to change people’s lives positively. I also strongly believe that if you dress well, you look good, and if you look good, you feel good and when you feel good, you worry less, and the less you worry the more you are able to stay motivated and focused on your goals pursuit and by so doing you are able to live a more fulfilling and successful life.

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